zoom_in Click to enlarge

First Issue

▲ ▼

description First Issue Overview

First Issue is the debut studio album by the English post-punk band Public Image Ltd (PiL), released in 1978 by Virgin Records. The album marked John Lydon's first musical project following the breakup of the Sex Pistols, featuring a stark departure from traditional punk rock. Supported by the rhythm section of Jah Wobble and Keith Levene, the record is defined by its abrasive guitars, heavy dub-influenced basslines, and krautrock-inspired structures, targeting listeners interested in the origins of experimental post-punk.

help First Issue FAQ

When was Public Image Ltd's First Issue released?

First Issue was released in 1978 on Virgin Records as the debut album by Public Image Ltd. It was John Lydon's first recorded work after the breakup of the Sex Pistols.

Who played on PiL's First Issue?

First Issue featured John Lydon on vocals, Jah Wobble on bass, Keith Levene on guitar, and Jim Walker on drums. Together they created a stark, dub-influenced sound radically different from Lydon's punk origins with the Sex Pistols.

What album did PiL release after First Issue?

PiL followed First Issue with Metal Box in 1979, which is widely regarded as their masterpiece and one of the most influential post-punk albums ever made. The core lineup of Lydon, Wobble, and Levene continued on that record before Wobble departed.

What genre is First Issue by Public Image Ltd?

First Issue is considered a foundational post-punk album, combining angular guitar work, dub-style basslines, tape manipulation, and Lydon's confrontational, improvised-sounding vocals. It helped define the musical direction that distinguished post-punk from the punk movement that preceded it.

swap_horiz

Looking for First Issue alternatives? Compare top competitors ranked & scored

arrow_forward