John Lydon has always been known for speaking his mind. From his early days as the angry voice of the Sex Pistols to his more experimental work with Public Image Ltd (PiL), Lydon has never tried to please everyone. He doesn’t believe in playing it safe, and he doesn’t believe in staying quiet when something bothers him. That attitude has followed him throughout his entire career.
Recently, Lydon once again made headlines by calling out two very famous rock bands that he believes borrowed too much from his music: Guns N’ Roses and U2. According to Lydon, these bands didn’t just take inspiration — they copied ideas without giving proper credit. Whether people agree with him or not, his comments have restarted an old debate about originality in music.
Why Originality Is So Important to Lydon
After the Sex Pistols broke up, Lydon formed Public Image Ltd because he wanted something different. PiL was not about punk shock value anymore. It was about experimentation, strange rhythms, heavy basslines, and doing things that didn’t sound like mainstream rock. Lydon has often said that PiL worked hard to create their own sound, even when it confused people or hurt record sales.
Because of this, Lydon gets frustrated when he hears famous bands using ideas that sound very close to PiL’s music. In his view, music should push forward, not recycle old ideas and sell them as something new.
Guns N’ Roses: Too Close for Comfort
The first band Lydon criticized was Guns N’ Roses. While they are one of the most popular rock bands in history, Lydon said that one of their guitar parts sounds almost identical to PiL’s version of the song “Stepping Stone.” He described it as a “rip-off” and told the band to “get your own technique.”
Lydon also said he doesn’t fully understand why Guns N’ Roses became so big. To him, their music doesn’t feel especially original, even though it connected strongly with fans around the world. His criticism wasn’t personal — it was about what he sees as borrowing instead of creating something fresh.
U2: Success Without Acknowledgment
Lydon’s second target was U2, another massively successful band. He said that some of their guitar rhythms, especially in songs like “Bullet the Blue Sky,” sound very similar to ideas PiL explored years earlier. What upset him most was not just the similarity, but the lack of acknowledgment.
According to Lydon, U2 benefited from experimental sounds that came from underground and alternative bands, yet never openly recognized those influences. He also criticized what he sees as their serious, self-important image, saying it doesn’t match the way they quietly borrowed ideas from others.
A Bigger Problem in the Music Industry
For Lydon, this isn’t just about two bands. He believes the modern music industry often rewards safe, familiar sounds instead of risky creativity. Record labels, he argues, focus too much on what sells and not enough on what feels honest. When bands copy existing ideas and polish them for mass audiences, true innovation gets pushed aside.
Lydon knows his opinions can sound harsh, but he has never cared about being liked. His career has been built on challenging expectations and refusing to compromise. Even decades later, he still believes that music should be about truth, originality, and courage.