Public Image Ltd. will release a live album titled Alive in spring 2026 and embark on an extensive North American tour starting in September 2026. The band is also preparing a new studio album for early 2027. Frontman John Lydon cited fan support as key to resuming touring after personal losses.
Public Image Ltd., often abbreviated as PiL, has announced plans for a busy period ahead. The band will issue Alive, a live album captured during their 2025 tour, in spring 2026. They are currently in the studio working on fresh material expected at the start of 2027, following four weeks of recent sessions. The North American tour begins on September 3, 2026, at Pappy & Harriet’s in Pioneertown, California, and extends through March 23, 2027, at Newport Music Hall in Columbus, Ohio. Stops include major cities such as Los Angeles, New York, Toronto, and Atlanta, with dates in fall 2026 and winter-spring 2027, including a stint on The ’80s Cruise 2027 in New Orleans from February 27 to March 6, 2027. John Lydon, the band's frontman, nearly retired from touring after the 2023 deaths of his wife, Nora Forster, and manager Rambo Stevens. In a press statement, he explained: “After losing Nora, and Rambo, I couldn’t see a way through. The thing is, people were so overwhelmingly positive, they really showed me a lot of love, and they asked me to tour PiL again.” He added: “With so many people asking and with the band meaning so much to them, I couldn’t just stay on my sofa and not tour—tempting though that obviously is.” Lydon expressed enthusiasm for the tour: “We’re looking forward to playing to our friends in North America. It feels like it’s been a long time and we’re pleased to be coming back. ... You'll be hearing a lot more from PiL.” A correction in the announcement clarified that Nora Forster's last name was not Lydon.