In a recent interview with Consequence, Billy Idol addressed John Lydon’s criticism about his performance with Sex Pistols members.
“Well, I think it’s fantastic that Jonesy, Cookie, and Glen wanna play. Johnny doesn’t wanna do it,” Idol said. “He wants to do [his band] Public Image, so I totally understand that. What’s wrong with them finding some guy that they really believe can deliver those songs?”
“And of course John’s gonna be pissed. He’s been like this for a while,” he continued. “At the same time, he’s into Public Image. That’s really what he wants to do, so I think we’re all in a good place, really. It’s just John’s always been super opinionated, and rightly so, probably. He’s never held back what he truly thinks. So, yeah, it doesn’t bother me. I love him and everything, but I know where I’m going with my music, and I’m happy with what I’m doing.”
Lydon had previously expressed his criticism, stating: “I gave them the image. I was the frontman. I am the voice, what made the whole world sing. And now you’re going out, as they did the year before with Billy Idol. It’s just karaoke, really.”
This exchange between the punk icons sheds light on the complex dynamics within the Sex Pistols’ legacy.
Ultimate Classic Rock revealed that Idol performs with Generation Sex, a supergroup featuring Sex Pistols members Steve Jones and Paul Cook. The band has made a conscious decision to exclude ‘Anarchy in the U.K.’ from their setlist, recognizing its strong connection to Johnny Rotten (John Lydon’s stage name).
Mojo documented Generation Sex’s impact on the punk scene through their festival appearances, including Glastonbury. The band’s performances blend classics from both Sex Pistols and Generation X catalogs.
The project has garnered substantial attention. The band performs hits like ‘God Save the Queen’ and ‘Pretty Vacant’ while maintaining respect for the original Sex Pistols material.
Lydon’s focus remains on Public Image Ltd (PiL), the band he created after departing from Sex Pistols. Both artists continue to pursue their individual musical paths.
