Johnny Rotten & Identity Crisis | Personal Essay
- John Lydon, the original Johnny Rotten, has renewed his criticism of the Sex Pistols and their current frontman, Frank Carter.
- the Sex Pistols, with Carter replacing Lydon, have been actively touring, including dates at London's bush Hall, a U.K.
- He told Classic Rock that the Sex Pistols' current act is "a dumbing down of all the integrity, intensity, genuine honesty and heartfelt emotions" he invested in the...
John Lydon, the original Johnny Rotten, blasts the sex Pistols’ reunion, labeling thier current iteration “karaoke.” His biting criticism targets the band’s new frontman, Frank Carter, and questions the authenticity of the performance. Lydon, now fronting Public Image Ltd. (pil), slams the Sex Pistols’ recent tours, including performances at Download festival and a North American tour, calling it a ”dumbing down” of the original punk spirit. Despite some concessions about Carter’s efforts, Lydon remains firm: he is the Pistols, and they are not. Guitarist Steve Jones reveals his surprise at the lack of backlash and the ease of working with Carter, while Lydon focuses on PiL and new music. Read more about this heated conflict at News Directory 3. Discover what’s next for both Lydon and the Sex Pistols.
John Lydon Blasts Sex Pistols’ Reunion with Frank carter
Updated May 28, 2025
John Lydon, the original Johnny Rotten, has renewed his criticism of the Sex Pistols and their current frontman, Frank Carter. Lydon dismissed the band’s latest iteration as “karaoke,” questioning Carter’s ability to fill his shoes.
the Sex Pistols, with Carter replacing Lydon, have been actively touring, including dates at London’s bush Hall, a U.K. tour, and a performance at the Royal Albert Hall as part of the Teenage Cancer Trust concert series. The band is also slated to perform at the Download festival and embark on a North American tour.
Lydon, now the frontman of Public Image Ltd. (PiL), has been vocal about his disapproval. He told Classic Rock that the Sex Pistols’ current act is “a dumbing down of all the integrity, intensity, genuine honesty and heartfelt emotions” he invested in the band.
Despite his harsh words, Lydon conceded that Carter approached the role “in the right spirit.”
Lydon’s recent remarks follow a series of criticisms. Last month, he stated he would “never” rejoin the Sex Pistols, describing the current lineup as “childish.” He asserted, “I am the Pistols, and they’re not.”
Guitarist Steve Jones previously stated that involving Lydon in the reunion wasn’t worth the effort, revealing that he hadn’t spoken to Lydon in 17 years.
Jones told NME that he was surprised by the lack of negative feedback after Carter joined the band. “I was ready to throw it in, touring and all that. I couldn’t care less. But with Frank, it just made it easy. We all get along,” Jones said.
While the Sex Pistols prepare for their upcoming tour, Lydon is also gearing up for PiL’s ‘This Is Not The Last Tour’ tour and working on new music with the band.
What’s next
the Sex Pistols are set to continue their tour, while John Lydon focuses on his work with public Image Ltd., ensuring the punk rock spirit remains alive in his own way.