By Karim Hammam
Former Sex Pistols frontman John Lydon has denounced the band's upcoming 50th-anniversary tour as "shockingly bad taste" because it will proceed without him. Guitarist Steve Jones, bassist Glen Matlock and drummer Paul Cook are scheduled to perform across Europe in December 2026 with singer Frank Carter taking Lydon's place.
Lydon dismisses tour as karaoke
Speaking to The Telegraph, Lydon said: "But really, bottom line, I don't care… There are some real karaoke bands out there doing Sex Pistols, and they're putting them out of work." The punk pioneers, who originally disbanded in 1978, were known for their confrontational stance against the monarchy and the political establishment, with anthems such as "God Save The Queen" and "Anarchy In The UK".
History of conflict and legal battles
After leaving the Sex Pistols in 1979, Lydon formed Public Image Ltd and reunited sporadically with his former bandmates in the 1990s and 2000s. He has vowed never to return following a high-profile court battle to prevent the band's songs from being used in the Disney+ series "Pistol," directed by Danny Boyle. Lydon told The Times in 2025 that the project felt like "an act of spite rather than any character understanding."
Personal grief and alleged snub
Lydon also claimed his former bandmates did not contact him after the death of his wife, Nora Forster, who died of Alzheimer's in April 2023. He had been her full-time carer for two years following her diagnosis. The Independent has contacted the Sex Pistols for comment.
