John Lydon talks about the Sex Pistols reunion without him

The guitarist Steve Jones, the bassist Glen Matlock and the drummer Paul Cook reactivated the Sex Pistols again last year but this time without the vocalist John Lydon. For their current tour, the band recruited the singer Frank Carter (Gallows, Pure Love).

In an interview with Classic Rock Review (Transcribed by Ultimate Guitar), Lydon was asked about the Sex Pistols touring without him. It is known that the relationship between them and Lydon was never easy. And of course, the singer was not happy at all when Jones partnered with FX to make the 2022 TV show “Pistol”, which told the band’s story from the guitarist’s point of view.

He even sued the band at the time trying to prevent the songs of the band from being used on the show. But he lost the legal battle and the show was released with the original tracks.

John Lydon talks about the Sex Pistols reunion without him

“I wrote the fucking songs, didn’t I? You know, I gave him the image that was the frontman. I am the voice. What made the whole world sing? and 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? Yeah, but no, they profess their hatred for me, but they can’t live without me. Yeah, I am the punishment that goes on giving.”

John Lydon will also be on the road with P.I.L this year, you can see the tour dates below.

Sex Pistols tour dates with Frank Carter on vocals

April

• 2 – Auckland, New Zealand – Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall
• 3 – Christchurch, New Zealand – Christchurch Town Hall
• 5 – West Melbourne, VIC, Australia
• 6 – Adelaide, SA, Australia – Hindley St Music Hall
• 9 – Brisbane, QLD, Australia
• 11 – Fremantle, WA, Australia

June

• 12 – Interlaken, Switzerland – Greenfield Festival
• 28 – Tilloloy, France – Château De Tilloloy

July

• 4 – Berlin, Germany – Zitadelle Spandau
• 10 – Novi Sad, Serbia – Exit Festival
• 11 – Vitrolles, France – Festival Jardin Sonore

August

• 2 – Pori, Finland – Porispere Festival
• 14 – Ottery St Mary, UK – Escot Park
• 23 – Margate, UK – Scenic Stage, Dreamland

September

7 – São Paulo, Brazil – The Town festival

John Lydon’s P.I.L tour dates

May

• 22 – Bristol, UK – O2 Academy
• 23 – Ware, UK – Stone Valley Festival South
• 24 – Bournemouth, UK – O2 Academy
• 26 – Torquay, UK – Foundry
• 27 – Brighton, UK – Chalk
• 29 – Barnsley, UK – Birdwell (SOLD OUT)
• 30 – Newcastle, UK – Boiler Shop
• 31 – Norwich, UK – Epic Studios (SOLD OUT)

June

• 4 – Leuven, Belgium – Het Depot (SOLD OUT)
• 5 – Den Haag, Netherlands – Zuiderparktheater
• 8 – Leipzig, Germany – Wave-Gotik-Treffen Festival
• 12 – Dublin, Ireland – 3Olympia
• 13 – Limerick, Ireland – Dolan’s Warehouse (SOLD OUT)
• 14 – Cardiff, Wales, UK – Depot
• 20 – Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain – Azkena Rock Festival
• 22 – Milton Keynes, UK – Forever Now Festival, The National Bowl
• 24 – Margate, UK – Dreamland (Hall By The Sea)
• 26 – Hastings, UK – White Rock
• 27 – Newark, UK – Stone Valley Festival Midlands
• 28 – Oxford, UK – O2 Academy

July

• 1 – Warrington, UK – Parr Hall
• 3 – Leicester, UK – O2 Academy
• 4 – Lincoln, UK – Engine Shed
• 5 – Portsmouth, UK – Guildhall
• 19 – Taranto, Italy – Cinzella Festival
• 20 – Bologna, Italy – Bonsai
• 21 – Genoa, Italy – Mojotic Festival, Arena del Mare
• 29 – Glasgow, Scotland, UK – Kelvingrove Bandstand
• 30 – Sheffield, UK – Leadmill
• 31 – Northampton, UK – Roadmenders (SOLD OUT)

August

• 1 – Holmfirth, UK – Picturedrome
• 2 – Coventry, UK – Empire
• 7 – Cheltenham, UK – Town Hall
• 8 – Durham, UK – Stone Valley Festival North
• 9 – Blackpool, UK – Rebellion Festival, Winter Gardens
• 15 – Cork, Ireland – City Hall
• 16 – Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK – SLF Putting The Fast In Belfast Festival, Custom House Square
• 22 – Trutnoff, Czech Republic – Trutnoff Open Air Festival
• 23 – Wrocław, Poland – Centrum Koncertowe A2