Former Sex Pistol reforms Public Image Ltd

Punk star John Lydon is re-forming his influential band Public Image Ltd for the first time in 17 years, he announced today.

The band will play a series of shows around the UK in December to mark the 30th anniversary of their Metal Box album.

As well as releasing a number of hits such as Public Image, Rise and This Is Not A Love Song, the group was an inspiration to dozens of subsequent outfits, and PiL launched the career of bass player Jah Wobble. At one stage the line-up also included former Cream star Ginger Baker.

Lydon is to be joined by former members Lu Edmonds - a one-time member of The Damned - and Bruce Smith as well as multi-instrumentalist Scott Firth.

Lydon, known for his half-spoken snarl, said: "I sound like a bag of kittens thrown down the staircase."

The singer, known in his punk heyday as Johnny Rotten, formed PiL after quitting the Sex Pistols following a disastrous US tour. The band experimented with dub basslines, tribal rhythms and dance music over the years.

LA-based Lydon appeared on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! in 2004 and has also been seen recently in an ad campaign for Country Life butter.

The five-date tour kicks off on December 15 at Birmingham's 02 Academy.