| Public Image Ltd A biography of sorts... 1978 After the Sex Pistols split up at the end of their 1978 U.S. tour, singer Johnny Rotten having taken a short trip to Jamaica, returns to England to form a new band with ex-Clash member Keith Levene, novice bass player Wobble (John Wardle) and Canadian Jim Walker, who has played drums with the Fury's. The formation of the group is officially announced by John on 25th of July 1978. Later the same year they release the first single 'Public Image' and their debut album 'Public Image - First Issue' on Virgin Records. The album reaches UK Number 22. Their first live gig is a Christmas Day showcase at Londons Rainbow Theatre, they also perform there again on boxing day (later released as a bootleg album Extra Issue and later Nubes) Walker will leave, to be replaced on drums by Richard Dundanski and then by Martin Atkins. 1979 June 30: Lydon guests on BBC1 TV's ''Juke Box Jury'', on a panel with Joan Collins. July: Death Disco reaches UK Number 20 |
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| September 8-9: PiL perform at the two day 'Futurama Festival' at the Queens Hall, Leeds, West Yorkshire. October: Memories peaks at UK Number 60 December: Metal Box reaches UK Number 18, so titled because the original package is a round 12'' metal container with album inside in the form of three 12'' singles. 1980 February 13: Lydons London house is raided by the police, who smash open the front door to find him waving a ceremonial sword at them from the top of the stairs. The only illegal item found on the premises is a canister of tear gas, claimed to be for defence against intruders. March: Metal Box is re-issued in a conventional form as the double album Second Edition and reaches UK Number 46. The band play selected European dates, including a concert in Paris, France that is recorded for a future release. June: Returning from a short US tour which has had mixed reception, the band announce they will not play live again, and Atkins leaves to join Brian Brain. August: Wobble departs for a solo career (to later form Human Condition and more successfully in the 90's after working for London Underground - Jah Wobbles Invaders Of The Heart) October 6: Lydon is arrested for assault after a Pub brawl in Dublin, Eire (Sentenced to three months in jail for disorderly conduct, he will later be aquitted on appeal) November: Live album Paris au Printemps, makes UK Number 61. Jeanette Lee joins the group for visual assistance, organising it's visual elements. 1981 March: From new recordings by Lydon, Levene and Lee, Flowers of Romance reaches UK number 24 April: Album Flowers Of Romance, with Atkins drumming on three tracks, reaches UK number 24 May 15: PiL perform a show at New Yorks Ritz Club, posing behind a video screen while the music is played from tapes. They are showered with missles and booed off stage by the 1,500 strong crowd, whom Lydon insults in return. (The band considers the event successful, having video taped the debacle for movie use) 1982 February: Lydon dismisses rumours the band has split, following an article in Sounds. Lydon states- 'The tosspot was desperate for a story last week so he made one up.'' (While he relocates to NYC, Jeanette Lee leaves the band) 1983 July: Levene now departs, leaving the pivotal Lydon as PiL's only full time member. October: This Is Not A Love Song hits UK Number 5, the groups biggest hit single, while the double album Live In Tokyo, their second performance set, makes UK Number 28. Lydon appears in the movie Cop Killer with Harvey Keitel 1984 May: Lydon assembles a new line-up for Bad Life, which peaks at UK 71. July: This Is What You Want,This Is What You Get makes Uk 56. 1985 February: Lydon teams up with New York hip-hop artist Afrika Bambaataa, under the name Time Zone, for World Destruction which makes UK 44 1986 February: Rise, on which Ginger Baker plays drums, reaches UK11. It is taken from Album, produced by Material member Bill Laswell (and also featuring Ginger Baker on percussion) , which makes UK 14. PiL tour to promote the release. December: Virgin Video releases 'Public Image Ltd; The Videos' comprising of promotion clips to date. 1987 September: Seattle reaches UK /number 47 as parent album Happy?, produced by Gary Langan, makes UK 40. 1988 August: PiL, comprising of Lydon with ex-Siouxsie & the Banshees, Magazine and the Armoury Show John McGeogh (guitar), Lu Edmunds (guitar-keyboards) Alan Dias (bass) and Bruce Smith (drums), embark on a tour supporting Big Country, which will include 200,000 attended 'Soviet Peace Festival' held in Tallinn, Estonia. September: 500 fans storm the stage in athens Greece during a PiL set, destroying equipment and setting fire to trees in the park. Greek anarchists join in, throwing rocks and petrol bombs, while a reported 1 million pounds worth of damage is done. 1989 May: PiL's Disappointed charts at UK 38. Edmunds quits due to ear trouble. June: Stephen Hague produced Nine (PiL's ninth album) makes UK 36, and embark on a US tour with New Order and the Sugarcubes. next... |
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