“I am the Pistols, and they’re not”: John Lydon has strong words for his former Sex Pistols bandmates
Over the last few months, John Lydon has made his feelings on the reformed Sex Pistols very clear, even going as far as to accuse the now Frank Carter-fronted band of “trying to get away with karaoke”.
Asked if he would ever reconcile with his old bandmates in a new interview with the PA news agency [via The Independent], Lydon replies bluntly: “Never. Not after, what I consider, their dirty deeds. Let them wallow in Walt Disney woke expectations”.
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In Lydon’s opinion, Steve Jones, Paul Cook and Glen Matlock have “killed the content” of the punk band’s message and lyrics. “They’ve turned the whole thing into rubbish childishness,” he says. “That’s unacceptable.”
It’s a sentiment Lydon also expressed in a recent interview with the i Paper. “When I first heard that the Sex Pistols were touring this year without me… 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. “I didn’t write those words lightly.”
With the band being a definitive emblem of British punk, the importance of the Sex Pistols’ charged lyricism can’t be understated. Lydon knows that the lyrics are a huge part of the package, pointing out how his old bandmates have tried and failed to find a replacement who can convey the true meaning of his words.
“They had to get Billy Idol last year and now Mr Carter, to come in and listen to [my lyrics] for them,” he says. “That’s a clown’s circus at work.”
“I don’t mean to be digging them out,” he adds. “It’s not their fault that they’re talentless and can’t fucking move on, is it?”
“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,” he concludes.
Despite Lydon’s negative feelings towards his old peers, he has gone on record commending Carter’s work as a frontman. Speaking to NME for an episode of Does Rock N Roll Kill Braincells?!, Lydon explained that he had no ill feelings towards the new frontman – he only wished to share his condolences. “The poor sausage!” he cries. “Does he know what he’s walked into?”
“Good on him, what a great fucking opportunity!” he says. “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. Bloody hell, The Three Stooges in that band have had how many years to write some new songs? That’s what I’d like to hear!”
In terms of the current Sex Pistols line-up, Lydon’s old bandmates haven’t yet criticised their old frontman. Steve Jones told Rolling Stone AU/NZ that: “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.”
While the Sex Pistols have plans to tour the US and hit a number of festivals this year, Lydon will be going on a tour of his own. Public Image Ltd will be embarking on a UK tour in May, running until August.
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