Sex Pistols icon Johnny Rotten reveals VERY unlikely (and very lucrative!) career move

Punk icon Johnny Rotten has revealed his unlikely career move.

The 67-year-old Sex Pistols legend, real name John Lydon, has teamed up with American bicycle company Ionic to give his name to their Johnny Rotten bicycle, which was first released in the early 2000s and will now carry a graphic which is drawn by the rocker.

Ionic allegedly approached Johnny to ask if he would like to officially collaborate, to which he agreed and the bike’s new line now includes a drawing he wrote of himself next to his signature.

The pushbike isn’t cheap, with the frame alone retailing for $2,250 (£1,775) while the whole kit retails for £7,730 (£6,810).

The partnership isn’t the first to send shockwaves, as Johnny wowed fans in 2008 when he really left his punk legacy behind by starring in a £5 million TV campaign for Country Life butter – a move he subsequently defended.

Ionic’s Johnny Rotten bike is listed on the website as: ‘The Ionic Johnny Rotten was one of the legendary hardtail mountain bikes in the early 2000s…

“We’re proud to bring it back to a new generation of cyclists… Each frame is hand-built to perfection in Boulder, Colorado, by people who know and love cycling.”

While it may seem like an unusual career move, Johnny has spoken out in defense of his collaborations, insisting that he only put his name on products he believes in.

At the time of his Country Life contract, he said, “People know I only do things that I want or believe in and that I have to do it my way…

“I’ve never done anything like it before and never thought I would, but this Country Life ad was made for me and I couldn’t resist the opportunity.”

The latest project comes after the star claimed his former band Sex Pistols “tastelessly” tried to “cash in” on the Queen’s death with their punk single God Save The Queen last September.

He said he was “distanced” from any activity by the band aimed at promoting their 1977 song, claiming it was “disrespectful” to the royal family.

Johnny wrote the lyrics to God Save the Queen and the anti-royalist song was released just before the Queen’s Silver Jubilee.

Nice! The 67-year-old Sex Pistols legend, real name John Lydon, has teamed up with American bicycle company Ionic to give his name to their Johnny Rotten bicycle, which was first released in the early 2000s and will now carry a graphic which is drawn by the rocker

Here he is! The partnership isn’t the first to send shockwaves, as Johnny left fans stunned in 2008 when he really left his punk legacy in the past by starring in a £5million TV campaign for Country Life butter – a move he then defended.

Star: Ionic’s Johnny Rotten bike is listed on the website as, “The Ionic Johnny Rotten was one of the legendary hardtail mountain bikes in the early 2000s” (Johnny pictured last year)

In a series of tweets shared by John’s account and his band Public Image Ltd, he claimed that Sex Pistols had approved “a number of requests” against his will, accusing the band of trying to “monetize” the death of Her Majesty. .

But a spokesman for the Sex Pistols called John’s comments “mind-boggling” and said they didn’t understand what the singer was referring to in his tweets.

A spokesperson for the Sex Pistols told MailOnline, “We can’t understand what [John] would refer to. Other than a few requests for the use of video or audio material in news reports about the Queen and her impact on culture, there is nothing new about God Save The Queen being promoted or released in any way.”

John Lydon’s tweets read: “John Lydon wants to distance himself from any Sex Pistols activity that aims to cash in on the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

“The musicians in the band and their management have, against John’s wishes, approved a number of requests based on the majority agreement.

According to John, the timing for approving Sex Pistols requests for commercial gain related to ‘God Save The Queen’ is particularly distasteful and disrespectful to the Queen and her family at this time.

John wrote the lyrics to this historic song, and while he has never supported the monarchy, he feels the family deserves some respect at this difficult time, as is to be expected for any other person or family when a loved one has passed away.

Rest in peace Queen Elizabeth II. Send her victorious.’

Get lost! The latest project comes after the star claimed his former band Sex Pistols “tastelessly” tried to “cash in” on the Queen’s death with their punk single God Save The Queen last September

Angry: In a series of tweets, he claimed Sex Pistols had approved “a number of requests” against his will, accusing the band of trying to “cash in” on Her Majesty’s death

Sad news: Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch who reigned for 70 years, died last year aged 96 – after which Johnny fell out with his former bandmate