Wobble would prove to be a natural talent. Lydon assumed, much as he had with Sid Vicious, that Wobble would learn to play bass guitar as he went. Both had similarly broad musical tastes, and were avid fans of reggae and world music. Lydon and Wobble had previously played music together during the final days of the Sex Pistols.

The pair had been friends since the early 1970s when they attended the same school in Hackney (both belonged to a circle of friends Lydon informally dubbed 'The Gang of Johns' – John Lydon, John Wardle, John Gray, and Simon John Ritchie/Beverley, a.k.a. He approached Jah Wobble ( né John Wardle) about forming a band together. They've got bands up there who are trying to be different'. He stated in the press: 'I'm thinking about going up north for someone. Upon returning to England, Lydon searched for musicians but it was difficult. Branson also flew American new wave band Devo to Jamaica, aiming to install Lydon as lead vocalist in the band. (2015).įollowing the Sex Pistols' break-up in 1978, photographer Dennis Morris suggested that Lydon travel to Jamaica with him and Virgin Records head Richard Branson, where Branson would be scouting for emerging reggae musicians.

After a late 1990s hiatus, Lydon reformed the group in 2009 and has released several further albums, including What the World Needs Now. This Is What You Get (1984) and Album (1986). PiL's second studio album Metal Box (1979) pushed their sound further into the avant-garde, and is often regarded as one of the most important albums of the post-punk era.īy 1984, Levene, Wobble and Walker had departed and the group was effectively a solo vehicle for Lydon, who moved toward a more accessible sound with the commercially successful studio albums This Is What You Want.

That year PiL released their debut studio album First Issue (1978), creating an abrasive, bass-heavy sound that drew on dub, noise, progressive rock and disco.

The group's line-up has changed frequently over the years Lydon has been the sole constant member.įollowing Lydon's departure from the Sex Pistols in January 1978, he sought a more experimental 'anti- rock' project and formed PiL. Public Image Ltd (abbreviated and stylized as PiL) are an English post-punk band formed by lead vocalist John Lydon (previously known as the lead vocalist of Sex Pistols), guitarist Keith Levene, bassist Jah Wobble, and drummer Jim Walker in May 1978.

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