Original Pistols Paul Cook, Steve Jones and Glen Matlock with Frank Carter on lead vocals concluded this short tour with another sold out show
Controversy has never been far from the Sex Pistols camp, and this latest run of dates with Frank Carter (from Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes) taking on vocal duties had split opinion amongst the punk faithful! Frank was originally engaged for three (rapidly sold out) dates to charitably support the threatened Bush Hall music venue in west London, in drummer Paul Cook‘s manor. Joined by guitarist Steve Jones and original bassist Glen Matlock, the band gave such inspiring performances that there was an immediate clamour for additional shows.
Those of us who were able to catch one of these Bush Hall gigs (I didn’t have a ticket, but I queued up all afternoon on the middle day and got in!) partied like it was 1977, and we were full of praise for The Rattlesnakes frontman. Those who didn’t, mostly older punks, seemed harshly critical of Frank – mainly because he isn’t Johnny Rotten..!
Fortunately for the rest of us, the band paid no heed to these jurassic gatekeepers, and announced shows for the following month in Nottingham, Birmingham, Glasgow, Manchester and London. Again these shows sold out quickly, and again there were differing opinions flying around the punk community. Having successfully nabbed a ticket this time I went along to see how they band sounded in a larger venue..
Support band GIRLBAND! a trio from Nottingham who won national support with their appearance on the BBC Introducing Stage at Glastonbury this year were just finishing as I arrived. From the songs I heard, they were most worthy of this slot, and it was great seeing the crowd cheering them enthusiastically.
The headliners took a while to appear – it seems there was a medical emergency in the venue (one of the audience) so the band were delayed until the affected person had been treated. When they did take to the stage, the energy in the room went into orbit as Frank and the Pistols launched straight into ‘Holidays In The Sun‘ and the crowd went ballistic!
Playing the whole of ‘Never Mind The Bollocks‘ (not in album order!) the band went from strength to strength. Frank was a human dynamo, climing over the barrier for ‘Satellite‘ and crowd surfing his way to the staircase, from which he dived into a sea of waiting hands to be swept back to the stage again!
Jonesy stage left showed that there’s plenty left in his tank, his unique guitar style lapped up by the members of numerous bands in the crowd – I spotted too many to list! Glen Matlock stage right was cool, calm and precise, keeping the machine rolling with his bass locking in tightly with the drums. Cookie was on fire – that man is an incendiary drummer – as he smashed his way through song after song.
It was a joy to see the original trio belting out the hits like it was 1977 – they still have it in spades! Those of us who were too young (or not even born!) were ecstatic to experience their live playing. Frank’s voice is perfectly suited to these songs and he gave them 1000%. He’s not Rotten and he’s not trying to be, he’s a great performer in his own right and he made the songs his own while staying very true to the original punk spirit in which they were sung.
Midway through the show, Frank called for the women in the audience to come forward to the mosh pit. Unfortunately in a jam-packed crowd that was about 85% male, that was never going to be allowed to happen, but the gesture is very much appreciated – thank you for being inclusive, Frank!
It was great to hear ‘No Fun‘ and ‘Silly Thing‘ in the set, plus ‘My Way‘ which had the entire venue singing along! Concluding with an almighy ‘Anarchy in the UK‘, the band went off to roars and applause, then we all turned to our friends with huge grins on our faces to say how much we’d enjoyed the show. Hopefully this won’t be the last time – there’s a thirst for more Pistols – and unlike 1977, they will be welcome in every town they wish to play!
Main Photo Credit: RUTH RAE
- Holidays in the Sun
- Seventeen
- New York
- Pretty Vacant
- Bodies
- Silly Thing
- Liar
- God Save the Queen
- Submission
- Satellite
- No Feelings
- No Fun
- Problems
- E.M.I.
- My Way
- Anarchy in the UK
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