John Lydon, the iconic frontman of the Sex Pistols, has made a bold declaration that he will “never” reunite with the band, criticizing his former bandmates as “woke” as they gear up for their highly anticipated first North American tour in decades. This upcoming tour promises to be a significant event in the punk rock scene, featuring original members Steve Jones, Paul Cook, and Glen Matlock, along with new lead vocalist Frank Carter. The band is set to perform their groundbreaking debut album, Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols, in its entirety, marking their first tour in 22 years.

When approached about the possibility of a reunion with his former colleagues, Lydon — also known by his stage name Johnny Rotten — unequivocally stated to the PA Media news agency (via The Independent): “Never, not after what I consider their dirty deeds. Let them wallow in Walt Disney woke expectations.” His comments reflect a deep-seated frustration with how the band has evolved, suggesting that he feels disconnected from their current direction.

Elaborating on his views, Lydon expressed, “They’ve killed the content, or done their best to, and turned the whole thing into a rubbish childishness and that’s unacceptable. Sorry, I’m not going to give a helping hand to this any longer. As far as I am concerned, the Pistols, and they’re not.” His remarks highlight his discontent with the current state of the band and his refusal to be associated with what he perceives as a dilution of their original punk ethos.

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John Lydon Critiques Current Sex Pistols Lineup: ‘That’s a Clown’s Circus at Work’

Lydon was notably absent during the Sex Pistols’ performance at London’s prestigious Royal Albert Hall last month, which was part of a benefit for the Teenage Cancer Trust. Initially feeling “insulted” by his exclusion, Lydon has since found humor in the situation, describing it as “hilarious.” His reaction underscores a complex relationship with his past and present bandmates.

Additionally, he took a swipe at his former colleagues regarding the newly formed supergroup Generation Sex, which includes Jones and Cook from the Pistols, alongside Billy Idol and Tony James from Generation X. Lydon remarked on the curious choice of Carter as their new frontman, stating, “They had to get Billy Idol last year and now Mr. Carter, to come in and listen to them [his lyrics] for them, that’s a clown’s circus at work.” His comments reflect a clear disdain for the current trajectory of the band.

Despite his critical stance on the Sex Pistols, Lydon is busy with his own commitments, as he prepares to embark on an extensive tour with his current band, Public Image Ltd, starting next month. This tour will keep him on the road until late August, demonstrating his dedication to his musical career. As he shared, the post-punk band has provided him the creative freedom to explore his experimental side, which he feels was stifled during his time with the Pistols.

“I really wanted to [experiment with the Pistols],” Lydon stated. “I wrote ‘Religion,’ which is a well-known PiL song, while I was still with the Pistols, but unfortunately they wouldn’t entertain it. ‘Oh you can’t say that.’ It’s like, ‘Have you not heard everything I’ve been saying before? This is lightweight.'” His reflections on the creative constraints he faced highlight the artistic differences that led to his departure from the band.

Continuing to express his frustrations, Lydon added, “That was frustrating, but I mean, again, I don’t mean to be digging them out. It’s not their fault that they’re talentless and can’t fucking move on, is it?” His biting remarks convey a deep sense of disappointment and disillusionment with the direction of his former band, further solidifying his stance on the irrelevance of the current Sex Pistols lineup.