Public Image Ltd (PiL) formed in June 1978 when Sex Pistols frontman John Lydon joined guitarist Keith Levene, bassist Jah Wobble, and drummer Jim Walker. The band's name derived from Muriel Spark's 1968 novel The Public Image, with Lydon adding "Ltd" to signal a departure from the Sex Pistols' confrontational approach. PiL's sound fused rock, dance, dub, and folk influences, establishing them as post-punk innovators. Their 1978 debut single "Public Image" reached the UK top 10, while "This Is Not a Love Song" (1983) became their biggest UK hit at number 5. The band released five UK Top 20 albums before disbanding in 1992. After a 17-year hiatus, PiL reunited in 2009 with Lydon, guitarist Lu Edmonds, drummer Bruce Smith, and bassist Scott Firth, continuing to perform and record through the 2020s. Lydon remained the sole constant member throughout the band's frequently shifting lineup.