Steve Jones Says Sex Pistols Wouldn’t Survive Today’s Cancel Culture

Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones doesn’t think the legendary punk band would make it in today’s world of social media outrage and cancel culture.

In a recent conversation with Blunt Magazine, Jones admitted that the Pistols’ brand of chaos—built on antagonism, controversy, and outright provocation—would likely get them shut down before they even got started.

“I don’t know, probably,” Jones responded when asked if the Sex Pistols would be cancelled today. “But there’s always going to be someone who stands out.”

It’s not hard to see why either. The Sex Pistols weren’t just another loud band—they were a full-blown cultural grenade. From dropping f-bombs live on air with journalist Bill Grundy to mocking the monarchy with ‘God Save the Queen’. The Sex Pistols thrived on outrage. Their 1977 tour of the US was quite literally an exercise in public disorder. Bassist Sid Vicious allegedly attacked fans, overdosed in hotel rooms, and was nearly thrown in jail. The band’s final show ended with Johnny Rotten sneering, “Ever get the feeling you’ve been cheated?” before walking off stage.

Even offstage, they didn’t hold back. Jones himself once admitted to robbing famous recording studios just to steal equipment. Sid Vicious’ life then later spiralled into heroin-fuelled violence, culminating in the still-mysterious death of his girlfriend, Nancy Spungen.

If the Sex Pistols were around today, their antics wouldn’t just land them in tabloid headlines. They’d be flooded with backlash, petitions, and social media takedowns.

Jones, however, still sees punk’s confrontational spirit as necessary. “There’s always going to be people who push back,” he said, acknowledging that while times have changed, rebellion will always find a way. But would the Pistols survive it? Probably not.

With a Sex Pistols tour set for Australia in April 2025—featuring Frank Carter stepping in on vocals—the legacy of their disruption is still alive. But in today’s climate, it’s anyone’s guess if they’d even get a record deal, let alone the chance to cause mayhem.