Public Image Ltd are an English post-punk band from London. Formed in 1978, the group originally consisted of vocalist John Lydon, guitarist Keith Levene, bassist Jah Wobble (real name John Wardle) and drummer Jim Walker. The group's current lineup, reformed since 2009, includes Lydon alongside guitarist Robert "Lu" Edmonds (originally a member from 1986 to 1988), bassist Scott Firth (a new member) and drummer Mark Roberts (since 2025).

History

1978–1981 The first incarnation of Public Image Ltd (PiL) – consisting of John Lydon, Keith Levene, Jah Wobble and Jim Walker – was completed and began rehearsing in May 1978. The band released their debut album Public Image: First Issue before the end of the year, shortly after which Walker left the band due to financial and personal concerns. He was replaced by a succession of drummers: first Vivian Jackson in January 1979, followed by Eddie Edwards and David Humphrey in February, Richard Dudanski in April, Karl Burns in September, and finally Martin Atkins in October. The band's second album Metal Box, released in November, featured performances by Humphrey, Dudanski and Atkins. A year later, the group released their first live album Paris au Printemps, recorded at the beginning of 1980.

By June 1980, Atkins had left PiL to focus on his solo project, Brian Brain. He was followed the next month by Jah Wobble. Later that summer, Lydon and Levene recorded new track "Pied Piper" with brief second guitarist Steve "Shooz" New (later known as Stella Nova), which was released on the Virgin Records sampler Machines. Between October and November, the band recorded their third album The Flowers of Romance, for which Atkins returned in a temporary session performer capacity. PiL played one show around the release of the album, on 15 May 1981 at The Ritz in New York City, with Lydon and Levene joined by drummer Solomon "Sam" Ulano, who was brought in solely for the gig. The performance was cut short due to audience unrest, which then escalated into a riot.

1981–1986 After no activity for the rest of 1981, PiL resurfaced in early 1982 to announce the addition of keyboardist Ken Lockie. By May, the band had been rejoined by former drummer Martin Atkins. In August, Atkins' Brian Brain bandmate Pete Jones joined on bass, which also prompted the departure of Lockie. Recordings from this period, initially intended to make up PiL's fourth album, were independently released by Levene in 1984 as Commercial Zone. After a show in April 1983, Jones left the band. He was quickly replaced by Louis Bernardi. Just a month later, Levene also departed, leaving Lydon as the sole remaining original member. For a Japanese tour starting that month, guitarist Joe Guida and keyboardist Tommy Zvoncheck were brought in.

In September, Zvoncheck was replaced by Arthur Stead, and the group continued touring until the end of the year. During early 1984, Lydon and Atkins (with session contributors) finished working on the band's fourth album, which was released in July as This Is What You Want... This Is What You Get. By the autumn, PiL had returned to touring, introducing a new lineup featuring guitarist Mark Schulz, bassist Bret Helm and keyboardist Jebin Bruni. The group toured until January 1985, after which they entered another period of inactivity which included Atkins leaving for a second time that summer. Later in the year, Lydon and the rest of the touring band members began working on a new album with producer Bill Laswell. However, due to the musicians' lack of studio experience, and Laswell's plans, they were replaced with a range of session performers.

1986–1992 After the release of Album in January 1986, a new lineup of PiL was formed with guitarist Kevin Armstrong, guitarist and keyboardist Robert "Lu" Edmonds, bassist Allan Dias, and drummer Bruce Smith; however, when Armstrong pulled out to tour with Iggy Pop, he was replaced with John McGeoch. The new musicians were later made full-time members of the group and recorded Happy? the following year. They continued touring until September 1988, when Edmonds was forced to leave due to hearing problems. After the band released the follow-up album 9 in spring 1989, Ted Chau took over on second guitar and keyboards. By November, he had departed.

In early 1990, Smith also left and the remaining trio recorded "Don't Ask Me" for the compilation The Greatest Hits, So Far. During 1991, the band recorded That What Is Not with two session members: rhythm guitarist Gregg "J.P." Arreguin and drummer Curt "Kirkee B." Bisquera. PiL returned to touring shortly after its release in early 1992, with Ted Chau returning and Mike Joyce joining on drums. During the summer, Dias quit the band suddenly, later recalling that he was "completely burned out" and "had a drug habit". He was replaced for the final run of shows by Russell Webb and the group continued touring until September, after which they went on indefinite hiatus.

Since 2009 In September 2009, it was announced that Lydon would be reforming PiL beginning with a short UK tour in December, with the band completed by former members Lu Edmonds (guitar, keyboards) and drummer Bruce Smith (drums), as well as new member Scott Firth (bass, keyboards). ALiFE 2009, recorded at the reunion shows, was released later. In 2012 the group released their first studio album in 20 years, This Is PiL, which was followed in 2015 by What the World Needs Now... In February 2025, the band announced Mark Roberts as their new drummer, following the departure of Smith the previous year.

Members Current ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsJohn Lydonall Public Image Ltd (PiL) releasesRobert "Lu" EdmondsScott Firth2009–presentall PiL releases from ALiFE 2009 (2009) onwardsMark Roberts2025–presentdrumsnone to date

Former ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsKeith Levene1978–1983 all PiL releases from Public Image: First Issue (1978) to The Flowers of Romance (1981)John "Jah Wobble" Wardie1978–1980Jim Walker1978–1979drumsPublic Image: First Issue (1978)Vivian Jackson1979noneDavid HumphreyMetal Box (1979) Richard DudanskiMetal Box (1979) Karl BurnsnoneMartin AtkinsSteve "Shooz" New1980 "Pied Piper" (1980)Ken Lockie1982nonePete Jones1982–1983bassCommercial Zone (1984)Bruce Smithall PiL releases from Happy? (1987) onwards, except That What Is Not (1992)Allan Dias1986–1992all PiL releases from Happy? (1987) to That What Is Not (1992)Kevin Armstrong1986lead guitarnoneJohn McGeoch1986–1992 all PiL releases from Happy? (1987) to That What Is Not (1992)Ted ChaunoneMike Joyce1992drumsRussell Webb

Touring ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsDetailsSolomon "Sam" Ulano1981 drumsUlano was brought in for a one-off PiL performance at the Ritz in New York City on 15 May 1981.Louis Bernardi1983bassBernardi was brought in after Pete Jones' departure, and later contributed to This Is What You Want...Joe GuidaguitarGuida and Zvoncheck also performed on the band's 1983 tour, featured on the album Live in Tokyo.Tommy ZvoncheckkeyboardsArthur SteadStead took over keyboards from Zvoncheck from September to the end of a tour in December 1983.Mark Schulz1984–1985lead guitarAfter the release of 1984's This Is What You Want..., Schulz, Helm and Bruni joined PiL's touring lineup.Bret HelmbassJebin Bruni

Timeline

Lineups PeriodMembersReleasesMay 1978 – January 1979John Lydon – lead vocals, piano Keith Levene – guitar, synthesisers Jah Wobble – bass, piano, backing vocals Jim Walker – drumsPublic Image: First Issue (1978)January 1979John Lydon – lead vocals, piano Keith Levene – guitar, synthesisers Jah Wobble – bass, piano, backing vocals Vivian Jackson – drumsrowspan="2" February 1979John Lydon – lead vocals, piano Keith Levene – guitar, synthesisers Jah Wobble – bass, piano, backing vocals Eddie Edwards – drumsFebruary – March 1979John Lydon – lead vocals, piano Keith Levene – guitar, synthesisers Jah Wobble – bass, piano, backing vocals David Humphrey – drumsMetal Box (1979) March – April 1979John Lydon – lead vocals, piano Keith Levene – guitar, synthesisers, drums Jah Wobble – bass, piano, backing vocals, drumsMetal Box (1979) April – September 1979John Lydon – lead vocals, piano Keith Levene – guitar, synthesisers Jah Wobble – bass, piano, backing vocals Richard Dudanski – drumsMetal Box (1979) September 1979John Lydon – lead vocals, piano Keith Levene – guitar, synthesisers Jah Wobble – bass, piano, backing vocals Karl Burns – drumsOctober 1979 – June 1980John Lydon – lead vocals, piano Keith Levene – guitar, synthesisers Jah Wobble – bass, piano, backing vocals Martin Atkins – drums, synthesisersMetal Box (1979) Paris au Printemps (1980)June – July 1980John Lydon – lead vocals, piano Keith Levene – guitar, synthesisers, drums Jah Wobble – bass, piano, backing vocals, drumsLate summer 1980John Lydon – vocals, violin, saxophone Keith Levene – guitar, synthesisers, drums, bass Steve New – guitar, bass"Pied Piper" (1980)October – November 1980John Lydon – vocals, violin, saxophone Keith Levene – guitar, bass, synthesisers, drums Martin Atkins – drums, synthesisers The Flowers of Romance (1981)15 May 1981John Lydon – vocals, violin, saxophone Keith Levene – guitar, bass, synthesisers Sam Ulano – drums rowspan="3" January – May 1982John Lydon – vocals, synthesisers, violin Keith Levene – guitar, bass, synthesisers, drums Ken Lockie – keyboards, synthesisersMay – August 1982John Lydon – vocals, synthesisers, violin Keith Levene – guitar, bass, synthesisers Martin Atkins – drums, percussion, bass Ken Lockie – keyboards, synthesisersAugust 1982 – April 1983John Lydon – vocals, synthesisers, violin Keith Levene – guitar, synthesisers Pete Jones – bass Martin Atkins – drums, percussion, synthesisersCommercial Zone (1984)April – May 1983John Lydon – vocals, synthesisers, violin Keith Levene – guitar, synthesisers, bass Martin Atkins – drums, percussion, synthesisers, bass Louis Bernardi – bass June – September 1983John Lydon – vocals, synthesisers, violin Martin Atkins – drums, percussion, synthesisers, bass, guitar Joseph Guida – guitar Louis Bernardi – bass Tommy Zvoncheck – keyboards Live in Tokyo (1983)September – December 1983John Lydon – vocals, synthesisers, violin Martin Atkins – drums, percussion, synthesisers, bass, guitar Joseph Guida – guitar Louis Bernardi – bass Arthur Stead – keyboards Early – summer 1984John Lydon – vocals, synthesisers, violin Martin Atkins – drums, percussion, synthesisers, bass, guitarThis Is What You Want...This Is What You Get (1984)Autumn 1984 – June 1985John Lydon – vocals, synthesisers, violin Martin Atkins – drums, percussion, synthesisers, bass, guitar Mark Schulz – lead guitar Bret Helm – bass Jebin Bruni – keyboards, rhythm guitar Anarchy Movie '85 (1985)June – autumn 1985John Lydon – vocals, synthesisers, violin Mark Schulz – lead guitar Bret Helm – bass Jebin Bruni – keyboards, rhythm guitar Autumn 1985 – early 1986John Lydon – vocalsAlbum (1986)February – March 1986John Lydon – lead vocals Kevin Armstrong – lead guitar Lu Edmonds – rhythm guitar, keyboards, backing vocals Allan Dias – bass, backing vocals Bruce Smith – drums, percussionMarch 1986 – September 1988John Lydon – lead vocals John McGeoch – lead guitar Lu Edmonds – rhythm guitar, keyboards, backing vocals Allan Dias – bass, backing vocals Bruce Smith – drums, percussionHappy? (1987)September 1988 – spring 1989John Lydon – lead vocals John McGeoch – guitar Allan Dias – bass, backing vocals Bruce Smith – drums, percussion9 (1989)Spring – November 1989John Lydon – lead vocals John McGeoch – lead guitar Ted Chau – rhythm guitar, keyboards, backing vocals Allan Dias – bass, backing vocals Bruce Smith – drums, percussionEarly 1990 – January 1992John Lydon – lead vocals John McGeoch – guitar Allan Dias – bass, keyboards, backing vocals"Don't Ask Me" (1990) "Criminal" (1991) That What Is Not (1992)January – July 1992John Lydon – lead vocals John McGeoch – lead guitar