Sex Pistols announce first New Zealand tour in 30 years

Frank Carter performs with Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols in London, England. Photo / Getty

By RNZ

In 2024, punk icon and Pistols fan Frank Carter joined original band members Paul Cook, Steve Jones, Glen Matlock, performing the Sex Pistols' iconic 1977 album Never Mind The Bollocks in full in front of a UK crowd.

For the first time in 30 years, the English punk rock band will visit New Zealand in April for a run of shows serving up that performance.

Kicking off on April 2 at Auckland Town Hall, the tour will then head to Christchurch and across to Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane and concluding at Fremantle Prison on April 11.

The Sex Pistols' first line-up included vocalist Johnny Rotten, guitarist Jones, drummer Cook, and bassist Matlock, before Matlock was replaced by Sid Vicious.

Their sole studio album Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols (1977) was regarded as iconic in the development of punk rock.

In January 1978, at the final gig of a US tour, Jonny Rotten announced the band’s break-up live on stage.

Vicious died of a heroin overdose in February 1979 following his arrest for the alleged murder of his girlfriend, Nancy Spungen.

Rotten, Jones, Cook and Matlock later reunited in 1966 for a successful tour that included New Zealand, and some one-off performances and short tours followed over the next decade.

Rotten will not be on this current tour. In 2024, Carter joined Jones, Cook and Matlock, as the Sex Pistols, for two fundraiser concerts in England and a UK tour followed.

Now that outfit is bound for New Zealand and Australia. Tickets go on sale January 23 at 12pm.

- RNZ