John Lydon, the iconic frontman of the Sex Pistols, has made his disdain for the band’s reformation clear, delivering scathing comments about his former bandmates in a recent interview. Lydon, who has consistently voiced his discontent with the current iteration of the band, accused the reformed group—fronted by Frank Carter—of “trying to get away with karaoke.”
When asked about the possibility of reconciliation with his old bandmates, Lydon’s response was sharp and unequivocal. “Never. Not after, what I consider, their dirty deeds. Let them wallow in Walt Disney woke expectations,” he said, firmly shutting the door on any future collaboration.
Lydon went on to criticize Steve Jones, Paul Cook, and Glen Matlock for, in his opinion, “killing the content” of the Sex Pistols’ original punk message and lyrics. “They’ve turned the whole thing into rubbish childishness,” Lydon added. “That’s unacceptable.” He explained that the essence of the band, especially the rebellious power of their lyrics, has been lost with the current lineup.
In a recent interview with i Paper, Lydon reiterated his thoughts on the reformed band, expressing disappointment when he heard they were touring without him. “I just thought, ‘They’re absolutely going to kill all that was good with the Pistols by eliminating the point and the purpose of it all,’” he said, emphasizing how important the band’s charged lyrics were to its message.
Lydon also pointed out the failure of his former bandmates to find a suitable replacement who could deliver the meaning of his lyrics. “They had to get Billy Idol last year and now Mr. Carter, to come in and listen to [my lyrics] for them,” he said, dismissing the move as a “clown’s circus at work.”
While he maintained a strong stance on the current state of the Sex Pistols, Lydon wasn’t completely unsympathetic toward Frank Carter. When discussing Carter’s role as the band’s new frontman, Lydon acknowledged the opportunity Carter had been given but also questioned the true intentions behind the reunion. “The poor sausage! Does he know what he’s walked into?” Lydon remarked. “Good on him, what a great f***ing opportunity! But there’s something darker going on behind it. It’s almost malicious in its intent. And it’s karaoke—that’s all it will ever be.”
Lydon, who remains defiant in his belief that he is the true embodiment of the Sex Pistols, concluded by 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.”
As of now, the remaining Sex Pistols members, including Steve Jones, have yet to publicly criticize Lydon. In a past interview, Jones stated, “We don’t talk. The last time I spoke to him was 2008. But I wish him all the best. I really do. We had a great time when we were young, and it was life-changing for all of us.”
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