The most musically accomplished member of the Sex Pistols,
founding member Glen Matlock, left the group in February 1977, about
eight months before Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex
Pistols went down in history.
Depending on what you read, Matlock either left of his own accord,
sick of the bullshit of manager Malcolm McLaren, or was forced out of
the band for his music tastes—liking The Beatles—and for washing
his feet.
Apocryphal? More than likely. But it makes for some great
myth-making.
True, however, is Matlock’s love for the Faces and mid-’60s pop.
Ronnie Lane, The Faces’ original bassist, served as the inspiration for
Matlock to play bass. Fittingly, Matlock is being considered by the
surviving members as the bassist for The Faces’ upcoming reunion
tour.
Also reuniting is Matlock’s post-Pistols band, The Rich Kids.
Playing live for the first time in 30 years, the shows are in support
of Rich Kids and PiL member Steve New, who is battling undisclosed
health issues.
Matlock’s latest spate of live solo shows is being promoted under
the tagline “Never Mind the Sex Pistols, Here Comes Glen Matlock.” But
as a member of the Sex Pistols, Matlock actually fits in, far more than
he appears to: He reunited with the Pistols in 1996 for one of the most
infamous reunions of all-time, the 78-date Filthy Lucre Tour that saw
the band banned from Northern Ireland.
When asked at their 1996 London press conference about appearing on
the BBC chart programme Top of the Pops, Matlock responded
charmingly, “The cunts wouldn’t have us on 20 years ago, why should we
go on now? Unless they pay. Now you must admit that’s a novel
idea.”
December 9 is your chance to pay to see Matlock play at the Paragon.
A novel idea.
This article appears in Dec 3-9, 2009.