Iconic punk band postpones highly anticipated tour due to health issues
Equivalent of rock lovers throughout North America won’t have the pleasure of experiencing the iconic Sex Pistols live just yet, as the band has had to put their eagerly awaited tour on hold due to an injury suffered by guitarist Steve Jones. Parade shares the band’s message broadcasted on social media, revealing that Jones has sustained a wrist injury, resulting in the postponement of their first U.S. tour in 22 years. The highly anticipated tour was scheduled to commence on September 16 at Dallas’ renowned Longhorn Ballroom.
In a candid Instagram post, Jones humorously shared, “I’ve got some news, both good and bad. The bad news is I’ve broken my wrist, which means we won’t be able to perform for a while. However, the good news is that the surgeon has reassured me that I’ll be back strumming the guitar in the near future.” Celebrating his 70th birthday, Jones concluded the announcement with a jovial remark, “On another positive note, I’ll be turning 70 tomorrow! Cheers, and may my wrist be blessed.”
The current lineup comprises of founding members Jones, drummer Paul Cook, and bassist Glen Matlock, alongside vocalist Frank Carter, who has taken on the role of original singer Johnny Rotten (John Lydon). Assuring the loyal fan base, the band disclosed that all shows across North and South America have been pushed back and will be rescheduled once Jones has completely recuperated.
The canceled tour had scheduled stops in Brooklyn, Detroit, Seattle, Los Angeles, and Toronto, with the kick-off at the Longhorn Ballroom expected to be a standout event marking the venue’s 75th anniversary festivities. While awaiting the revised tour dates, fans can relish in the recent release of a limited-edition white vinyl titled “Live in the USA 1978 — Dallas,” capturing the band’s electric 1978 performance at the Longhorn Ballroom. The compilation also includes recordings from their visits to Atlanta and San Francisco during that eventful tour, as detailed by Parade.
Emerging onto the music scene in 1975 amidst Britain’s economic downturn, the Sex Pistols were notably backed by visual artist and boutique owner Malcolm McLaren. Despite a brief two-year tenure and the production of a single album, “Never Mind the Bollocks Here’s the Sex Pistols” (1977), they made an indelible mark on music, propelling the anti-establishment punk movement in the U.K. and U.S.
The original 1978 U.S. tour concluded dramatically during their San Francisco performance, where internal tensions climaxed, leading Rotten to famously question the bewildered audience, “Ever get the feeling you’ve been cheated?” Subsequently, the band announced their disbandment the following day.
Commenting on the band’s imminent return to the stage, cleveland.com’s life and culture editor Mike Norman expressed reservations about the Sex Pistols’ vitality without original lead vocalist John Lydon. Norman noted that Carter’s replacement of Lydon as the frontman prompted skepticism from the former. Reflecting on the band’s legacy, Norman suggested that their essence may have been lost when bassist Sid Vicious, who joined in 1977 and contributed to the band’s seminal album, passed away in 1979.