John Lydon is expressing his intense displeasure regarding the recent announcement that his former band, the Sex Pistols, will embark on a tour without his involvement. In a candid interview with The I Paper, the singer, widely recognized as Johnny Rotten, shared his frustration, saying, ?When I first heard that the Sex Pistols were touring this year without me, it really pissed me off. It annoyed 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.’? This statement underscores his belief that the essence of the band is being compromised.

Fronted by singer Frank Carter, the reformed Sex Pistols have announced a series of tour dates for 2025, which include major music festivals and select performances opening for Guns N? Roses. In Lydon?s perspective, the other iconic members?Steve Jones, Paul Cook, and Glen Matlock?are primarily motivated by financial gain, labeling the tour as a mere cash grab that undermines the band’s original spirit and legacy.

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?They?re trying to trivialize 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,? the outspoken rocker stated. ?I?ve never sold my soul to make a dollar. It?s the Catholic in me ? that guilt I don?t want to trip.? This highlights Lydon?s commitment to artistic integrity over commercial success, drawing a sharp contrast between his values and those of his former bandmates.

John Lydon Asserts His Legacy: ‘I Wrote the F?ing Songs’

In a subsequent interview with Classic Album Review, Lydon reiterated his stance on the legitimacy of the Sex Pistols touring without his participation. He passionately declared, “I wrote the fucking songs, didn’t I? I gave them the image. I was the frontman. I am the voice that 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.?

This comment refers to the short-lived supergroup Generation Sex, which included members from the Sex Pistols and Idol?s former band, Generation X. The group performed 14 shows in 2023, featuring set lists that combined hits from both bands, further emphasizing Lydon?s feelings about the dilution of their original music’s significance.