Timeline – PiL Official

1978

Public Image 7" promo poster, 1978

Public Image Ltd forms

John Lydon forms Public Image with Keith Levene (guitar), Jah Wobble (bass), and Jim Walker (drums).
PiL (Public Image Limited) play their first UK shows on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
The band sign to Virgin Records and release their debut single 'Public Image' in October, followed by the album 'P ublic Image - First Issue' in December. Barely six months after forming.

1979

Death Disco promo poster 1979

Metal Box

Jim Walker leaves to be replaced by a succession of drummers, most notably Richard Dudanski then Martin Atkins.
Release of the second single 'Death Disco'. Written by John Lydon to his dying mother.
'Metal Box' is released: 12 tracks on three separate 12" records – playing at 45 rpm – housed in a limited edition metal canister.

1980

First US shows

PiL play their first US shows and also appear on 'American Bandstand'. John Lydon brings the audience on stage to dance and mime to 'Poptones' and 'Careering'.
Jah Wobble leaves. Jeannette Lee – who had worked behind the scenes – takes a more prominent, but still non-musical, role.
Release of live album 'Paris Au Printemps'. Recorded live in Paris, January 17th and 18th, 1980. 'Metal Box' is re-released as 'Second Edition' in a cardboard sleeve.

1981

The Ritz "riot", New York 1981 © Laura Levine

Flowers of Romance, and a move to New York

Release of third studio album 'Flowers of Romance'. Preceded by the single of same name.
PiL play a special show at New York, The Ritz. They perform behind a huge video screen. The audience riots.
PiL decide to relocate to New York from London due to logistics and Police harassment.

1982

PiL - Park South Studios 1982 © Maureen Baker

New York sessions begin

Drummer Martin Atkins rejoins, followed by bassist Pete Jones.
Recording begins in New York on what will be the 4th PiL studio album.
US and Canadian live shows.

1983

PiL Live line-up 1983

This Is Not A Love Song

Pete Jones leaves. Keith Levene leaves.
PiL play a short Japanese tour. John Lydon is the only founder member still in the band. With the exception of Martin Atkins, the line-up is largely unknown local New Jersey musicians hired for the shows. A live album from the tour is released.
Release of 'This Is Not A Love Song'. PiL's biggest UK hit single; peaking at Number 5. Followed by the first real UK and European tours.

1984

Los Angeles, Olympic Auditorium 1984 poster

This Is What You Want... This Is What You Get

'This Is What You Want… This Is What You Get' album is released, preceded by 'Bad Life' single. The album contains re-recorded material from the 1982 & 1983 New York sessions; including 'This Is Not A Love Song'.
New live line-up is recruited for North American, Japanese and Australian tours.
John Lydon – now the only original PiL member – releases his first single outside the band. Time Zone: 'World Destruction' with Africa Bambaataa.

1986

Album, press advert 1986

A new lineup, and Album

Release of 'Album' album. Recorded with producer Bill Laswell and various session musicians; including Ginger Baker, Steve Vai, and Ryuichi Sakamoto. 'Rise' from the album peaks at Number 11 in the UK charts.
A new PiL band is recruited: John McGeoch (guitar), Allan Dias (bass), Lu Edmonds (keyboards / guitar) and Bruce Smith (drums).
UK, European and North American tours.

1987

Seattle promo postcard 1987

Happy?

The "new" PiL release their first album together 'Happy?'.
Release of the single's 'Seattle' and 'The Body'.
UK, European and North American Tours, plus first ever South American shows.

1988

Estonia 1988, press cutting

Rock Summer Festival, Tallinn

PiL headline the first day of the 'Rock Summer Festival' in Tallinn, Estonia (USSR) playing to over 120,000 people. The biggest rock festival to be played behind the Iron Curtain.
Lu Edmonds is forced to quit the band due to health problems.

1989

9 artwork, 1989

9, and a package tour with New Order

Release of '9'. The 7th PiL studio album. And the 9th album including the two live albums.
PiL – along with New Order and The Sugarcubes (featuring Bjork) – tour North America.The three band package tour – known as 'Monsters of Alternative Rock' – is a forerunner to the now famous Lollapalooza tours of the early nineties.
Australian Tour. And one-off UK show at London, Hammersmith.

1990

Greatest Hits So Far, artwork 1990

Greatest Hits So Far

Bruce Smith leaves.
'The Greatest Hits So Far' compilation album is released; including several 12" mixes and remixes, plus the new track 'Don't Ask Me'.
'Don't Ask Me' becomes PiL's biggest UK hit single since 'Rise'.

1992

Cruel 7" artwork, 1992

That What Is Not

PiL – Lydon, McGeoch and Dias – release 'That What Is Not'. The band are complemented by sessions players.
EMI Records take over Virgin Records. PiL leave the label.
North American package tour with BAD, Live and Blind Melon. Followed by UK, European and South American Tours, plus more US shows. Allan Dias leaves during European shows.

1993

Leftfield Lydon - Open Up, cassette 1993

Open Up

John Lydon announces he has put PiL on hiatus to concentrate on recording a solo album; and to complete his autobiography ‘Rotten No Irish, No Blacks, No Dogs’. He also releases 'Open Up' a collaboration single with Leftfield.

1994

Rotten: No Irish, No Blacks, No Dogs, 1994

Rotten: No Irish, No Blacks, No Dogs

John Lydon's first autobiography is published, Rotten: No Irish, No Blacks, No Dogs.

1997

John Lydon - Psycho's Path, advert 1997

Psycho's Path

John Lydon releases the solo album 'Psycho's Path'. His first album outside PiL since the band was formed. He also plays live dates in North America and Japan.

1999

Plastic Box, 1999

Plastic Box

Release of limited edition 4 CD PiL box set 'Plastic Box'. 64 tracks in total. Including sleevenotes from John Lydon: "This collection represents a comma not a full stop, I fully intend to carry on with PiL,and there will be more in the future…"

2004

John McGeoch, Virgin promo pic 1992

John McGeoch RiP

PiL guitarist John McGeoch dies aged 48. RIP.

2005

John Lydon - Best of British £1 Notes, artwork 2005

Best of British £1 Notes

Release of John Lydon compilation CD 'Best of British £1 Notes' covering his whole career from the Sex Pistols, through PiL, to solo records and collaborations.
The DVD release features several PiL promo videos and also includes 3 previously unreleased extended audio mixes from 'Metal Box'.

2006

Metal Box , 4 Men With Beards reissue insert, 2006

Metal Box reissued

A vinyl replica of 'Metal Box' – 3x45rpm, housed in a metal can – is released in the USA by the 4 Men With Beards re-issue label. This is the first time the album had been released in its original form in the US.

2009

PiL 2009 - Scott Firth, John Lydon, Lu Edmonds, Bruce Smith © Dave Wainright

PiL Return

Public Image Limited return to play their first live shows in 17 years. John Lydon is joined by former PiL members Lu Edmonds (Guitar & Misc), Bruce Smith (Drums), and new recruit Scott Firth (Bass).

2010

Coachella Festival 2010 © River O'Mahoney Hagg

Coachella, and first show in Israel

First North American show in 18 years; including a headlining appearance at Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival in California. Further UK / European live dates and Festival appearances.
First ever live appearance in Israel. John Lydon declares "I hate all religion. I play for the people of Israel and not the Government”. John Lydon later describes playing material such as 'Warrior', 'Four Enclosed Walls' and 'Religion' as one of the highlights of his career. Particularly when the crowd of Israel joined him on the “Allah’ chorus of 'Four Enclosed Walls’.
Publication of 'Mr Rotten's Scrapbook'. Strictly limited edition to just 750 copies. The large format ‘coffee table’ style photographic book. Contains many unseen images of his life, career (including PiL) and includes handwritten commentary and quotes.

2011

Wincraft Studios, 2011

Back in the studio

PiL continue into 2011, playing more UK / European live dates and Festival appearances; including the Isle of Wight Festival and Summer Sonic Festival in Japan.
PiL awarded "Outstanding Contribution To Music" at Mojo Honours List.
Band enter the studio to record their first studio album since 1992.

2012

This is PiL artwork, 2012 © John Lydon

This Is PiL

PiL release the studio album ‘This is PiL’ preceded by the Record Store Day EP ‘One Drop’. The album is self-funded and released on their own PiL Official Ltd label.
Danny Boyle includes ‘Under The House’ in the London Olympics Opening Ceremony.
First live UK TV appearance in 20 years on BBC, Later With Jools Holland.

2013

John Lydon BMI Award 2013

First shows in China, BMI Award

First ever shows in China, along with tours of Japan and Australia.
UK / European Tour including Glastonbury Festival.
First ever North American release of PiL's debut album 'First Issue' via Light in the Attic Records.
John Lydon is honoured with the BMI icon award for songwriting.

2014

John Lydon - Anger is an Energy, book 2014

Anger Is An Energy

Career spanning PiL documentary in production (originally started 2010).
Publication of John Lydon's first full autobiography 'Anger is an Energy - My Life Uncensored' covering his full life including PiL.
One-off sold out show at London's 02 at the Indigo.

2015

What The World Needs Now.... advert 2015

What The World Needs Now...

Release of 10th studio album 'What The World Needs Now...' preceded by single 'Double Trouble' both via PiL Official.
UK, European and North American tours.
Release of ‘The One’ (UK) & ‘Bettie Page’ (US) 7” singles.

2016

Metal Box & Album Super-Deluxe Box sets, 2016

Back to Latin America, Super-Deluxe Box Sets

Further UK & European tour dates.
First Latin America tour for 24 years.
Super-deluxe box set editions of 'Album' and 'Metal Box'.

2017

The Public Image is Rotten artwork, 2017

The Public Image is Rotten documentary, Mr Rotten's Songbook

John Lydon publishes 'Mr Rotten's Songbook', celebrating 40 years of songwriting across PiL, solo & Sex Pistols.
Film Festival screenings of PiL documentary ‘The Public Image is Rotten’.

2018

PiL - ‘The Public Image is Rotten - Songs From The Heart box set, 2017

40th anniversary tour & box set

'The Public Image is Rotten’ 40th Anniversary UK/Europe & Japanese Tour.
‘The Public Image is Rotten - Songs From The Heart ’ career spanning box set released.
'The Public Image is Rotten’ documentary set for general release.

2019

John Lydon - Talk Tour, 2020

Q&A tour announced

John Lydon announces first ever UK Q&A tour. 54 dates starting Autumn 2020.

2020

I Could Be Wrong, I Could Be Right book, 2020

I Could Be Wrong, I Could Be Right book

John Lydon UK Q&A tour is postponed until 2021 due to Covid-19 pandemic.
John Lydon publishes 'I Could Be Wrong, I Could Be Right' limited edition book.
PiL documentary 'The Public Image is Rotten' is given a streaming release.

2021

I Could Be Wrong, I Could Be Right tour

John Lydon 'I Could Be Wrong, I Could Be Right' UK Q&A tour. 50+ dates rescheduled from 2020

2022

Keith Levene RiP

PiL UK / European tour, preluded by an appearance at the Cruel World Festival in California. The first post-covid PiL shows; and the first since 2018.
Founder PiL guitarist Keith Levene dies aged 65. RiP.

2023

End of World, Nora & Rambo RiP

PiL bid to represent Ireland at Eurovision 2023 with their new single Hawaii.
Release of 11th studio album 'End of World' via PiL Official.
The death’s of John Lydon’s wife Nora Forster (age 80) and his best friend and manager John Rambo Stevens (age 66). Things will never be the same again. RiP.

2024

I Could Be Wrong, I Could Be Right' UK Q&A tour 2023

Talk Tour, Bruce Smith leaves

John Lydon 'I Could Be Wrong, I Could Be Right' Q&A tour. 44 dates in the UK.
PiL announce they will return for a major tour in 2025.
Longtime drummer Bruce Smith officially leaves.

2025

This is Not the Last Tour 2025

This Is Not The Last Tour

PiL UK / European tour, This is Not the Last Tour, 39 summer dates, followed by 10 dates over Christmas 2025 and New Year 2026.
Drummer Mark Roberts joins.
John Lydon 'I Could Be Wrong, I Could Be Right’ Q&A tour, 54 UK & Ireland dates.

2026

South America, and Alive

PiL South American, European & North American Tours.
‘Alive’ live album released, recorded at several shows in 2025.
PiL begin recording 12th studio album set for release in 2027.
Further John Lydon 'I Could Be Wrong, I Could Be Right' Q&A UK dates.