The punk legend says his former group – also comprising Steve Jones, Paul Cook and Glen Matlock, who was later replaced by Sid Vicious - tried out several different monikers before making their final decision, but he was always unhappy with their “twee” title.
He said: “I know the lot of the, were all messing around with names before I went there.
“To be honest with you, I never even liked the name Sex Pistols. I always felt like it sounded a bit twee.”
However, despite his unhappiness, John – who was known as Johnny Rotten in the group – thinks it could have been worse.
He added: “Mind you, if it had been left up to our bassist Glen, we would’ve most probably been called the Milky Bar Kids.”
John recently revealed he was approached to collaborate with animated band Gorillaz on their new album ‘Plastic Beach’ but turned down the request.
He said: "They gave me a bell but the answer was 'no'. I really don't want to be dabbling in other people's gene pools.
"I've worked with so many so-called famous people over the years but it's never been for any deliberate financial motivation.
"If I did it wouldn't be a business phone call followed by a management agreement and then for an album manufactured and marketed as to what the current popular trends were."
