Guardian: Public Image Ltd to reform

From Hotline a few moments ago: "Big business is very wise / I'm crossing over into free enter-prize," Public Image Limited, "This Is Not A Love Song," 1983.

We may have missed it along these shores over our relaxed holiday weekend, but John Lydon, perhaps feeling he's squeezed every last cent out of punk pioneers the Sex Pistols, is now reforming his seminal new wave outfit Public Image Ltd. The band was also commonly known as PiL.

Lydon, who in the late '70s as Johnny Rotten set the world of music on fire with the Sex Pistols, told the Guardian that PiL is soon ending its 17 year hiatus. Some highlights from the Guardian:

PiL, which influenced bands such as Manic Street Preachers and Massive Attack, lasted eight years with numerous line-ups, and even though punk trailblazers the Sex Pistols have re-formed twice for financially lucrative tours, Lydon says that PiL are his "first love".

The 2009 PiL will not contain original band members Jah Wobble or Keith Levene (ex-Clash) but will instead feature guitarist Lu Edmonds, drummer Bruce Smith and a new arrival in multi-instrumentalist Scott Firth.

PiL, which had chart success with singles such as Public Image and This Is Not a Love Song, are re-forming for a five-date tour beginning on Dec. 15 in Birmingham.

"We'll see where we can go," Lydon said. "Some things may be quite similar, some may not."