On June 24, Glen Matlock, the original bassist for the Sex Pistols, joined Loudwire Nights to discuss the release of his new documentary, I Was a Teenage Sex Pistol. The film offers a fresh perspective on the band’s history, a narrative Matlock felt had been overlooked for far too long.
Reflecting on a Legacy
“It’s based on a book I wrote a long time ago,” Matlock explained during his conversation with host Chuck Armstrong. “It was in the back of my mind that it would make a good documentary with a different slant. Everyone in a band sees things differently, and I felt my side had been passed over. Writing the book was incredibly cathartic.”
Matlock admitted that the memoir, which shares the documentary’s title, was born out of frustration. He had grown tired of the constant questioning regarding his time in the iconic punk outfit. Ironically, the act of writing the book only invited more questions, eventually leading to the creation of the documentary. He noted that he believes the band might not have even reformed in 1996 had he not put his experiences down on paper.
Looking Toward the Future
Despite his storied past, Matlock remains firmly focused on the present. “I’m not a multi-millionaire, I can’t afford to not work,” he joked. “But I like playing. I like to live in the moment, tip my cap to the past, and look to the future. I’m always more interested in the song that might come out in a couple of months.”
A New Chapter With Frank Carter
The conversation also touched upon the Sex Pistols’ decision to bring Frank Carter into the fold for their upcoming U.S. tour. Matlock was candid about the group’s departure from working with John Lydon, noting that they had simply “run out of road” with him. The suggestion to recruit Carter actually came from an unlikely source: Matlock’s son, Louis.
Matlock recalled his first time seeing Carter perform with the Rattlesnakes, where he was struck by the frontman’s unique stage presence. “He had this really nice white suit on. He organizes a circle mosh pit—ladies only—and he took his jacket off, dove in, and then came back, picked his jacket up, and sang the next song. I thought, ‘I like that.'”
Reflecting on the origins of the Sex Pistols’ sound, Matlock emphasized that the band was a product of a specific time when listeners were hungry for change. While they were influenced by artists like David Bowie, Mott the Hoople, and the Velvet Underground, they were united by a desire to strip away the excess of the era’s more bloated rock acts. “We just wanted to cut to the chase a little bit more,” he concluded.
