John Lydon Reunites Public Image Ltd., Tours UK

John Lydon has, in recent years, shown himself happy with selling out. Though he made his name as punk firebrand Johnny Rotten, Lydon has done plenty of not-particularly-punk things of recent. Like reforming the Sex Pistols, twice over, for nostalgia tours done openly, mockingly for the cash. And, recently, becoming a shill for a brand of butter in the UK (pictured, obviously).

Now, Lydon may or may not be tarnishing the legacy of his most artistically credible, thus-far untouchable entity: Public Image Ltd. Though not nearly as well known as the Pistols, PIL's genre-bleeding post-punk workouts were far more influential; their devoted followers including Radiohead, the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, LCD Soundsystem, and !!!.

To coincide with the 30th anniversary of their classic Metal Box record, Public Image Limited have been coaxed out of an 18-year hiatus by a touring conglomerate, and will play five "Christmas shows" in the UK. The reformed PIL won't feature Keith Levene or Jah Wobble any of the other members of their vital early days, but, instead, will consist of Lydon, late-'80s fill-ins Lu Edmonds and Bruce Smith, and session-esque ringer Scott Firth.

No word, as yet, on the availability of dairy products at the merch desk.

Hard Times:
December 15: Birmingham, England - O2 Academy
December 16: Leeds, England - O2 Academy
December 18: Glasgow, Scotland - O2 Academy
December 19: Manchester, England - Academy
December 21: London, England - Brixton O2 Academy