Editing Public Image Ltd (section)

===Early career===
Following the Sex Pistols' break-up in 1978, photographer [[Dennis Morris (photographer)|Dennis Morris]] suggested that Lydon travel to [[Jamaica]] with him and [[Virgin Records]] head [[Richard Branson]], where Branson would be [[A&R|scouting]] for emerging [[reggae]] musicians.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/dennis-morris-photographer-interview/|title=Marley and Me: Talking to Legendary Photographer Dennis Morris About Bob, PiL and Getting Shot|date=4 March 2016}}</ref> Branson also flew American [[New wave music|new wave]] band [[Devo]] to Jamaica, aiming to install Lydon as lead vocalist in the band. Devo declined the offer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lowcut.dk/019_lc/book_art/index.asp |title=::: LOWCUT No.&nbsp;19 – Books and art |publisher=Lowcut.dk |date=4 May 1970 |access-date=17 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090917163739/http://www.lowcut.dk/019_lc/book_art/index.asp |archive-date=17 September 2009 }}</ref>

Upon returning to England, Lydon searched for musicians but it was difficult. He stated in the press: "I'm thinking about going up north for someone. They've got bands up there who are trying to be different".<ref>{{cite journal|first=andrew|last= Courtney|title=The Trouble With Johnny |journal=[[Record Mirror]]  |date=6 May 1978}}</ref> He approached [[Jah Wobble]] ([[List of French phrases used by English speakers#N|né]] John Wardle) about forming a band together. The pair had been friends since the early 1970s when they attended the same school in Hackney (both belonged to a circle of friends Lydon informally dubbed "The Gang of Johns" – John Lydon, John Wardle, John Gray, and Simon John Ritchie/Beverley, a.k.a. [[Sid Vicious]]).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pingitore |first=Silvia |date=2020-05-07 |title=Interview with post-punk legend Jah Wobble about music, Sid Vicious, star signs, Brexit and everything else you can think of |url=https://the-shortlisted.co.uk/jah-wobble-invaders-heart-interview/ |access-date=2022-03-23 |website=the-shortlisted.co.uk |language=en-GB}}</ref> Lydon and Wobble had previously played music together during the final days of the Sex Pistols. Both had similarly broad musical tastes, and were avid fans of reggae and [[world music]]. Lydon assumed, much as he had with Sid Vicious, that Wobble would learn to play bass guitar as he went. Wobble would prove to be a natural talent. Lydon also approached guitarist [[Keith Levene]] for the new band. Levene and Lydon had become acquainted while touring in mid-1976 when Levene was still a member of [[the Clash]]. At the time, Lydon and Levene had both considered themselves outsiders even within their own bands. [[Jim Walker (drummer)|Jim Walker]], a Canadian student newly arrived in the UK, was recruited on drums, after answering an advertisement placed in ''[[Melody Maker]]'' published on May 6, 1978.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Classified Advertisements / Work/ Musicians Wanted |journal=[[Melody Maker]]  |date=6 May 1978|page=30 |quote=Drummer Wanted to play on/off beat for modern band with fashionable outlook and rather well known singer. - Virgin Records, 727 8070}}</ref>

The band began rehearsing together in mid-May 1978, although they were still unnamed. In July 1978, Lydon officially named the band "Public Image" (the "Ltd" was added when the company was incorporated in July 1978), after the [[Muriel Spark]] novel ''[[The Public Image]]'' (1968).<ref name=pilchron>[http://www.fodderstompf.com/CHRONOLOGY/1978.html "PiL Chronology: 1978"] by Karsten Roekens & Scott M, Fodderstompf.com, 2006.</ref> PiL debuted in October 1978 with "[[Public Image (song)|Public Image]]", a song written while Lydon was still a member of the Sex Pistols, and discussed his feelings of being exploited by their manager [[Malcolm McLaren]].<ref name="jlydon">Lydon, John. ''No Irish, No Blacks, No Dogs'', Keith & Kent Zimmerman, [[St. Martin's Press]], May 1994. {{ISBN|0-312-11883-X}}</ref> The single was well received and reached number 9 on the [[UK Singles Chart]], and it also performed well on import in the US.