Public Image Ltd have added shows in Torquay, Brighton, Warrington and Cheltenham to their already extensive tour around the UK, which will see the band take the stage in Bristol, Newcastle, Limerick, Sheffield, and Coventry and many more exciting locations.

The tour will take place over four months next year, from May to August and will occur alongside several festival appearances in the summer. The ‘This Is Not A Love Song’ performers will headline Blackpool’s Rebellion Festival, Stone Valley Festival in their South, Midlands and North variations of the festival, and the UK Sister event to Cruel World Festival, Forever Now, sharing a stage with Kraftwerk, Johnny Marr, Happy Mondays and Billy Idol. 2025 will also see PiL provide support for Stiff Little Fingers during their upcoming Belfast gig.

On sale today, Wednesday, December 18th from 10am.

Monday, May 26th, Torquay, Foundry, UK

Tuesday, May 27th, Brighton, Chalk, UK

Tuesday, July 1st, Warrington, Parr Hall, UK

Thursday, August 7th, Cheltenham, Town Hall, UK

See full dates at https://t.co/x5g3uGyKjP pic.twitter.com/1heVQhvGJA

— Public Image Ltd (@pilofficial) December 18, 2024

Tickets for the additional shows went on general sale today, Wednesday 18 December at 10am GMT.

PiL are a post-punk band founded in the late-1970s, emerging from the disbandment of Sex Pistols in 1978. The initial lineup featured John Lydon as frontman, alongside former Clash member Keith Levene and school friend Jah Wobble. Their debut ‘Public Image’ set a standard for the group, gaining their acclaim as a top ten hit. Since then, as Lydon remains the only constant member throughout the group’s changing lineup, the band have remained renowned for their thought-provoking lyrics, experimental instrumentation, and fusion of rock and post-punk melodies.

The band have been met with a turbulent few years. Alongside the release of ‘End Of World’ in August 2023, which led to a tour of the album in the UK and Europe in late 2023, there was a marked degree of uncertainty for the band’s future, especially surrounding the occurrence of live shows, due to the personal loss frontman Lydon has faced during 2023. Lydon encountered an unimaginable degree of loss, following the passing of his wife Nora in April 2023, along with his friend and manager John Rambo Stevens who passed that December. The track ‘Hawaii’ from their recent release depicts the deep loss and desperate pain Lydon experienced due to losing his wife to Alzheimer’s. A clear standout track from the release as Pitchfork referred to the “melodic and wistful edge” of ‘Hawaii’ which “evokes life slipping away in a fog of morphine and sunshine”.

Lydon has stated on many occasions that the enthusiasm and support from fans is what has pushed the band to tour again in 2025. As the fans have created the momentum of demand for PiL’s upcoming tour, it will be no surprise if the band perform their most memorable hits and fan favourites during their ‘This Is Not The Last Tour’ next year.

The additional dates are as followed:

May 26  –Foundry, Torquay

May 27 –Chalk, Brighton

July 1 – Pyramid and Parr Hall, Warrington

August 7 – Town Hall, Cheltenham

Taking place between August 7 and August 10, 2025, in the Winter Gardens of Blackpool, Rebellion Festival will return for another year of being the UK’s largest independent punk festival.

Post-punk legends PiL will take to the stage on August 9, returning to the festival for the first time since 2018. Their appearance at Rebellion Festival will accompany their ‘This Is Not The Last Tour’ tour, a highly anticipated tour after former Sex Pistols frontman and PiL’s lead vocalist, John Lydon opened up about the band potentially not being able to tour again after the recent death of lifelong friend and manager, John Rambo Stevens who passed during PiL’s last tour in December 2023, soon after the death of Lydon’s wife Nora in April 2023. PiL will perform a fascinating set featuring some of their most notable hits – ‘Public Image’, ‘Rise’ and ‘The Order of Death’ – from their vast back catalogue along with songs from their 2023 release ‘End Of World’.

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Joining PiL in August, post-punk band Peter Hook & The Light will hit the stage to perform a captivating set featuring hits from frontman Peter Hook’s musical contributions as vocalist and bassist to influential post-punk groups Joy Division and New Order. They will most likely perform upbeat and nostalgic renditions of some classic tracks from the two bands including: ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’, ‘Disorder’, ‘Blue Monday’ and ‘Temptation’.

Alongside PiL and Peter Hook & The Light, 2 tone ska band The Selecter will grace the stage with their infectious ska hits. The ‘On My Radio’ and ‘Too Much Pressure’ hitmakers were known in the late 1970s and 80s for their diverse racial and gender line-up – Pauline Black provided newly seen vocal tones in ska as lead vocalist alongside Arthur ‘Gaps’ Hendrickson (who sadly passed earlier this year), Neol Davies and Compton Amanor on guitar, Desmond Brown on hammond organ, Charley ‘Aitch’ Bembridge on drums, and Charley Anderson on bass. The group first gained acclaim as the flip side track on The Special’s ‘Gangsters’ single back in 1979. It is no doubt that The Selecter will bring energetic ska flare to Rebellion Festival next August.

The Rebellion Festival 2025 lineup will also encounter a performance from the Northern Irish rock band The Undertones, known for their Alt-Rock tracks ‘Teenage Kicks’, ‘Here Comes the Summer’ and ‘My Perfect Cousin’ from the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Other acts will include Hugh Cornwell, Bad Manners, Neville Staple From The Specials, Down By Law, Voodoo Glow Skulls and Toxic Reasons along with more exclusive sets from many more exciting acts.

The upcoming announcement of Rebellion Festival’s 2025 lineup carefully balances post-punk nostalgia with contemporary acts to display the eclectic and ever-growing nature of the festival and the genre of punk. It will appeal to multi-generational audiences and to new and old fans alike. Tickets are on sale now and can be accessed here. It’s certainly an event you cannot miss.

The tour will span across the UK and Ireland, visiting cities and venues often overlooked by other acts to bring PiL’s unique sound to fans old and new. Kicking off in June, the tour is planned to last until early August, although the new dates could take them later into the year.

Frontman, and former Sex Pistol, John Lydon previously hinted that PiL’s 2023 tour might be their last, following a period of personal loss. In April 2023, Lydon’s wife, Nora Forster, passed away after a five-year battle with Alzheimer’s. Later that year, his manager and childhood friend, John “Rambo” Stevens, died suddenly after the last PiL tour in December.

In spring 2024, Lydon embarked upon a spoken word tour across the UK, where he shared stories and reflections with fans. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with many urging him to return with PiL. He shared, “People were so overwhelmingly positive, and they asked me to tour PiL again… I couldn’t just stay on my sofa and not tour – tempting though that obviously is.”

Founded in 1978, PiL emerged as a major force in post-punk, pushing boundaries with their experimental mix of punk, dub, and rock. Formed after Lydon left The Sex Pistols, it was an outlet for him to explore music that his previous band wouldn’t have allowed him to. Their work has influenced alternative music through artists such as U2, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Massive Attack.

While the full setlist hasn’t been disclosed, fans can expect a mix of PiL classics. Songs such as ‘This Is Not a Love Song’, ‘Public Image’, ‘Rise’, and ‘Death Disco’ were all staples of PiL shows of the past, and it’s difficult to imagine a show without them.

The “This Is Not The Last Tour” will play at smaller venues, with some notable omissions. There are no dates in Manchester or Liverpool, Scotland, or Leeds, which has left some fans voicing their frustrations. On the other hand, the punk-legend will be delivering his set to crowds who are often forgotten about by major acts.

Hoping for some Scottish dates

— ScottLardo1970 (@scottlardo1970) November 12, 2024

With a strong lineup of dates, “This Is Not The Last Tour” is set to bring PiL’s genre-blending sound and defiant spirit back to the stage, allowing fans an intimate experience with one of alternative music’s most influential artists. Tickets will go on general sale at 10am on Friday, November 15, but if you just can’t wait, here’s a performance from 1983 at the legendary Rockpalast!

The announcement is accompanied with the release of the first single from the album “Penge“. You can listen to the new single below, which lead singer John Lydon described as “something of a medieval Viking epic.”

The single was released yesterday, on April 11th, before the news of the tour and album was announced. The band posted videos of the band in the studio on Twitter in anticipation of the release, as shown below.

Penge – New PiL single released Tuesday, April 11th. Also look out for a big announcement the same day…

See PiL and John Lydon socials for teasers over the next few days… pic.twitter.com/DMP8cD4vS0

— Public Image Ltd (@pilofficial) April 6, 2023

The big announcement comes after the news that John Lydon‘s wife of forty-four years, Nora Forster, died this week at the age of eighty. She had been diagnosed with Alzheimers in 2018. The band posted the news on Twitter, as seen below, also announcing that the upcoming album would be released in her honour.

Rest in Peace Nora Forster 1/2 It is with a heavy heart that we share the sad news that Nora Forster – John Lydon’s wife of nearly 5 decades – has passed away. Nora had been living with Alzheimer’s for several years. In which time John had become her full time carer. pic.twitter.com/mEabNLmrHy — Public Image Ltd (@pilofficial) April 6, 2023

They also announced below their plans to continue with the release and tour, despite the awful news.

PiL have decided to continue plans to announce their 11th studio album End of World, following the sad passing of John’s wife Nora Forster. End of World will be released on 11th August followed by a 38-date UK & European Tour.

See https://t.co/LWN0WufLlG website for full info pic.twitter.com/tKvhiQ3prX

— Public Image Ltd (@pilofficial) April 11, 2023

The final song on the album “Hawaii“, was released earlier this year, in honour of John’s wife. It is described on the band’s official website as “the most personal piece of songwriting and accompanying artwork that John Lydon has ever shared. The song is a love letter to John’s late wife Nora.”

The statement continued, calling it “A pensive, personal yet universal love song that has resonated with many since its release in January, the song sees John reflecting on their lifetime well spent and in particular one of their happiest moments together in Hawaii. John said, “Nora loved the album, she wouldn’t have wanted us to postpone it or change any of our plans.” Previously he has said of Hawaii, “It is dedicated to everyone going through tough times on the journey of life, with the person they care for the most.”

The offical tracklist for the album End Of World is as follows:

1. “Penge”
2. “End Of The World”
3. “Car Chase”
4. “Being Stupid Again”
5. “Walls”
6. “Pretty Awful”
7. “Strange”
8. “Down On The Clown”
9. “Dirty Murky Delight”
10. “The Do That”
11. “L.F.C.F”
12. “North West Passage”
13. “Hawaii”

The band, also known as PiL, was formed by singer John Lydon, formerly of the Sex Pistols, in 1978. He formed the band with guitarist Keith Levene, bassist Jah Wobble, and drummer Jim Walker, but has remained the only constant member since. The band’s music is of the post-punk genre, but has a distinct experimental sound often associated with John Lydon’s style of singing.

The band released their debut album First Issue in 1978, the first of 11 albums. There was a seventeen year hiatus between 1992 and 2009, before Lydon brought the band back together for two new albums and a world tour. In 2018, PiL celebrated their 40th anniversary with the release of a box set of career highlights, a documentary, which were both called The Public Image Is Rotten’, and a 32-date UK/Europe/Japan tour.

John Lydon, Lu Edmonds, Scott Firth and Bruce Smith continue as the official line up of PiL.

You can pre order the album here, due to be released on the 11th of August.

Stream the new single here:

Tickets for the tour can be purchased here from the 14th April at 10am. Presale starts on the 12th. The tour begins in Swansea, in September, and all 15 UK dates are listed below:

11/09/2023 – Patti Pavilion – Swansea
12/09 – Dreamland – Margate
13/09 – Engine Shed – Lincoln
15/09 – King George’s Hall – Blackburn
16/09 – Tivoli – Buckley
18/09 – Fire Station – Sunderland
19/09 – Beach Ballroom – Aberdeen
21/09 – O2 Academy – Edinburgh
22/09 – O2 Ritz – Manchester
23/09 – Picture Dome – Holmfirth
25/09 – HMV Empire – Coventry
26/09 – Chalk – Brighton
28/09 – O2 Academy – Bristol
29/09 – Foundry – Torquay
30/09 – O2 Forum Kentish Town – London

@Brixsmithstart, formerly of The Fall and The Extricated, has been confirmed as support for PiL on 8 UK shows this June. The all new female band also features members of My Bloody Valentine. https://t.co/i6IxleCSRk. pic.twitter.com/r7iXFAatZR

— Public Image Ltd (@pilofficial) April 13, 2022

Brix Smith revealed in February that she will be releasing a new album entitled Valley of the Dolls, and will be joined live by an all-female group. The newly formed band consists of Smith, alongside My Bloody Valentine’s Deb Googe on bass and Jen Marco on keyboards and guitar, in addition to Vas and Ros from Deux Furieuses. To quote Smith herself, she says that she has “put together the motherfucker of all girl bands.”

Smith said of the band’s formation and as-yet-unannounced official name, according to NME: “I’m going under the name Brix Smith or possibly Brix Smith Group, I haven’t decided yet. It’s time for me to put my money where my mouth is and take it out there! All of us are between 40 and 60 and they’re all top post-punk feminists.”

Smith’s last band was called Brix & the Extricated, which featured other former members of The Fall, Steve and Paul Hanley. The band’s formation was originally intended to be for a one-off concert at Manchester’s Ruby Lounge, however the show was so successful that the group performed more gigs and went on a national tour in 2015. The group released a single in 2016 called “Something To Lose”, and an album entitled Part 2 was released in 2017. The group would then go on to release two more full-length records; Breaking State in 2018 and Super Blood Wolf Moon in 2019. The band are seemingly still active, however have not played live or released any new material since 2019.

The band’s studio material was received warmly by fans and critics, with Louder Than War saying of the group’s third album, Super Blood Wolf Moon: “9/10 for a glorious album that sees Brix break free from the Lovecraftian clank and grind of the Fall without losing those glorious Hanley bass lines and create shimmering music of her own…The album is full of these gems, each song is its own empire, a place to get lost in full of melody and ideas and intense emotional workouts and yet captivating, blissful classic guitar pop.”

You can view Smith’s forthcoming tour dates with PiL down below.

06/06/2022 – O2 Ritz, Manchester
07/06 – O2 Academy, Leeds
16/06 – O2 Forum Kentish Town, London
17/06 – O2 Institute, Birmingham
18/06 – O2 Academy, Bristol
20/06 – UEA, Norwich
22/06 – O2 Academy, Glasgow
23 /06– Rock City, Nottingham