John Lydon admits he was furious at the Sex Pistols for touring without him.

Editor Stephen Hill 16th February 2025

70's Punk singer John Lydon has candidly shared his disappointment upon learning that the Sex Pistols intended to tour without him last year. 

The legendary front man, known for his provocative stage presence as "Johnny Rotten," gained fame in the mid-Seventies with anthems like "God Save the Queen" and "Anarchy in the UK." 

Strained relations with his former band mates—Steve Jones, Glen Matlock, and Paul Cook—peaked after he unsuccessfully sought to prevent their music from being featured in Danny Boyle’s Pistols series in 2021.  

By 2024, Jones, Matlock, and Cook announced a series of reunion tour dates in London, with Lydon replaced as lead vocalist by singer and tattoo artist Frank Carter. 

In a revealing interview with The i paper, Lydon expressed, “When I first heard that the Sex Pistols were touring this year without me, it genuinely pissed me off. 

It was incredibly frustrating.”   He elaborated, “I thought, ‘They’re on the verge of erasing everything that made the Pistols significant by stripping away its very essence and purpose.’ They’re reducing the show to mere karaoke. 

However, in due time, it will become clear who truly embodies value and who does not. I’ve never compromised my integrity for a paycheck. It’s the Catholic in me—there’s a guilt I refuse to ignore.”  

In recent years, Lydon has embraced right-wing political views, voicing support for Brexit, Donald Trump, and Nigel Farage. 

He has openly commented that the divisions in the UK stem from immigration. In the same interview, Lydon, who has called Malibu home for the past four decades, declared that he has no intention of returning to Britain.  

When asked about the prospect of Donald Trump returning to the presidency, the former punk rocker said, “Meet the new boss, same as the old boss. I won’t be misled again.” He added, “I once held high hopes for Obama, only to discover he was merely an officious bureaucrat, reshaping every institution into a political entity without regard for common sense or real-world experiences. 

If we’re going to mend a broken business, we should indeed enlist a businessman.”  Following Trump’s presidential victory in 2024, Lydon remarked, “This is a joy to witness. Dare I say he might become a possible friend.”