The 1865

Public Image Ltd (PiL) is an English post-punk band formed in June 1978 by lead vocalist John Lydon, guitarist Keith Levene, bassist Jah Wobble, and drummer Jim Walker. Lydon, previously the lead vocalist of the Sex Pistols, established PiL after leaving the band in January 1978, seeking a more experimental "anti-rock" project. The group's debut album, First Issue, was released in 1978 and featured an abrasive, bass-heavy sound influenced by dub, noise, progressive rock, and disco. Their second album, Metal Box, released in 1979, further pushed their sound into the avant-garde and is regarded as a significant work of the post-punk era. The third album, The Flowers of Romance, is also considered influential within the genre. Over the years, the group's lineup changed frequently, with Lydon remaining the only constant member. By 1984, Levene, Wobble, and Walker had left the band, and PiL became primarily a solo project for Lydon, who adopted a more accessible sound in subsequent albums, including This Is What You Want... This evolution reflected the band's ongoing experimentation and influence within the post-punk movement.