Public Image Ltd (also known as
PiL) are an English
post-punk band formed by singer
John Lydon (aka Johnny Rotten), guitarist
Keith Levene, bassist
Jah Wobble, and drummer
Jim Walker. The group's personnel has changed frequently over the years; Lydon has been the sole constant member.
Lydon emerged after the break-up of the
Sex Pistols with PiL's
Public Image: First Issue
(1978). The new band had a more experimental sound than the Pistols: a
"droning, slow-tempo, bass-heavy noise rock, overlaid by Lydon's
distinctive, vituperative rant".
[1] Their early work is often regarded as some of the most challenging and innovative music of the post-punk era. Their 1979 album
Metal Box was ranked number 469 on
Rolling Stone magazine's 2003 list of
the 500 greatest albums of all time. The
NME described PiL as "arguably the first
post-rock group".
[2]