The Sex Pistols to return to North America for the first time in more than 20 years

Stateside Sex Pistols fans are in luck. Following their last North American tour in 2003, the band has finally announced new shows on this side of the pond. Beginning in September, the new leg will be part of the ongoing Sex Pistols featuring Frank Carter tour in celebration of the band’s 50th anniversary. The band is playing their full 1977 album Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols, as well as other music. 

The current touring lineup consists of guitarist Steve Jones, bassist Glen Matlock (who was the original bassist before Sid Vicious), drummer Paul Cook, and singer Carter, stepping in for former frontman John Lyndon, a.k.a. Johnny Rotten. Lyndon has publicly dissed the current version of the band, telling NME earlier this year, “It’s almost malicious in its intent. 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 another interview with the Classic Album Review podcast (via NME), he complained, “I wrote the fucking songs, didn’t I? I gave them the image. I was the frontman. I am the voice what made the whole world sing. They profess their hatred for me, but they can’t live without me. I am the punishment that goes on giving.” Of the group touring with Carter, he added, “I just thought, ‘They’re absolutely going to kill all that was good with the Pistols by eliminating the point and the purpose of it all.'”

If all that hasn’t turned out against the modern Sex Pistols, the North American leg begins September 16 at the Longhorn Ballroom in Dallas. The same venue hosted the band in 1978, a performance that can be heard on the live album Live In The U.S.A. that was released on Friday. In a recent interview with ABC News, Jones recalled having “pigs’ hooves and bottles and what not slung at us by cowboys” at the Texas show. 

A live album recorded in Atlanta in 1978 came out earlier this year, and a record of the 1978 show in San Francisco—the show where the group first broke up—will be released on April 25. With the promise of more shows to be announced later, Jones joked to ABC News that “We were thinking of breaking up in San Francisco again.” But Carter said, “I think everybody needs this band right now. I think the world needs this band right now. And I think definitely America is screaming out for a band like the Sex Pistols.”

He added, “At the end of the day, we’re living in a really, really difficult time. So not only do people want to come and just be entertained, they want to enjoy themselves. Punk is an energetic music. It’s one where you can go and vent and let your hair down, hopefully in a safe manner. Fingers crossed, no bottles or pigs’ hooves.” You can check out the full list of new tour dates below; tickets will be available starting Friday, April 4, at 10 a.m. local time at SexPistolsFeaturingFrankCarter.com.

SEX PISTOLS 2025 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES 

Tue. Sept. 16—Longhorn Ballroom—Dallas, TX 

Tue. Sept. 23—9:30 Club—Washington, DC 

Fri. Sept. 26—Fillmore—Philadelphia, PA