John Lydon believes The Rolling Stones “should retire”: “I’m not short of a song idea or two, so there’s a difference”
John Lydon has claimed it’s high time The Rolling Stones called it quits, citing the band’s lack of song ideas as the reason.
Appearing on Good Morning Britain, the ex-Sex Pistols and now Public Image Ltd frontman opens up about the devastating losses of his wife, Nora Forster, and his manager and best friend, John “Rambo” Stevens, who both passed away within the same year in 2023.
At the time, Lydon had hinted at stepping away from the stage for good – though he has since walked back talks of retirement, saying: “That’s dementia for you, I forgot that bit.”
READ MORE: Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones hasn’t spoken to John Lydon since 2008, says it “wasn’t even worth asking” him about joining their reunion
“As I indicated before, if I just sat back and retired, that’s not me. I’m not that kind of person,” Lydon quips. “By all means, The Rolling Stones should retire, I’m not short of a song idea or two, so there’s a difference.”
The musician then pulls a face, adding, “I’ve offended music lovers.”
“I’m not sure you worry about causing offence,” host Susanna Reid then says of Lydon’s trademark bluntness, to which he replies with yet another dig at the Stones: “Certainly not. I mean, comparing music lovers with The Rolling Stones is absurd.”
The Stones aren’t the only ones on the receiving end of Lydon’s wrath in recent times. Last month, the punk icon slammed his former band – now fronted by Frank Carter alongside original members Steve Jones, Paul Cook, and Glen Matlock – for having “killed the content” of Sex Pistol’s message and lyrics.
“They’ve turned the whole thing into rubbish childishness,” he said. “That’s unacceptable.”
“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 concluded.
While the world won’t be seeing Lydon with his former band anytime soon, Public Image Limited are set to kick off their tour of the UK and Europe later this month (22 May) in Bristol.
He brought ‘Anarchy to the UK’ nearly 50 years ago, but after sadly losing his wife Nora in April 2023, and his best friend and manager just 8 months later, former Sex Pistol John Lydon thought he’d never tour again.
But two years on, the pioneering godfather of punk is back… pic.twitter.com/Nr7oN6WBSZ
— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) May 7, 2025
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