Public Image Limited head out on their first tour in 17 years next month, and if all goes well it could be followed by original material.

Frontman John Lydon told 6 Music that, as ever, it all comes down to money. "Yes, if I raise the money from this, I most definietely will."

"But what you've got to understand with Public Image Ltd is that every single time we recorded we only had one take, no money."

The band formed in 1878, following the break up of the Sex Pistols, and kept going until 1993. Although Lydon recalls it was always a shoe-string affair.

"The Jam would pull out of Goldhawk Rd (home of Townhouse Studios) - they're writing their new hit wonderful album because they have lots of record company backing."

"We knew they'd left, so we'd run in, quickly record it, thats it, and thats Metal Box for you and thats basically the John Lydon approach to music - wham bam thank you mam."

Their second album Metal Box is being re-released in December as remastered three CD version, along with a re-issue of Plastic Box.

The re-united band hit the road on 15 December, at the Birmingham Academy, with dates following in Leeds, Glasgow, Manchester and London.

But apparently it's not been easy to get this tour on the road; in fact it wouldn't have happened at all if it weren't for a certain high-profile butter advert.

"Why does my record company not support me? Where's my record company? And the only reason I'm being able to do these concerts is because I did a butter advert -so thank you!"

As for that advert, Lydon admits he's has a lot of stick for it: "Because I'm flogging a British product right! And yet i'm still smeared with that - I'm a cop out, I'm a sell out.... It's British innit? and so am I! Hello? But thats the only way I can get to perform live."

So thanks to the money he made from that, PiL will be on the road after all. Although if you're expecting a greatest hits set, or even familiar versions of album tracks, think again.

"Don't be ridiculous! What do you think this is? The Beatles? She loves you yeah yeah yeah? No no no! You get what you're given and it'll be even better then."

Public Image Ltd member John Lydon has labelled music from bands like Coldplay and Radiohead "tosh".

The newly regrouped post-punk pioneers PiL kick off their UK tour tonight (15 Dec) at the O2 Academy, Birmingham.

Lydon may live in LA now, but he reckons the UK needs his band and his honesty, more than ever: "Coldplay and Radiohead bug the hell out of me because it’s so soulless."

"It just seems pointless. It’s nice, but it’s tosh. I’ve been out of this country for a few years and you seriously do need me back here to tell you what’s what," he explained. "That’s not me being awfully grandiose about it, but you need to get some sensibility together here. That grandiose idiocy."

He also name-checked Manchester band James, claiming the band has "pompous presentation".

dding: "It’s too much with no content. They don’t care about you. They care about lining their coffers. There’s nothing about heart and soul, they don’t know about people dying, living, aspiring.

"They don’t sing those songs out of a sense of community. They sing them to you out of contempt, with fiddly studio gadgetry. Is this acceptable? Is this what you want? Well, you’ve got it in spades."

The PiL tour takes in dates at the Leeds Academy (16 Dec), Glasgow Academy (18), Manchester Academy (19), London’s Brixton Academy (21) and Electric Ballroom (22, 23).

As for how rehearsals for the PiL shows went, he responded: "It sounded excellent. Excellent."

In the past, PiL counted guitar legends Keith Levene and Jah Wobble in their ranks, but Lydon reckons it’s essential that the line-up continues to evolve.

"Of course, it was a wonderful privilege to work with very many PiL guitarists and people would love to talk about say, Metal Box. Public Image is an ongoing process right? We’re a runaway truck with none of your rules to tell you what’s what," said Lydon.