Est. 1978

About

Public Image Ltd formed in 1978, when John Lydon — fresh out of the Sex Pistols — set out to build something that owed nothing to punk’s rulebook. Dub bass, jagged guitar and Lydon’s voice against everything, PiL has spent over four decades refusing to repeat itself, through a rotating line-up built around one constant.

The Line-Up

John Lydon

Vocals · 1978–Present

After fronting the Sex Pistols, John Lydon formed Public Image Ltd in 1978. Outside of PiL, John has released several solo records and collaborations, and has published multiple books.

JohnLydon.com →

Lu Edmonds

Guitar & Misc · 1986–88, 2009–Present

Multi-instrumentalist and former guitarist in The Damned. Lu joined PiL in 1986, recording and playing on Happy? and co-writing 9. Also associated with The Mekons and Blabbermouth.

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Scott Firth

Bass & Keyboards · 2009–Present

A bass player/multi-instrumentalist who has played with Steve Winwood, John Martyn, Elvis Costello and The Spice Girls. His arrival in 2009 had John Lydon declaring him "Genius at work!"

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Mark Roberts

Drums · 2025–Present

Joined PiL in 2025 — a longtime friend of Lu Edmonds, the pair have made various albums together with poet Murray Lachlan Young, Blabbermouth and Boris Grebenschikov.

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Public Image Limited Have Also Been…

Keith Levene — Guitar, 1978–83 (RIP) Jah Wobble — Bass, 1978–1980 Jim Walker — Drums, 1978 Jeannette Lee — Non-musical member / admin, 1978–82 Dave Crowe — Non-musical member / admin, 1978–81 Vivian Jackson — Drums, January 1979 Eddie Edwards — Drums, February 1979 David Humphrey — Drums, February 1979 Richard Dudanski — Drums, April–September 1979 Karl Burns — Drums, September 1979 Martin Atkins — Drums, 1979/80/81 & 1982–85 Steve New — Guitar, 1980 Sam Ulano — Drums, 1981 (RIP) Pete Jones — Bass, 1982–83 Louis Bernardi — Bass, 1983–84 Joe Guida — Guitar, 1983 Arthur Stead — Keyboards, 1983 Tom Zvoncheck — Keyboards, 1983 Bret Helm — Bass, 1984–85 Mark Schulz — Guitar, 1984–85 Jebin Bruni — Keyboards / Guitar, 1984–85 Bill Laswell — Bass / Producer, 1986 John McGeoch — Guitar, 1986–92 (RIP) Allan Dias — Bass, 1986–92 Ted Chau — Guitar / Keyboards, 1989 & 1992 Mike Joyce — Drums, 1992 Russell Webb — Bass, 1992 Bruce Smith — Drums, 1986–1990 & 2009–2023 John "Rambo" Stevens — Manager, Producer, Warrior (RIP)

Plus over 20 session players, and at least another 10 non-musical members.