List of members of Public Image Ltd.

Public Image Ltd.'s ever-changing structure allowed a large number of people to pass through its ranks. This listing is based on data found on the Fodderstompf website, especially the members and discography sections. "Most of the people involved were dislikable little shits," Jah Wobble observed of the band's formative years, "including meself."^[1]

Full-time members

Musicians

Current

• John Lydon – vocals and miscellaneous (1978-1992, 2009-present)
• Bruce Smith – drums, backing vocals (1986-1990, 2009-present)
• Lu Edmonds – guitars, saz, banjo, keyboards, backing vocals (1986-1988, 2009-present)
• Scott Firth – bass, keyboards, backing vocals (2009-present)

Former

• Keith Levene – guitars, keyboards and miscellaneous (1978-1983)
• Jah Wobble – bass (1978-1980)
• Jim Walker – drums (1978)
• Vivian Jackson – drums (early 1979, very briefly)
• David Humphrey – drums (February 1979)
• Richard Dudanski – drums (April-September 1979)
• Karl Burns – drums (September 1979, very briefly)
• Martin Atkins – drums and miscellaneous (1979-1980, 1982-1985)
• Steve New – guitar (1980, briefly)
• Ken Lockie – keyboards (1982)
• Pete Jones – bass (1982-1983)
• John McGeoch – guitar (1986-1992)
• Allan Dias – bass (1986-1992)

Other personnel

• Dave Crowe - secretary (1978-1981)
• Jeannette Lee - videographer (1979-1983)

Timeline

Live only

• Sam Ulano – drums (New York's Ritz, 15 May 1981)
• Joseph Guida – guitar (1983)
• Louis Bernardi – bass (1983-1984)
• Tommy Zvoncheck – keyboards (1983)
• Arthur Stead – keyboards (1983)
• Mark Schulz – guitar (1984-1985)
• Bret Helm – bass (1984-1985)
• Jebin Bruni – keyboards (1984-85)
• Ted Chau – guitar and keyboards (1989, 1992)
• Russell Webb – bass (1992)
• Torgun Mann - guitar (1992, spring tour only)
• Mike Joyce – drums (1992)

Session/studio only

• Colin Woore - guitar (This Is What You Want... This Is What You Get)
• Louis Bernardi - bass (This Is What You Want..., also in the live band but not considered a full-time member)
• Gary Barnacle - brass and keyboards (This Is What You Want...)
• Richard Cottle - keyboards (This Is What You Want...)
• Bill Laswell - producer and bass guitarist (Album)
• Steve Vai and Nicky Skopelitis - guitar (Album)
• Jonas Hellborg - bass (Album)
• Tony Williams and Ginger Baker - drums (Album)
• Bernie Worrell - organ (Album)
• James Deece - bass synthesizer, drum programming (Album)
• Ryuichi Sakamoto - synthesizer (Album)
• Malachi Favors - acoustic bass (Album)
• Aïyb Dieng - chatan (Album)
• Steve Turre - didgeridoo (Album)
• L. Shankar - electric violin (Album)
• Bernard Fowler - backing vocals (Album)
• Curt "Kirbee" Bisquera - drums (That What Is Not)
• Gregg "JP" Arreguin - rhythm guitar (That What Is Not)
• Jimmie Wood - harmonica (That What Is Not)
• Tower of Power - horn section (That What Is Not)
• Bonnie Sheridan and Julie Christensen - backing vocals (That What Is Not)

Principal members

1978-80

• John Lydon
• Keith Levene
• Jah Wobble

1980-83

• John Lydon
• Keith Levene
• Martin Atkins
• Pete Jones

1983-85

• John Lydon
• Martin Atkins

1986-88

• John Lydon
• John McGeoch
• Lu Edmonds
• Allan Dias
• Bruce Smith

1988-90

• John Lydon
• John McGeoch
• Allan Dias
• Bruce Smith

1990-92

• John Lydon
• John McGeoch
• Allan Dias

2009-present

• John Lydon
• Lu Edmonds
• Bruce Smith
• Scott Firth

References