Importance Score: 50 / 100 🔵
Sex Pistols Prepare for North American Tour: A Return to Punk Roots
NEW YORK — It wasn’t the dawn of punk rock, but it was remarkably close. Almost half a century ago, the iconic punk band, Sex Pistols – then consisting of vocalist Johnny Rotten, guitarist Steve Jones, drummer Paul Cook, and bassist Glen Matlock – delivered a performance at the now-legendary 100 Club Punk Special in London. The venue, a small club with a 140-person capacity, also featured Subway Sect, Siouxsie and the Banshees, and The Clash.
This event signaled a pivotal moment for the burgeoning subcultural movement, setting the stage for these bands to propel their underground punk culture into the mainstream consciousness.
Returning to the Scene of the Crime: 100 Club Reunion
In 2025, a modern iteration of the Pistols – Jones, Cook, and Matlock, now joined by frontman Frank Carter (formerly of Gallows, Pure Love, and Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes) – gathered at the same historic venue. They met to discuss their highly anticipated North American tour. “This is really where it all began, the whole punk scene,” Cook stated, reflecting on the venue’s significance.
North American Tour Kicks Off This Fall
This autumn, the celebrated punk band is set to embark on their first North American tour since 2003, an earlier tour featuring John Lydon (formerly known as Johnny Rotten). The 2025 tour, fronted by Carter, is scheduled to commence on September 16 at the Longhorn Ballroom in Dallas, Texas. This particular venue holds a somewhat notorious history for the band, as it was the site of a notably hostile reception during their initial U.S. tour in 1978.
Jones vividly recalled the experience, mentioning “pigs’ hooves and bottles and such being hurled at us by cowboys.”
vCard.red is a free platform for creating a mobile-friendly digital business cards. You can easily create a vCard and generate a QR code for it, allowing others to scan and save your contact details instantly.
The platform allows you to display contact information, social media links, services, and products all in one shareable link. Optional features include appointment scheduling, WhatsApp-based storefronts, media galleries, and custom design options.
“Live in the U.S.A.” Albums and San Francisco
That 1978 U.S. tour, including the Dallas date, is captured in three “Live in the U.S.A.” albums documenting performances in Atlanta, Dallas, and San Francisco. The San Francisco album, slated for release on April 25, immortalizes the show where the band initially disbanded.
“We were contemplating breaking up in San Francisco once more,” Jones quipped, referencing their history with the city.
Tour Dates and Locations
The 2025 tour is currently planned to conclude on October 16 at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles. The itinerary includes performances in:
- Washington
- Philadelphia
- Brooklyn, New York
- Montreal
- Toronto
- Cleveland
- Detroit
- Minneapolis
- Denver
- Seattle
- San Francisco
Additional dates for the tour are expected to be announced in the near future.
Ticket Information
Pre-sale ticket access will be available on April 2 and 3. General ticket sales will commence on April 4 at 10:00 a.m. local time.
Performing “Never Mind the Bollocks” and More
During the tour, the band will perform their seminal 1977 album, “Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols Album,” in its entirety, alongside other tracks from their catalog.
Why Now? The Band’s Motivation
When asked about the timing for touring the U.S. and Canada now, Jones simply responded, “Why not?”
Carter elaborated, “I believe everyone is in need of this band at this moment. The world needs the Sex Pistols right now. And I genuinely think America is yearning for a band like the Sex Pistols.”
He further explained, “Ultimately, we are navigating a very challenging period. People are looking not just for entertainment but also for an opportunity to enjoy themselves. Punk music is inherently energetic. It offers a space to vent and unwind, hopefully in a safe environment – fingers crossed, free from bottles or pigs’ hooves.”
Reunion Without Lydon
Carter previously fronted the Sex Pistols for several U.K. performances last year. The band confirmed they did not approach John Lydon about participating in this reunion tour.
“The last thing he desires is to have any association with us currently,” Jones remarked, alluding to a recent legal dispute between Lydon and the band concerning music usage in their TV series “Pistol,” a case Lydon ultimately lost.
“We extend our best wishes to him,” Jones stated.
“Best of luck to him,” Matlock added. “I hope he might, perhaps, think ‘good luck’ to us. Though probably not. Over the years, John (has had) all our phone numbers, and I don’t recall receiving many missed calls from him.”
A More Refined Performance Anticipated
Regarding the 2025 tour, fans should not expect the tumultuous atmosphere of their 1978 shows, but they can anticipate a more polished and tighter performance.
“We are older, but our playing is just as proficient, if not superior,” Matlock asserted. “And I believe that’s a considerable degree of assurance that we intend to bring to the audience over there.”
Future of the Sex Pistols?
Could this tour signal new music from the Sex Pistols in the future? “It’s still early days,” Jones admitted. “Let’s observe what unfolds.”