John Lydon doesn’t like Sex Pistols’ new chapter with Frank Carter.
“I wrote the f*cking songs, didn’t I? I gave them the image as the frontman,” the singer replied when asked by Classic Album Review whether he feels the spirit of the band is missing without him at the front. “I am the voice what made the whole world sing.”
Lydon continued his words, “Now you’re going out… As they did the year before with Billy Idol. It’s just karaoke really. I would love to be embarrassed by high-quality songwriting from them.”
“They’ve had long enough to get that together now, haven’t they? But no, they profess their hatred for me but they can’t live without me. I am the punishment that goes on giving [Laughs],” the rocker added.
On June 3, 2024, Paul Cook, Steve Jones, and Glen Matlock announced two reunion shows at Bush Hall in Shepherd’s Bush called ‘Frank Carter and Sex Pistols,’ with Carter from Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes and Gallows filling in for Lydon.
Lydon, however, was reportedly upset when the band announced reunion shows with a new singer. A source told The Sun that John, ‘thinks he IS the Pistols’ and called the upcoming shows ‘bollocks.’
The source said, “These Pistols gigs aren’t just for charity, they’re to show Rotten how rotten they think he’s been to the rest of the band over the years by battling to stop them earning royalties from their music.”
“Rotten thinks he IS the Pistols and has the rights to all their music, but these gigs will show they don’t need him anymore. In typical fashion, John has told pals he thinks the upcoming gigs will be bollocks,” they shared.
Matlock later responded to Lydon, saying, “Well, he was wrong, wasn’t he, because they were good.” He added, “There’s probably been a few little ‘use of the name’ rights issues, which have been scattered around, but we’ve sorted that one out. John’s made his bed – he can lie in it. He’s happy doing his Public Image stuff. Good luck to him.”
In January 2025, Sex Pistols announced their first Australian tour in nearly 30 years, scheduled for April 2025.
