Steve Jones has said it “wasn’t even worth asking” John Lydon to participate in Sex Pistols‘ reunion shows.
The London punk band, who last performed with Lydon in 2008, headed out on a UK comeback tour last autumn, with Frank Carter stepping in as frontman. This followed two intimate gigs at London’s Bush Hall, where they played ‘Never Mind The Bollocks’ in full.
They have since announced further live appearances for 2025, including Download Festival and the Teenage Cancer Trust series at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Additionally, guitarist Jones told NME that Sex Pistols would be hitting the road in the US.
During a new interview with Rolling Stone AU – ahead of the group’s spring tour dates in New Zealand and Australia – Jones explained that he and his bandmates hadn’t spoken to Lydon in 17 years.
Their relationship suffered further after the former frontman lost a court battle over the use of Sex Pistols’ music in Danny Boyle’s 2022 biographical mini-series, Pistol.
“We don’t talk,” Jones told RS AU. “The last time I spoke to him was 2008. But I wish him all the best. I really do. We had a great time when we were young, and it was life-changing for all of us.
“But after the court case with Pistol it wasn’t even worth asking John [about the reunion tour]. I don’t think he was interested.”
During an interview with NME last month, Jones was asked whether he would ever get back in touch with Lydon (aka Johnny Rotten). He responded: “Who knows? You never know…” The musician also looked back on touring with the ex-frontman.
“I like John. He’s a funny guy; he’s got a great sense of humour and he’s sharp. It just kind of ran its course, that whole relationship,” Jones told NME. “I wish him well. He’s going out this year, doing PiL again, and I hope he does well. I know he must be in a weird place, losing his wife and his best mate.” (Lydon’s wife Nora Forster died in 2023, as did his long-time friend and manager John “Rambo” Stevens).
Elsewhere in the conversation, the guitarist spoke about if he thought Lydon’s support of President Trump could tarnish the Pistols’ legacy.
Despite Jones’ positive comments and well wishes, Lydon recently claimed that his estranged bandmates hadn’t reached out following his wife’s passing. “They’re dead to me,” he told NME. “They’re poison.”
Lydon also gave his thoughts on Jones, Glen Matlock and Paul Cook, and their decision to hit the road with Carter acting as frontman.
“It’s almost malicious in its intent,” he told NME. And it’s karaoke – that’s all it will ever be. Bloody hell, The Three Stooges in that band have had how many years to write some new songs? That’s what I’d like to hear.”
In a recent edition of the Classic Album Review podcast, Lydon hit out at the remaining Pistols members for “eliminating the purpose” of the band by not including him in recent tours and announcements.
“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,” he said. “They profess their hatred for me, but they can’t live without me. I am the punishment that goes on giving.”
While at Download 2024, Carter spoke to NME about why he wanted to be a part of the Sex Pistols reunion tour.
Last November, NME asked bassist Matlock if he was surprised to see Lydon come out as pro-Trump. He replied: “Way back when, there was something about John that I didn’t get on with because I couldn’t quite put my finger on it.
“And him coming out with that kind of encapsulates the whole thing, really. John was fantastic back then. He wrote some great lyrics, but did he really mean ‘em? Ah, that’s the thing. I never found him that sincere.”
You can read John Lydon’s new interview for NME‘s Does Rock ‘N’ Roll Kill Braincells?! quiz here.
