John Lydon has once again taken aim at the revamped Sex Pistols, now fronted by Frank Carter, branding the current lineup as “woke” and distancing himself entirely from the band’s latest incarnation.
Since original members Glen Matlock, Steve Jones, and Paul Cook reformed the Sex Pistols with Carter in 2024, Lydon has been an outspoken critic of the reunion. His grievances stretch back to a legal battle with his former bandmates over the Disney+ series Pistol, a dispute that ultimately saw him lose in the High Court.
In his latest remarks, Lydon couldn’t resist referencing the Pistol lawsuit when asked if he would ever return to the band. He told PA (via The Independent): “Never, not after what I consider their dirty deeds. Let them wallow in Walt Disney woke expectations.”
Taking another shot at his former bandmates, Lydon accused them of destroying the band’s essence: “They’ve killed the content, or done their best to, and turned the whole thing into rubbish childishness, and that’s unacceptable.”
The former Sex Pistols frontman made it clear that he considers himself the true spirit of the band, stating, “Sorry, I’m not going to give a helping hand to this any longer. As far as I am concerned, I am the Pistols, and they’re not.”
Lydon’s frustration over the band’s reunion surfaced earlier this year when he first learned that Matlock, Jones, and Cook had revived the group with Carter as their new vocalist. “When I first heard that the Sex Pistols were touring this year without me, it pissed me off,” he admitted.
He also dismissed the new lineup’s live performances, likening them to a gimmick: “They’re trying to trivialise the whole show to get away with karaoke, but in the long term, I think you’ll see who has the value and who doesn’t.”
Despite Lydon’s protests, the reformed Sex Pistols have continued to make waves. Last month, they performed at London’s 100 Club, drawing an intimate crowd that included Noel Gallagher and Paul Weller. They also took the stage at the Royal Albert Hall for a special show in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust.
