John Lydon has delivered a blunt rejection to his former Sex Pistols bandmate Steve Jones’ recent public offer for reconciliation. He made his position clear in an interview with Contact Music.
The Sex Pistols are currently touring with Frank Carter. When asked about Jones’ reconciliation offer regarding the band, Lydon responded with characteristic directness.
“He can go f*ck himself! Not after all that. Sorry,” Lydon said. “Three strikes you’re out mate. No, never.”
The former Sex Pistols frontman continued his criticism of his former bandmates’ current activities.
“They’ve humiliated themselves,” he said. “It’s the gift that goes on giving.”
Lydon expressed disappointment with the band’s approach to their current tour. He suggested they should have pursued original material instead.
“I would have loved for them to have written new stuff and have gone out that way,” he said. “That would have been brave and good. But it isn’t, it’s karaoke. I can’t see it in any other way. They belong on a cruise ship with that malarkey.”
He also criticized the impact of their tour on tribute acts.
“And they’ve put a lot of bands out of work,” Lydon continued. “Pistols type cover bands. What are they gonna do now? Because this lot have topped them in the cheese department.”
Lydon’s harsh rejection reflects years of unresolved tensions and legal battles. These disputes have defined the band’s post-breakup relationship.
These tensions are rooted in past legal disputes. The disputes have strained the band’s relationships for decades. Ultimate Classic Rock reported that Lydon had previously expressed dissatisfaction with the band’s contract. He likened it to “slave labor” in a court case involving the use of Sex Pistols’ music in a TV series. This legal battle highlighted the ongoing financial and creative disagreements between Lydon and his former bandmates.
Lydon’s stance on reunions has remained consistently firm throughout the years. Vinyl Me Please noted that he has firmly rejected the idea of reuniting with his former bandmates. He asserted his position with the declaration “I am the Pistols, and they’re not.” This statement underscores his belief that he remains the true embodiment of the band’s original spirit and vision.
The mutual animosity between the parties has become so entrenched that reconciliation attempts appear futile. Architeg Prints revealed that Steve Jones recently mentioned that it “wasn’t even worth asking” Lydon to join their reunion shows. This was given their strained relationship, which has been nonexistent since 2008. This admission from Jones reveals that both sides have accepted the permanent nature of their split.
The ongoing rift between Lydon and his former bandmates continues to define the Sex Pistols’ legacy. Both parties are pursuing separate paths that seem unlikely to converge. The comments underscore the ongoing tensions between Lydon and his former bandmates in The Sex Pistols.
