Public Image Ltd.

Public Image Ltd. formed in London in 1978, John Lydon, Keith Levene, Jah Wobble, and Jim Walker developing a sound that was immediately and deliberately unlike anything that had come before — including the Sex Pistols. Their debut single 'Public Image' (1978) announced a radical new direction, and 'Metal Box' (1979) — released in a metal film canister — was one of the most radical and important British albums ever made.

'Metal Box' combined dub bass, abrasive guitar, and Lydon's extraordinary vocals in ways that were genuinely unprecedented — a record of sonic radicalism that influenced virtually every subsequent post-punk, industrial, and experimental act. 'The Flowers of Romance' (1981) was equally radical, and 'This Is What You Want... This Is What You Get' (1984) showed a more accessible but still distinctive direction.

Public Image Ltd. have continued to record and perform with various lineup changes, with Lydon remaining the constant. They are one of the most important and influential acts in the history of British music — a band whose radical sonic experimentation and Lydon's extraordinary vocals have influenced virtually every subsequent post-punk, industrial, and experimental act. ⚠ Flag: most recent activity — verify latest release and current status.