As the band prepare to head out on tour without their original frontman, Lydon has a few things to say about it

Singer Frank Carter is fronting the reunited Sex Pistols, who have a run of dates lined up for 2025, including major festivals and a few gigs opening for Guns N’ Roses. In Lydon’s view, the band’s other classic members – Steve Jones, Paul Cook and Glen Matlock – launched the tour as a cash grab.

By 2024, Jones, Matlock and Cook had announced a number of London reunion tour dates for which Lydon had been replaced as lead vocalist by singer and tattoo artist Frank Carter. Speaking to The i paper, Lydon admitted: “When I first heard that the Sex Pistols were touring this year without me it pissed me off. It annoyed me.”

John Lydon has criticised his former Sex Pistols bandmates for touring without him, dismissing their act as ‘karaoke’

Founding Sex Pistols’ frontman Johnny Rotten has commented about his old bandmates plans to tour with another singer in 2025, saying, “They’re trying to … get away with karaoke.”

As you may know, the Sex Pistols have been playing shows with the lineup of Steve Jones, Glen Matlock, Paul Cook, and new lead vocalist Frank Carter (of Gallows, Pure Love, and Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes),

It annoyed me," said Lydon. "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.'"