History Music / PublicImageLtd

The group has at various points included, among others, Jah Wobble and Keith Levene (founder members), [[{{Cream}} Ginger Baker]], and Magazine's John [=McGeogh=].

** "Careering" is an odd example in that the lyrics have two levels of meaning, as indicated by the dual definition of the title word (working professionally in something vs. wandering aimlessly): One being the class critique, the other being about [[TheTroubles the IRA's bombing campaign in Northern Ireland]].

* TakeThat: It's a band led by Johnny Lydon. A ''lot'' of things and people get on his nerves. The music industry ("This Is Not A Love Song"), Religion (see ReligionRantSong), Seattle and its hotels ("Seattle"), LouReed ("Where Are You"), broadsheet newspapers ("Chant"), GeorgeHWBush ("U.S.L.S.1"), intrusive fans ("Banging The Door"). Every so often, for variety, he has a go at himself, too. And quite a few songs are {{TakeThat}}s taken to a level of abstraction where you're definitely sure he's having a go at ''something'' or ''someone'', even if you're not sure exactly what or whom.

** The title ''Second Edition'' is a PunnyName on several levels. It's the group's second album, it's the second edition of the album (originally released with different packaging as ''Metal Box''), and it's the second edition of the band itself (with original drummer Jim Walker replaced by a variety of session players).

The band split in 1992, and Lydon attempted a solo career (that only resulted in a single album, ''Psycho's Path'', which bombed) and then reunited The Music/SexPistols. In 2009, Lydon reunited Public Image Ltd. with a lineup consisting of Lydon, former members Lu Edmonds and Bruce Smith, and multi-instrumentalist Scott Firth. A new album, ''This is [=PiL=]'', will be issued in May 2012.

* {{Sampling}}: a loop of John Lydon singing "no future", taken from TheSexPistols' "God Save The Queen", shows up near the end of "Acid Drops". And one extended remix of "The Body" uses the oft-sampled drum machine beat of Schoolly D's "PSK (What Does It Mean?)".

* {{Sampling}}: a sample of John Lydon singing "no future", taken from TheSexPistols' "God Save The Queen", shows up near the end of "Acid Drops". And one extended remix of "The Body" uses the oft-sampled drum machine beat of Schoolly D's "PSK (What Does It Mean?)".

* {{Sampling}}: a sample of John Lydon singing "no future", taken from The SexPistol's "God Save The Queen", shows up in "Acid Drops". And one extended remix of "The Body" uses the oft-sampled drum machine beat of Schoolly D's "PSK (What Does It Mean?)".

Public Image Ltd. are a PostPunk band formed by John Lydon in 1978 after his departure from the SexPistols, a move that freed him to pursue his interest in experimental music, dub, prog rock and various other types of music that were ''non grata'' in the world of late 70's PunkRock that the Pistols had helped cultivate. The group has gone through a bewildering range of changes of [[RevolvingDoorBand personnel]] and [[NeoclassicalPunkZydecoRockabilly musical styles]], and occasional hiatuses, and at this point effectively consists of [[FaceOfTheBand Lydon]] and whoever else is in the band at the moment.

The band split in 1992, and Lydon attempted a solo career (that only resulted in a single album, ''Psycho's Path'', which bombed) and then reunited TheSexPistols. In 2009, Lydon reunited Public Image Ltd. with a lineup consisting of Lydon, former members Lu Edmonds and Bruce Smith, and multi-instrumentalist Scott Firth. A new album, ''This is [=PiL=]'', will be issued in May 2012.

* HiddenDepths: Who'd have thought that [[TheSexPistols Johnny Rotten]] was a fan of ProgRock?

* TakeThat: It's a band led by Johnny Lydon. A ''lot'' of things and people get on his nerves. The music industry ("This Is Not A Love Song"), Religion (see ReligionRantSong), Seattle and its hotels ("Seattle"), LouReed ("Where Are You"), broadsheet newspapers ("Chant"), GeorgeHWBush ([[PunnyTitle"U.S.L.S.1"]]), intrusive fans ("Banging The Door")...Every so often, for variety, he has a go at himself, too. And quite a few songs are {{TakeThat}}s taken to a level of abstraction where you're definitely sure he's having a go at ''something'' or ''someone'', even if you're not sure exactly what or whom. ("Memories" being a case in point. Probably.)

* EpicRiff: Their first two albums, while graced with some brilliant guitar playing, have very few actual "riffs". Jah Wobble's ''bass lines'', [[DoubleSubversion on the other hand...]]

* FridgeHorror: "Pop Tones" definitely counts - and the cumulative effect of the "We only wanted to be loved" chants in "Fodderstompf"? *shudder*

* ReligionRantSong: Fairly heavily featured in the early work.

* RevolvingDoorBand. PlayedForLaughs with "We are a company" as a justification

* ItsBeenDone: Flipper came out with a "generic album" before [=PiL=] did. Flipper releaed an album called ''Public Flipper Ltd.'' as a TakeThat.

* RevolvingDoorBand. PlayedForLaughs with "We are a comapany" as a justification

* EpicRocking: At ;east two examples, both from ''Metal Box''/''Second Edition''. "Albatross" is 10:32, while "Poptones" is 7:46.

The band split in 1992, and Lydon attempted a solo career (that only resulted in a single album, ''Psycho's Path'', which bombed) and then reunited TheSexPistols. In 2009, Lydon reunited Public Image Ltd. with a lineup consisting of Lydon, former members Lu Edmonds and Bruce Smith, and multi-instrumentalist. A new album, ''This is [=PiL=]'', will be issued in May 2012.

The band split in 1992, and Lydon attempted a solo career (that only resulted in a single album, ''Psycho's Path'', which bombed) and then reunited TheSexPistols. In 2009, Lydon reunited Public Image Ltd. with a lineup consisting of Lydon, former members Lu Edmonds and Bruce Smith, and multi-instrumentalist. A new album, ''This is PiL'', will be issued in May 2012.

* ''This is PiL'' (2012)

The band split in 1992, and Lydon attempted a solo career (that only resulted in a single album, ''Psycho's Path'', which bombed) and then reunited TheSexPistols. In 2009, Lydon reunited Public Image Ltd. with a lineup consisting of Lydon, former members Lu Edmonds and Bruce Smith, and multi-instrumentalist Scott Firth. Lydon claims that a new album will be out in late 2011 or early 2012.

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* NeoclassicalPunkZydecoRockabilly: ''First Issue'' is still fairly straight(ish) punk/new wave, except for two longer, strung-out experimental pieces, [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPSGJPg-tCU "Theme"]] and [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tzn3_NEek4M "Fodderstompf"]]. These turned out to be better indicators for the next few albums, especially ''Metal Box'', than any of the more "accessible" tracks. Around ''This Is What You Want, This Is What You Get'', the sound took a turn for the more "commercial", to variable fan-reaction, and has changed again a few times since. Lydon has cited YokoOno, {{Can}}, and VanDerGraafGenerator among his influences.

* RevolvingDoorBand

* {{Shout Out}}s: Include TheRimeOfTheAncientMariner ("Albatross") and Keats' "La Belle Dame Sans Merci" ("No Birds")

* ItsBeenDone: Flipper came out with a "generic album" before [=PiL=] did, something that Flipper's members are still bitter about.

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