Here’s Johnny: Public Image Ltd head down under in 2027

Public Image Ltd (PiL), the legendary band led by former Sex Pistols frontman John Lydon, have announced a series of special Australian shows as part of their global This Is Not… The Final PiL Tour.

Following sold-out European and North American legs in 2026, Public Image Ltd will make their first appearance down under since 2013 next year, hitting Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide before wrapping up the tour at Astor Theatre on Thursday, January 28.

Fans can expect a setlist spanning PiL’s four-decade catalogue, including early works like Public Image and Metal Box, as well as hits such as The Order of Death, Rise and This Is Not A Love Song.

The current lineup features John Lydon (vocals) alongside long-standing members Bruce Smith (drums), Lu Edmonds (guitar) and Scott Firth (bass), delivering the signature edge and hypnotic grooves that have defined PiL since their formation in 1978.

Formed by John Lydon after the Sex Pistols, Public Image Ltd redefined post-punk with their fusion of dub, rock, electronics, and avant-garde experimentation. With a career spanning over four decades and a string of albums, PiL’s 1979 album Metal Box was ranked number 461 on Rolling Stone Magazine‘s list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time in 2012. PiL have also previously secured major festival slots at Coachella, Glastonbury, Rock Summer Festival and Leeds Festival.

Public Image Ltd’s Australian tour follows on from a Sex Pistols tour last year which featured Frank Carter on vocals. Following legal disputes with his former bandmates, Lydon openly criticised the venture, dismissing the new lineup as “karaoke” and a “clown’s circus”, further distancing himself from any future Sex Pistols reunion.

Public Image Ltd bring their This Is Not… The Final PiL Tour to Astor Theatre on Thursday, January 28, 2027. Tickets are on sale Tuesday, May 12, from thephoenix.au