Glen Matlock has toured as a member of Blondie for the last three years around the world, and recently the former Sex Pistols bassist and Rock Hall Of Fame inductee has joined Paul Cook and Steve Jones for a Sex Pistols reunion tour with singer Frank Turner “replacing” John Lydon – attracting widespread praise.
Last year (2023) Glen released his acclaimed solo album “Consequences Coming”, and he also regularly tours and performs at festivals with his own band. He has recently [20th & 21st October 2024]) opened for Alice Cooper at The Eventim Apollo in London.
Glen is a singer, songwriter, guitarist and bassist with a highly-esteemed CV. The original bassist and songwriter of the Sex Pistols, Matlock is responsible for co-penning some of history’s most notorious songs, “Anarchy In The UK,” “God Save The Queen” and “Pretty Vacant”.
Glen with his beloved QPR football team’s crest draped over his bass amp
After his time with The Sex Pistols, where he is credited as a writer on 10 of the 12 songs on the LP “Never Mind The Bollocks”, Glen went on to form several well-regarded bands, including Rich Kids (with Midge Ure).
He has collaborated with artists such as Iggy Pop, and Primal Scream, and is also a highly in-demand star session man, playing live with the likes of the legendary reformed Faces. He’s even had fun jamming with Johnny Depp and the late Shane McGowan.
Glen has released several solo studio albums, previously engaging guitarist Earl Slick (David Bowie / John Lennon) and Slim Jim Phantom (Stray Cats) for his excellent 2018 album, “Good To Go”.
Most recently his 2023 album, “Consequences Coming” was received to wide-spread critical acclaim. He has recently toured the UK with Katie Puckrick and Blondie drummer Clem Burke performing Iggy Pop’s “Lust for Life”.
Glen reveals that Frank Carter, who has wowed audiences on the recent Sex Pistols’ shows, was not the first choice for replacement frontman after John Lydon declined to be involved. “We know it is never gonna work with John ever again, which is sad but true. Then somebody else was put forward as the singer and I didn’t think it was a very good idea.
“My son Louis overheard who it was going to be, and in the background he’s going, no, no, no. no no. I said, so who’d you think we should get then and he said, ‘Frank Carter’. My son was in a band with his brother Sam and they toured with Frank Carter and The Rattlesnakes, so I asked if he had his number and he said yes.
“So I had a coffee with Frank, we had a chat and I liked him. I did a bit of research on him, and I suggested him to Steve and Paul because my son suggested that we get Frank. That was how it all started.
“I had a little play with him and Paul because Steve was in America, and Paul liked him. Then I went to see him with his Rattlesnakes at a gig at The Roundhouse. Then Steve came over and we started rehearsing and it all just slotted into place. I think he’s great really. He’s got exactly the right vibe for the thing.
“Nobody is pretending he is Johnny Rotten. He’s not pretending he’s Johnny Rotten. All these people who say, ‘well he’s not Johnny Rotten’, it’s not supposed to be Johnny Rotten. It’s the original Pistols with Frank Carter singing the Pistols songs. It’s pretty close, you know.”
Glen Matlock, Paul Cook, Frank Carter and Steve Jones
So what does Frank add and bring to what you three original Pistols have already got? “Youthful exuberance. He is very plain talking and plain acting. He’s got a twinkle in his eye. He makes it fun to be honest. There’s a chemistry there. Once we found Frank we didn’t even consider anybody else. The only people who have dissed it are the people who haven’t seen it.”
If all four Pistols had stayed together, what do you think that band would be doing in 2024? Glen gives a blunt one word answer: “Arguing!” So does he think the original four would ever re-form again?
“I can’t see that happening. We’ve given it a good go over the years and it’s just sort of petered out for various reasons. I think everybody can read between the lines a little bit as to why. Different kind of people, different political persuasions, different ways of going through life. Good luck to John, but we’ve moved on!”
I wanted Glen to describe the difference as regards Sex Pistols after-show activities in 2024 as compared to back in the day? I ask, has the sex & drugs & rock and roll been replaced with vitamin pills and Horlicks?
“Pretty much, yeah. Cups of tea! But the thing is, the four of us do tend to hang out together a bit more than we used to with the other fella.” So, what was the agenda after the show last night in Birmingham? “Last night we finished the show, we were all a bit knackered. We had something to eat, watched a bit of Match of The Day [iconic BBC TV football show], compared notes on that, dodged the autograph hunters in the hotel…
“I had a cheese and pickle sandwich after the gig and we had to be up at eight o’clock in the morning to drive up here [Glasgow]. It’s not sex & drugs & rock & roll these days, even with the bands who were notorious for that.” I tell him, you’ve just given me the headline then, Glen: ‘Never Mind The Horlicks.’ He replies: “Oh don’t say that”. But I couldn’t resist, so we did say that! Sorry Glen!
Glen Matlock, Steve Jones and Paul Cook
In the current set list, which songs does he like to perform? “I like playing ‘No Fun’ actually, [The Stooges song], even though it’s not one of our songs; I think it’s a sexy little number, and it’s a right toe-tapper. That’s kinda (sic) cool. ” ‘Anarchy’ [‘Anarchy In The UK’]. ‘Pretty Vacant’.
So, after a few benefit gigs in London and then the handful of regional gigs, will there be any more shows with Frank Carter and the three Pistols legends? “I think the reaction to what we’re doing has been pretty good, and next year you’ll probably be sick of us come next Christmas”.
I wondered if maybe Glastonbury will be on the list for next year? Glen says: “I don’t know. I did it with Blondie last year and I have done loads of festivals over the years, but Glastonbury is the most corporate….
“I was having lunch backstage and my son was hanging out and I went out one way to come back in – we were second from top with Blondie – and I didn’t have the right fucking pass to get back in the dressing room. Stupid. But if they pay us well, we’d go and do it. I have done a few gigs with my band on the smaller stages at Glastonbury over the years…”
Looking ahead to the new tour with his band in just under two weeks time, Glen speaks about what the fans can expect. “I like doing the tours of my own stuff with my band because above anything else, I see myself as a songwriter and I think I’ve turned out some pretty good songs over the years. They’ve not all been number ones, far from it, but it don’t mean they are no good, you know.
“It’s a chance to play them live in front of a public. They all hang together pretty well because they are from my pen. I think some of the songs I put out on my last album, ‘Consequences’ have begun to ring true lately, especially with the Tories getting ousted. Whether that means Labour are any good or not, I dunno, we shall see. But it was time for a big change, and that was what my song ‘Consequences Coming’ was about.
“I know people expect to hear a couple of certain songs, so there’s something for everybody I think. The band; we’ve been playing together in different line-ups for a long, long time now and there’s a chemistry there. A good band, the total should be more than the sum of the parts, and I think that’s what we got.
“Neil and Musto and Jim Lowe. Jim is a pretty successful bloke in his own right; he co-produced all the Stereophonics hits; we’ve all been around and it’s fun. Come on down, it’s always a good night.”
I mention former Bowie man Earl Slick being in a previous Matlock band line-up.
“I liked Earl Slick involved, but he lives in Upstate New York. Look, when you get to a certain age and proficiency of playing, nobody’s really better than anybody else. You tend to play like your personality and that’s what Neil does and it don’t mean he’s better or worse, he’s just different and having different people in just keeps it fresh.”
Glen Matlock and Paul Cook
What can fans expect in the set list? “On this tour we’ll do a couple of Pistols songs, a couple of Rich Kids song, something else I did with Iggy [Pop]. I’ve put out loads of solo records over the years and there’s good songs on all of them, and a few covers we do. The set is a mixture, but it all hangs together pretty well.”
Will Glen write and record another solo album? “I am not long turned 68, and I’ve been touring non-stop for the past three years [Blondie], and hardly had any time to sit down, let alone write some new songs. I will do, but maybe not just yet.”
So, still on the topic of legendary bands reuniting, Glen recalls one of the best moments of his career when he was asked to play bass for the reunion of his favourite band: The Faces. I ask if there will be any more with them in the future? “Love to do that, but I’m getting on a bit and they’re a good 10 years older than me. Mac’s gone [Faces keyboard man Ian McLagan] and it’s not the same.
“I love playing with Kenny [Jones] and Ronnie [Wood] and Mac. Rod didn’t do it when I did it, Mick Hucknall did it and I thought he was very good actually. I get on quite well with him. One of the biggest feathers in my cap over the years to get to do that. My all-time favourite band and I played with them.”
How about the Oasis reunion, will you be going to see them? “I like Liam’s voice. He’s got a great voice and a magnetic personality. He can just stand there and sing his heart out, which he does, but when I saw them, the rest of them are trying to be cool and it was fucking boring to be honest.
“I’ve seen them twice and I’ve been really bored both times. Noel lives round the corner from me. They are not really my cup of tea. They remind me of Status Quo. You know if you are in a pub or bar and they are playing music on the juke box, and it’s all a bit naff and all of a sudden a Status Quo song will come on, and it’s alright for three-and-a-half minutes. Oasis are like that. One of their songs comes on, and that’s alright, but that’s enough!”
Glen has been described as “stylish rock gent” and “pioneer of punk”. Glen laughs and says as regards the “stylish rock gent” tag, he saw a few photos of himself with “a bit of facial hair going on” and he thinks he looks like a cross between “Leslie Phillips of Doctor in the House and Fulton Mackay the prison officer in Porridge”.
Glen and his band mates Chris Musto, Jim Lowe and Neal X kick off their UK tour in Norwich on 15th November for 13 dates and close in London at famed Camden venue Dingwalls on 30th Nov [All 13 dates can be seen above on the tour poster].
Interview/Words: Steve Best
Photos: Jason Sheldon, Tina K, Danny Clifford & Chris Musto
