John Lydon (aka Johnny Rotten) has recently been criticizing the current incarnation of his former band the Sex Pistols, who are touring with frontman Frank Carter these days. Lydon’s rants have also included mentions of Billy Idol, who toured with two Sex Pistols members as the supergroup Generation Sex in 2023.
In an interview last month, Lydon declared of the Sex Pistols Featuring Frank Carter, “I gave them the image. I was the frontman. I am the voice, what made the whole world sing. And now you’re going out, as they did the year before with Billy Idol. It’s just karaoke, really.”
Heavy Consequence recently caught up with Idol, and we asked him for his thoughts on classic Sex Pistols members Steve Jones, Paul Cook, and Glen Matlock touring with Frank Carter, as well as Lydon’s comments on the matter.
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“Well I think it’s fantastic that Jonesy, Cookie, and Glen wanna play,” Idol told us. “Johnny doesn’t wanna do it. He wants to do [his band] Public Image, so I totally understand that. What’s wrong with them finding some guy that they really believe can deliver those songs?”
Idol, who is set to release his new album Dream Into It on April 25th, had a taste of performing with the Pistols as part of Generation Sex, which included Jones, Cook, and Idol’s Generation X bandmate Tony James. That said, he’s perfectly cool with Carter fronting the Pistols.
“I think it makes more sense than me doing it, ’cause I’m really Billy Idol already,” he continued. “I’m better off doing my own music. We’ve got this killer album. I won’t be out there just doing retread music. I’m gonna be doing some old stuff, but we’re gonna be doing a lot of new stuff on this tour. So for me, I’m really excited about what I’m doing and I’m excited for them that they’ve found someone that they feel can deliver those songs in the way they want them delivered.”
The veteran rocker concluded, “And of course John’s gonna be pissed. He’s been like this for a while. At the same time, he’s into Public Image. That’s really what he wants to do, so I think we’re all in a good place, really. It’s just John’s always been super opinionated and rightly so, probably. He’s never held back what he truly thinks. So, yeah, it doesn’t bother me. I love him and everything, but I know where I’m going with my music and I’m happy with what I’m doing.”
Fans can catch Idol, the Sex Pistols, or Lydon’s Public Image Ltd. on separate tours this year. Idol is headlining a North American run with Joan Jett kicking April 30th in Phoenix (with tickets available here).
Sex Pistols Featuring Frank Carter recently announced a fall North American tour that launches September 16th in Dallas (tickets here), while Public Image Ltd. will be on tour in Europe from May through July.
Meanwhile, Billy Idol has been nominated for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025. Read what he told us about
