John Lydon draws the new logo for the Public Image Ltd
The original logo of Public Image Ltd – the band led by John Lydon the former singer of Sex Pistols – It has become an iconic symbol of post-punk music. Characterized by the acronym “GDP”, the distinctive design imitates an aspirin pill, with the “i” to represent the breaking line of the pill.
For some years, however, that logo has been at the center of a legal battle regarding the copyright of the drawing between Lydon and the photographer and designer Dennis Morris.
Lydon claims to have had the idea of the pill -shaped logo and to have asked Morris to use his design tools to complete the image. But Morris claims to have suggested using only the acronym and drawing of the pill, before sketching the logo, with the “tiny” on a notes (Here all the details).
The dispute begins after in 2022 Lydon signed an agreement with the large brand of Streetwear Supreme for the production of a series of clothing with that logo on t-shirts, shirts, jackets and hats. On the occasion of this, Morris’ lawyers would have sent to the singer a letter in which it was reiterated that the image was not owned.
The case will return to court for the trial as soon as a date defined.
Now this different logo, which celebrates “a new beginning” for the band, reimmagin the original design in a form of diamond and with a more jagged character and has been designed by the same singer.
Will be present on the merchandising of the next tour e will support The existing logo, instead of replacing it, as Lydon on X/Twitter specified: “The new logo is not a replacement, it is an addition. They will work together. These are the GDP”.
The GDPs start on May 22nd for their new tour of 23 dates “This is not the last tour” which includes concerts in Great Britain and Ireland.
Lydon will then leave for another Spoken Word tour in the United Kingdom and Ireland next autumn.
The band last performed in the United Kingdom in September 2023, before taking a series of European dates the following month. Those dates were supporting the eleventh and most recent Studio album of GDPs, “End of World” published in August 2023.
After those dates Lydon had declared to think that the group could not return on tour. This after that, after the GDP tour, his friend of all time and manager, John Rambo Stevens, died suddenly in December 2023. Lydon’s wife, Nora, also died in April of the same year.
Returning to his steps Lydon recently confessed in a touching way such as the imminent tour of the Public Image Ltd and the work on new music have and are helping him to overcome mourning. “Sadness is an energy,” he said, paraphrasing the iconic passage of the 1986 GDP “Rise” (which stated that “anger is an energy”). “It can be applied or you can let you eat alive. The second option doesn’t care much.”
