Public Image Limited是一支英国音乐团体，由前Sex Pistols乐队主唱Johnny Rotten于1978年组建。Johnny Rotten离开Sex Pistols乐队后改名为John Lydon，象征性地和自己的朋克根源决裂，并成为Public Image Ltd.乐队的灵魂人物。最初的PiL是一支四人乐队，他们早期的专辑都具有独特的包装，和他们的噪音未来主义音乐一样。PiL冲破种种界限，留下不少反摇滚的经典如《First Issue 》、《Metal Box》以及解散前一年发行的《That What Is Not》等。1993年Lydon在完成了自己的回忆录以后决定解散PiL，于是，留下多首摇滚经典的Public Image Limited乐队于1993年解散。
Public Image Ltd. (PiL) originally was a quartet led by singer John Lydon (formerly Johnny Rotten, born January 31, 1956) and guitarist Keith Levene, who had been a member of the Clash in one of its early lineups. The band was filled out by bassist Jah Wobble (John Wordle) and drummer Jim Walker. It was formed in the wake of the 1978 breakup of Lydons former group, the Sex Pistols. For the most part, it devoted itself to droning, slow-tempo, bass-heavy noise rock, overlaid by Lydons distinctive, vituperative rant.
The groups debut single, Public Image, was more of an up-tempo pop/rock song, however, and it hit the U.K. Top Ten upon its release in October 1978. The group itself debuted on Christmas Day, shortly after the release of its first album, Public Image. Neither the single nor the album was released in the U.S.
Metal Box, the bands second U.K. album, came in the form of three 12, 45 rpm discs in a film canister. It was released in the U.S. in 1980 as the double-album Second Edition. (By this time, PiL was a trio consisting of Lydon, Levene, and Wobble.) The third album, not released in the U.S., was the live Paris au Printemps (1980). Lydon and Levene, plus hired musicians, made up the group by the time of The Flowers of Romance (1981), the much-acclaimed fourth album, which reached number 11 in the U.K.
In 1983, PiL scored its biggest U.K. hit, when This Is Not a Love Song reached number five. By this time, however, Levene had left, and the name from here on would be, more than anything else, a vehicle for John Lydon (though with a comparatively steady lineup). A second live album, Live in Tokyo, appeared in England in 1983.
The following year saw the release of This Is What You Want...This Is What You Get, only PiLs third album to be released in the U.S., though it now had six albums out. It marked the start of Lydons move toward a more accessible dance-rock style, a direction that would be pursued further in Album (1986) (also called Cassette or Compact Disc, depending on the format), notably on the hit Rise, as well as on Happy? (1987) and 9 (1989). In 1990, PiL released the compilation album The Greatest Hits, So Far, and in 1991 came the new album That What Is Not. After completing his memoirs in late 1993, Lydon decided to put an end to PiL and pursue a solo career.