Public Image Ltd to headline Split Festival

Public Image Ltd. (PiL) have been announced as headliners of this year's Split Festival in Sunderland.

Johnny Rotten, the man who fronted seminal punk band, Sex Pistols, will headline this year's Split Festival with Public Image Ltd the band hew formed in 1978 after the break up of the Sex Pistols. The band have a string of hits in their armoury such as 'This Is Not A Love Song' and 'Rise' and after being on hiatus from 1992 they have returned to the scene this summer with a new material.

John Lydon, will fly his band, Public Image Ltd, in from LA to close Split's Saturday programme. PiL will be preceded by Pulled Apart By Horses, who stormed last weekend's Leeds Festival.

Split festival's Barry Hyde said, "Finalising the line up for Split this year has been a challenge to say the least, we've had some dead ends and red herrings, long shots and near misses, but finally we’ve managed to get a band we would never have even dreamed of. Split is bringing a Sex Pistol to Sunderland, THE Sex Pistol! It's a punk rock miracle and we are very excited."

They join a bill featuring The Futureheads (Sunday headliners), The Unthanks, Field Music, Kathryn Williams, Kyla La Grange, This Ain’t Vegas, The Lake Poets, The Cornshed Sisters, Let's Buy Happiness, Warm Digits, Young Liar, Natasha Haws, The Chapman Family, The Greeting Committee, That Fucking Tank, John J Presley, Richard Dawson, Lilliput, The Unit Ama, The Real Davina and Algiers. However, there will be more acts and the Saturday headliners added to the line-up in the near future.

The festival's line-up was picked by Ross Millard, from The Futureheads. Ross along with the rest of The Futureheads and a selection of local experts, helps to organise Split Festival.

Ross said, "It's exciting for us to be bringing one of punk rock's and in fact Britain's biggest icons in Johnny Rotten to Split Festival. Having Public Image Ltd at Split Festival is a huge coup for us because the band are iconic and hugely influential, have integrity and a huge fan base. This year Split Festival can boast not only a great frontman, but also a genuine superstar. Pulled Apart By Horses are a great addition for us as they are one of the most exciting new rock bands in Britain. They're capping a hugely busy summer with their performance at Split and the amount of radio play they get will mean that there are sure to be some mass singalongs in the Main Tent!"

The fourth annual Split Festival takes place from Friday 21st to Sunday 23rd September 2012 at Ashbrooke Sports Club, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear.

On top of the Main Stage, there will be music and comedy in the Fringe Tent, and a third music marquee this year which will see Split welcome the Sunderland Folk Festival. This year's Split will begin with a Free Film Friday, showing Shrek and School of Rock on the big screen, with all bar and food concessions open throughout the evening.

Tickets are on sale priced at £40 for a weekend ticket, and £25 for a day ticket. To buy tickets, click here.

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