Public Image Ltd (abbreviated and stylised as PiL) are an English post-punk band formed by lead
vocalist John Lydon (previously, as Johnny Rotten, lead vocalist of the Sex Pistols), guitarist Keith Levene (a founding member of the Clash), bassist Jah Wobble, and drummer Jim Walker in June 1978. The group's line-up has changed frequently over the years; Lydon has been the sole constant member.
Formed by John Lydon in the wake of the collapse of the Sex Pistols, Public Image Ltd. is a shape-
shifting musical project in which the bilious singer and lyricist explored his ideas without compromise. Depending on what period of the band's career you choose, Public Image Ltd. (officially abbreviated PiL) could sound like bass-heavy post-punk thunder (1978's Public Image: First Issue), an inspired fusion of Krautrock and dub (1979's Metal Box), muscular and expertly executed alternative rock (1986's Album), or polished but angular dance-friendly pop (1989's 9), with many other stops along the way.
Despite a constantly shifting lineup and musical approach, Lydon's bitter howl -- full of anger, pain, and sometimes sardonic wit -- gave PiL's many guises a musical and thematic through line, and at their best,
his collaborators created music as powerful and absorbing as Lydon's intense charisma. Lydon revived PiL for live work in 2009, and the reunion albums This Is PiL (2012), What the World Needs Now (2015), and End of World (2023) featured some of his strongest work since the '80s. In 2023, PiL released the unexpectedly tender song "Hawaii," a love song Lydon wrote for his wife, Nora Foster, who died after a long illness in April 2023.
ALBUMS ON THIS POST
02. Public Image Ltd - Metal Box 1979
03. Public Image Ltd - The Flowers Of Romance 1981
04. Public Image Ltd - The Greatest Hits, So Far 1990
01. PUBLIC IMAGE LIMITED - FIRST ISSUE 1978
Like it or not, Public Image Limited's First Issue (aka Public Image) was an album that helped set the pace for what eventually became known as post-punk. In England a vacuum had opened up in the wake of the breakup of the Sex Pistols in January 1978, and many punk fans and rival groups were
impatient to see what ex-Sex Pistols frontman John Lydon aka "Johnny Rotten" was going to roll out next. Disheartened owing to events in his legal proceedings against the Sex Pistols management company Glitterbest, and disgusted by the punk scene in general, Lydon was determined to create something that was neither punk nor even really rock as it was known in 1978. Working with ex-Clash guitarist Keith Levene, first-time bassist Jah Wobble, and Canadian drummer Jim Walker, Public Image Limited produced an album that represented the punk sound after it had shot itself in the head and became another entity entirely.
Public Image – Public Image (First Issue)
Label: Virgin – CDV 2114
Format: CD, Album 1986
Country: Europe
Released: 1978
Genre: Rock
Style: New Wave,Post Rock, Experimental
TRAXS
01. Theme 9:05
02. Religion I 1:40
03. Religion II 5:40
04. Annalisa 6:00
05. Public Image 2:58
06. Low Life 3:35
07. Attack 2:55
08. Fodderstompf 7:40
LINE - UP
John Lydon – vocals, piano
Keith Levene – guitar, synthesiser
Jah Wobble – bass, vocals and fire extinguisher on "Fodderstompf"
Jim Walker – drums
Flac Size: 237 MB
02. PUBLIC IMAGE LIMITED - METAL BOX (SECOND EDITION) 1979
PIL managed to avoid boundaries for the first four years of their existence, and Metal Box is undoubtedly
the apex. It's a hallmark of uncompromising, challenging post-punk, hardly sounding like anything of the past, present, or future. Sure, there were touchstones that got their imaginations running -- the bizarreness of Captain Beefheart, the open and rhythmic spaces of Can, and the dense pulses of Lee Perry's productions fueled their creative fires -- but what they achieved with their second record is a completely unique hour of avant-garde noise. It's alien dance music.
Public Image – Metal Box (Second Edition)
Label: Columbia – 33C38-7947
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Stereo
Country: UK
Released: 1986
Genre: Rock
Style: Avantgarde, Experimental, Post-Punk
TRAXS
01. Albatross 10:32
02. Memories 5:05
03. Swan Lake 4:11
04. Pop Tones 7:45
05. Careering 4:32
06. Socialist 3:09
07. Graveyard 3:07
08. The Suit 3:29
09. Bad Baby 4:30
10. No Birds 4:43
11. Chant 5:01
12. Radio 4 4:22
LINE - UP
John Lydon – vocals, piano ("No Birds" and "Bad Baby")
Keith Levene – guitar, synthesizers, drums ("Poptones" and "Radio 4"), bass guitar ("Radio 4"), all instruments on "Radio 4".
Jah Wobble – bass guitar (except "Radio 4"), drums ("Careering" and "The Suit"), piano ("The Suit")
David Humphrey – drums ("Albatross" and "Swan Lake")[43]
Richard Dudanski – drums ("Memories", "No Birds", "Graveyard", "Socialist" and "Chant")
Martin Atkins – drums ("Bad Baby")
NOTES
Metal Box is the second studio album by Public Image Ltd, released by Virgin Records on 23 November 1979. The album takes its name from the round metal canister which contained the initial pressings of the record. It was later reissued in standard LP packaging as Second Edition in February 1980 by Virgin Records in the United Kingdom, and by Warner Bros. Records and Island Records in the United States.
Two different versions of the artist's name on the release:
On the front and back cover it reads: Public Image
On the spine and disc it reads: Public Image Ltd
Flac Size: 386 MB
03. PUBLIC IMAGE LIMITED - THE FLOWERS OF ROMANCE 1981
As opposed to the axis of throbbing bass and guitar slashings of Metal Box, The Flowers of Romance is
centralized on razor-sharp drums and typically haranguing vocals. No dubwise grooves here -- bassist Jah Wobble was kicked out prior to the recording for ripping off PiL backing tracks for his solo material. And growing more disenchanted with the guitar, Keith Levene's infatuation with synthesizers was reaching a boiling point. His scythe-like guitar is truly brought out for only one song. Stark and minimal are taken to daring lengths, so it's no surprise that Virgin initially balked at issuing the heavily percussive record.
Public Image Ltd. – Flowers Of Romance
Label: Virgin – CDV 2189, Virgin – 0777 7 87469 2 8
Format: CD, Album, Stereo, Uden Pressing
Country: Europe
Released: Feb 1994
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: Alternative Rock, Experimental
TRAXS
01. Four Enclosed Walls 4:45
02. Track 8 3:15
03. Phenagen 2:40
04. Flowers Of Romance 2:51
05. Under The House 4:32
06. Hymie's Him 3:18
07. Banging The Door 4:49
08. Go Back 3:46
09. Francis Massacre 3:32
10. Flowers Of Romance (Instrumental) 2:51
11. Home Is Where The Heart Is 7:33
Written-By – Wobble, Walker
12. Another 3:51
Written-By – P.I.L.
LINE - UP
John Lydon – vocals, Stroh violin, saxophone, percussion
Keith Levene – electric guitar, bass guitar, piano, cello, synthesiser, percussion, drums (5, 8)
Martin Atkins – drums (1, 4, 5, 7), synthesiser (7)
Jah Wobble – bass on reissue bonus tracks "Home Is Where the Heart Is" and "Another"
NOTES
On Rear:
Flowers Of Romance (Instrumental) taken from the A-side of the Flowers Of Romance 12" VS 39712.
Home Is Where The Heart Is taken from the B-side of Flowers Of Romance VS 39712.
Another taken from the B-side of Memories VS 299/12.
Flac Size: 292 MB
04. PUBLIC IMAGE LIMITED - THE GREATEST HITS, SO FAR 1990
The Greatest Hits, So Far mines the singles PiL released through 1990. Ten years after its release, it was
doubtful that a second volume would surface (the '90s saw one lone studio release, not to mention a John Lydon "solo" record), so thankfully Lydon didn't embarrass himself by titling it "The Greatest Hits, Volume One." That said, not many outfits under the guise of one name can boast a collection of singles so diverse and ranging in quality.
Public Image Ltd – The Greatest Hits, So Far
Label: Virgin – CDV 2644, Virgin – 354 011
Format: CD, Compilation
Country: Europe
Released: 1990
Genre: Rock
Style: Alternative Rock, New Wave, Post-Punk
TRAXS
01. Public Image 2:59
Written-By – P.I.L.
02. Death Disco 4:16
Written-By – P.I.L.
03. Memories 5:08
Written-By – P.I.L.
04. Careering 4:35
Written-By – P.I.L.
05. Flowers Of Romance 2:52
Written-By – Lydon, Levene
06. This Is Not A Love Song 4:13
Written-By – Lydon, Levene, Atkins
07. Rise 6:18
Written-By – Laswell, Lydon
08. Home 5:50
Written-By – Laswell, Lydon
09. Seattle 3:41
Written-By – Dias, Smith, Lydon, McGeoch, Edmonds
10. The Body 6:38
Written-By – Dias, Smith, Lydon, McGeoch, Edmonds
11. Rules And Regulations 4:34
Written-By – Dias, Smith, Lydon, McGeoch, Edmonds
12. Disappointed 6:45
Written-By – Dias, Smith, Lydon, McGeoch, Edmonds, Hague
13. Warrior 7:08
Written-By – Dias, Smith, Lydon, McGeoch, Edmonds
14. Don't Ask Me 3:42
Producer – Tony Berg
Written-By – Dias, Lydon, McGeoch
LINE - UP
John Lydon - Lu Edmonds - Bruce Smith - Scott Firth
Keith Levene - Jah Wobble - Jim Walker -Richard Dudanski - Karl Burns Martin Atkins - Stella Nova - Ken Lockie - John McGeoch - Jeannette Lee
NOTES
Track 2 is the 7" Mix.
Tracks 6, 10 and 12-13 are all remixes, although not listed anywhere as such. The remix names for 10 and 12-13 have been taken from the appropriate 12" vinyls.
Track 7 is a previously unreleased remix.
Track 14 is previously unreleased.