John Lydon recently talked about his previous criticism of his former Sex Pistols bandmates’ decision to reform with Frank Carter on vocals, sharing his thoughts during an appearance on Good Morning Britain.
Lydon expressed his frustration with the band’s decision to perform without him, criticizing their use of the songs and stage presentation he created.
“Cheek of them,” Lydon said. “Going out without me, singing the songs I wrote, the words I wrote, the presentation I created.”
He went on to explain his desire to distance himself from his former bandmates, describing his past experiences working with them.
“I’ve worked enough with them in the first place,” he continued. “They’re deceitful, lying hyenas, and I never want another thing to do with them.”
Lydon also compared the current touring lineup to a tribute act, questioning the authenticity of the performances.
“So can we drop the karaoke band?” Lydon added. “Because that’s what they are to me — they’re imitating me, and that’s really kind of insulting, because there’s great bands out there that imitate us already.”
The comments are the latest chapter in a long and public split between the frontman and the musicians he once shared a stage with, a fracture that has deepened over years of reunion plans and courtroom battles.
The current lineup took shape without Lydon, with guitarist Steve Jones, drummer Paul Cook and bassist Glen Matlock performing alongside Frank Carter. The collaboration began with three fundraising concerts at London’s Bush Hall in August 2024, followed by a UK tour in September of that year.
The group has continued to build on that run. The lineup appeared at Download Festival, London’s Royal Albert Hall and London’s Victoria Park in 2025, among other UK dates. The shows have been promoted as performances by “Sex Pistols featuring Frank Carter,” rather than as a full reunion with Lydon.
The divide traces back further than the current tour. The High Court ruled in 2021 that an agreement signed by the band allowed licensing decisions to be made by majority vote, which enabled Jones and Cook to approve the use of Sex Pistols songs in Danny Boyle’s 2022 television series Pistol despite Lydon’s objections.
Lydon had argued that the series should not use the band’s music without his consent. The court rejected his attempt to block the licensing, finding that his contractual rights did not give him an absolute veto and that his refusal could be overridden under the band’s agreement.
“Going around without me, singing the songs I wrote, the lyrics I wrote, the attitude I created … They are deceitful, lying hyenas, and I never want anything to do with them again. So can we forget the karaoke band?”
Lydon’s latest remarks sharpen a feud that has repeatedly resurfaced since the court case. He has described the Frank Carter-led performances as “karaoke” and “almost malicious in its intent,” while Matlock, Cook and Jones have continued performing the group’s material without him.
