Public Image: First Issue

Public Image: First Issue is the debut studio album by English rock band Public Image Ltd, released in 1978 by record label Virgin.

It is considered a pioneering record in the development of post-punk.

Recording

"Public Image"

"Public Image", the debut single, was recorded first. Recording started on a Monday in mid-July 1978 (most probably 10 or 17 July) at Advision Studios with engineer John Leckie and assistant engineer Kenneth Vaughan Thomas. For mixing and overdubs the band then went into Wessex Studios with engineer Bill Price and assistant engineer Jeremy Green.

Public image

Public image may refer to:

Public Image (song)

"Public Image" is a song by Public Image Ltd. It reached number nine on the UK Singles Chart. The song was written when Lydon was in the Sex Pistols. The song addresses John Lydon's feelings of being exploited in the Sex Pistols by Malcolm McLaren and the press. Along with being released as a single, it appeared on PiL's 1978 debut album Public Image: First Issue.

On the song, PiL leader John Lydon has said:

Single

The single was originally packaged in a fake newspaper that makes outrageous statements such as "Refused To Play Russian Roullete", "No Ones Innocent, Except Us", "Donut's Laugh saves life" (Donut being a nickname for Jim Walker) and "The Girl Who Drove Me To Tea" among others. The B-Side was designed to mock people buying the record (the tracks only sensical rhythm is a bassline played over nonsensical yelling), much to the dismay of part of the band.

NME named it the 242nd greatest song of all time in 2014. The song's bass line was named as the 18th best bassline of all time by Stylus Magazine in 2005.