After reading this book I am just as thrilled as I was after seeing the reunited Pistols on the Filt A few weeks ago Glen Matlock & Sylvain Sylvain of the New Your Dools came through town and played an inspired acoustic show at Small's in Hamtranck. After the show I had chance to speak with an actual Sex Pistol and bought a copy of his book. It was a Sunday night and the crowd shuld have been much bigger but the two iconic musicians put on a show (both solo and togther) that I will long remember.
So - not one to go out of your way for, but if it turns up in a discount bin or a charity shop it's worth a look.Ī few weeks ago Glen Matlock & Sylvain Sylvain of the New Your Dools came through town and played an inspired acoustic show at Small's in Hamtranck. Indeed, whether they could have evolved beyond four-on-the-floor rock'n'roll is a moot point certainly bands such as The Slits (who Glen dismisses here as not being able to play) produced a far more interesting and varied body of work than the Pistols, whose risible post-Matlock career included Eddie Cochrane covers (just in case we were still wondering!), and rubbish like 'Belsen' and 'Cosh the Driver' featuring Great Train Robber and fugitive Ronnie Biggs.
Glen claims Van Der Graaf Generator and Can amongst the band's influences, but you don't hear that in their music as much as you might in, say, Public Image's first couple of albums. Me, I have always suspected that the band was a case of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts, and one great album was all they had in them, but you may disagree. Glen makes great play of being the major songwriter in the Sex Pistols before his departure (a claim disputed by at least two other members of the band) which is puzzling if true as he has written little of note since then. Me, I have always suspected that the band was a case of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts, and one I read this in one sitting, it's fairly insubstantial, and the reunion tour diary bits added onto the end of this later edition aren't even remotely interesting. I read this in one sitting, it's fairly insubstantial, and the reunion tour diary bits added onto the end of this later edition aren't even remotely interesting. I read it at a similar time to reading JR's, 'No Irish, No Blacks, No Dogs', and was really good to get the contrast and different perspective on events.more It's clear that Glen and JR were not best of pals, but he avoids a bitchfest, all to his credit. If Steve hadn't been in the Sex Pistols, now giving the occasional interview whilst lounging by his pool in LA with a fag and can of lager, he'd most probably be a resident of Her Majesty. The bit that sticks in my head, is his assertation that it was Steve Jones more than anyone, who exemplified the spirit of punk, and makes a good argument for this. Glen makes his point well that he was motivated by music, not punk. If Steve hadn't been in the Sex Pistols, now giving the occasional interview whilst lounging by his pool in LA with a fag and can of lager, he'd most probably be a res Many years since I read this (mid 90s), but I recall that it was highly enjoyable and easy to read.
Many years since I read this (mid 90s), but I recall that it was highly enjoyable and easy to read. Never mind the other bollocks-filled books about the Sex Pistols, here’s the truth.more Glen brilliantly captures the flavour of seventies Britain and reveals the complexities and personality clashes that made the Pistols so explosive at that time.Īlso includes true tales of the Pistols reunion tours of 19. His story of the Pistols’ rise to global infamy is an honest, insightful account of a group of intelligent malcontents, determined to change the music business and to attack hypocrisy and stale conventions in society at large. Glen brilliantly captures the flavour of seventies Br Glen Matlock was a founding member of the Sex Pistols and co-wrote most of their iconic songs.
Glen Matlock was a founding member of the Sex Pistols and co-wrote most of their iconic songs.