Public Image Ltd

Public Image Ltd
PiL performing in 2013
Background information
Also known as	PiL Public Image Limited Public Image
Origin	London, England
Genres	Post-punk[1] experimental rock[2] new wave[3] dub[4] avant-funk[5]
Years active	1978–1992, 2009–present
Labels	Virgin Warner Bros. Elektra PiL Official
Members	John Lydon Bruce Smith Lu Edmonds Scott Firth
Past members	Keith Levene Jah Wobble Jeanette Lee Jim Walker Vivian Jackson David Humphrey Richard Dudanski Karl Burns Martin Atkins Ken Lockie Pete Jones John McGeoch Allan Dias Russell Webb
Website	pilofficial.com

Public Image Ltd (abbreviated and stylized as PiL) are an English post-punk band formed by lead vocalist John Lydon (previously, as Johnny Rotten, lead vocalist of Sex Pistols), guitarist Keith Levene (a founder member of The Clash), bassist Jah Wobble, and drummer Jim Walker in May 1978. The group's line-up has changed frequently over the years; Lydon has been the sole constant member.

Following Lydon's departure from the Sex Pistols in January 1978, he sought a more experimental "anti-rock" project and formed PiL.^[6][7] That year PiL released their debut studio album First Issue (1978), creating an abrasive, bass-heavy sound that drew on dub, noise, progressive rock and disco.^[8][9] PiL's second studio album Metal Box (1979) pushed their sound further into the avant-garde, and is often regarded as one of the most important albums of the post-punk era.

By 1984, Levene, Wobble and Walker had departed and the group was effectively a solo vehicle for Lydon, who moved toward a more accessible sound with the commercially successful studio albums This Is What You Want... This Is What You Get (1984) and Album (1986).^[10] After a late 1990s hiatus, Lydon reformed the group in 2009 and has released several further albums, including What the World Needs Now... (2015).