PiL

Public Image Ltd was formed in Jamaica of all places in 1978 to give John Lydon (nee Rotten) something to do because he'd just ceremoniously left the Sex Pistols onstage in California ("ever feel like you're being cheated?"). It was also a good way of showing how mediocre the aforementioned band actually was while showcasing Lydon's true talent. The ..9 UK chart success of Lydon's comeback single Public Image (in which he bids farewell to the spotlight) was followed by groundbreaking albums Public Image (1978), Metal Box (1979), The Flowers Of Romance (1981), Live In Tokyo (1983 - in which Lydon played only with PiL's drummer and a New Jersey wedding band), and This Is What You Want...This Is What You Get (1984). As the lineups continued to change, so did the band's sound - becoming more commercial and pop-orientated, but this page is dedicated to the avant-garde material produced by the band between 1978 and 1984. Not to everyone's taste but we really don't care. Public image - goodbye.