Public Image Ltd. In-depth Biography
Public Image Ltd.} (PiL}) originally was a quartet led by singer John Lydon} (formerly Johnny Rotten}, born January 31, 1956) and guitarist Keith Levene}, who had been a member of the Clash} in one of its early lineups. The band was filled out by bassist Jah Wobble} (John Wordle}) and drummer Jim Walker}. It was formed in the wake of the 1978 breakup of Lydon}'s former group, the Sex Pistols}. For the most part, it devoted itself to droning, slow-tempo, bass-heavy noise rock}, overlaid by Lydon}'s distinctive, vituperative rant.
The group's debut single, "Public Image,"} was more of an up-tempo pop/rock} song, however, and it hit the U.K. Top Ten upon its release in October 1978. The group itself debuted on Christmas Day, shortly after the release of its first album, Public Image}. Neither the single nor the album was released in the U.S.
Metal Box}, the band's second U.K. album, came in the form of three 12", 45 rpm discs in a film canister. It was released in the U.S. in 1980 as the double-album Second Edition}. (By this time, PiL} was a trio consisting of Lydon}, Levene}, and Wobble}.) The third album, not released in the U.S., was the live Paris au Printemps} (1980). Lydon} and Levene}, plus hired musicians, made up the group by the time of The Flowers of Romance} (1981), the much-acclaimed fourth album, which reached number 11 in the U.K.
In 1983, PiL} scored its biggest U.K. hit, when "This Is Not a Love Song"} reached number five. By this time, however, Levene} had left, and the name from here on would be, more than anything else, a vehicle for John Lydon} (though with a comparatively steady lineup). A second live album, Live in Tokyo}, appeared in England in 1983.
The following year saw the release of This Is What You Want...This Is What You Get}, only PiL}'s third album to be released in the U.S., though it now had six albums out. It marked the start of Lydon}'s move toward a more accessible dance}-rock} style, a direction that would be pursued further in Album} (1986) (also called Cassette} or Compact Disc}, depending on the format), notably on the hit "Rise,"} as well as on Happy?} (1987) and 9} (1989). In 1990, PiL} released the compilation album The Greatest Hits, So Far}, and in 1991 came the new album That What Is Not}. After completing his memoirs in late 1993, Lydon} decided to put an end to PiL} and pursue a solo career. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide