Glen Matlock(born 27 August 1956) is an English musician, and the originalbass guitarist of the punk rock band theSex Pistols; havingbeen introduced toguitarist Steve Jones, and drummer Paul Cook while working inLet It Rock-theprecursor toSEX, Malcolm McLaren and Vivienne Westwood’s clothing boutiquein London. He is credited as a songwriter on 10 of the 12 songs on the SexPistols’ only album,Never Mind The Bollocks.Matlock leftthe band in late February 1977, with contemporary reports (given tonews outlets by manager Malcolm McLaren) stating that he was“thrown out”because he likedthe Beatles. The claim was fictional, with Steve Huey ofAllMusic claiming that Matlock”was even more enamouredof The Faces and themod groups prominently featured on London pirate radio in the late ’60s, as wereSteve Jones and Paul Cook.”In his self-penned bookI Was a Teenage SexPistol,Matlock stated that he left the band of his own volition as he was”sickofall the bullshit.”In the 2000 documentary filmThe Filth and the Fury, the bandmembers generally agree that there was tension betweenMatlock and vocalistJohnny Rotten, which Matlock suggests was further aggravated by MalcolmMcLaren in an attempt togeneratechaos within the band as a creativemechanism. In the 2002 Classic Albums documentary aboutNever Mind theBollocks,Jones stated that in retrospect, pushing Matlock out of the band was amistake, and that the group would have recorded more albums if Matlock hadstayed in the band.After leaving the Sex Pistols, Matlock went on to formtheRich Kids, with himselfas bass guitarist and singer,Midge Ure(guitarist, singer and keyboard player),Steve New(guitarist and singer) andRusty Egan(drummer). They releasedthree singles and one album entitledGhosts Of Princes in Towers.Also during this time, Matlock and New would play withSid Viciousalong withRat Scabiesin the one-off band TheVicious White Kidsas part of a benefitperformance in London, to help pay for Sid’s travel expenses back to America.After The Rich Kids, Matlock would go on to form the short-livedSpectres, andthenHot Club. Prior to this Matlock toured Europe and North America withIggyPopand played bass and co wrote material for his albumSoldier.In 1996, Matlock recorded and released his first solo albumWho’s He Think HeIs When He’s at Home?on Creation Records. However, the album’s releasewas overshadowed by Matlock rejoiningthe original Sex Pistols members for thefirst of their many reunion tours (1996, 2002, 2003, 2007 and 2008).Beginning in the early ‘00s, Matlock would then assemble many short-livedgroups includingThe Philistines, Dead Men Walking(feat. Mike Petersof TheAlarm, Kirk Brandon of Theatre of Hate, and Pete Wylie of Wah!), andSlinkyVagabond(feat. Earl Slick, and Clem Burke).
In November 2006, the Sex Pistols were inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall ofFame.In January 2010, Glen Matlock reformed The Rich Kids for a one-off benefitconcert in aid of ailing Steve New. He was joined on stage by original membersRusty Eagan, and Midge Ure, as well as Mick Jones of The Clash, and GaryKemp from Spandau Ballet. Newwould later die of cancer on 24 May 2010.That same year, Matlock was asked to join a reformedFaces, and then in April2011, he stood in on bass forPrimal Screamat the Japan Tsunami appealconcert at Brixton Academy in London.In late 2011,The International Swingers, a band comprising Matlock, ClemBurke, James Stevenson and Gary Twinn, was formed. The band, based in LosAngeles, toured Australia and the USA, and released a self-titled album in 2015.In 2012, Matlock made hisacting debut in British drama filmThe Paddy LincolnGang, performing a scene at a live Faces concert.In 2017, Matlock joined a touring punk supergroupL.A.M.F.featuringHeartbreakers memberWalter Lure, Clem Burkeof Blondie, and SocialDistortion’sMike Nessto pay tribute to the 40th Anniversary of Johnny Thunders& the Heartbreakers‘ classic LP, 1977’sL.A.M.F.In2018, Matlock released the critically acclaimed solo albumGood To Go. Amore stripped back, and almost rockabilly-styled album featuring legendaryguitaristEarl Slick (David Bowie / John Lennon) and drummer Slim Jim Phantom(Stray Cats). The track“Keep On Pushing,”from the album was deemed“BestSong In The Universe Ever”on Little Steven’s Underground Garage radio show(Sirius XM).In April of 2022, Matlock was asked to join legendary New York bandBlondiefortheir UK and US tours. Matlock remains a touring member of the group and iscurrently slated to appear on their forthcoming 2023 new studio album.In the summer of 2022, FX / Disney+ released the Danny Boyle directed SexPistols’ drama seriesPistol(based on the Steve Jones autobiography‘LonelyBoy’). Matlock was portrayed by actor ChrisMan Lees in the series.In late 2022, Matlock signed a new worldwide solo record deal withCookingVinyl, which will see the label release Glen’s long-awaited, timely and politicallypertinent new solo albumConsequences ComingonApril 27, 2023.A firstsingle and video from therecord“Head On A Stick”are slated to be releasedon January 27, 2023.“The album was written and recorded in Britain over the last 18 months or so witha posse of seasoned but on point performers.”says Matlock.“All done during the debacle that is Brexit and the rise and fall of the turgid Trump episode in the US.These songs reflect my take on the whole sorry mess that has ensued.”Matlock elaborates on the album,“Now the wheelsof the music business cansometimes move at a lugubrious, glacial pace, and sometimes the moment mightbe lost but seeing no break in the clouds or clear light at the end of the tunnel,surely the only demand on people’s lips should be that there are ‘ConsequencesComing’ for the fat headed oafs who have foisted their asinine warpedsensibilities on us.”“The tunes are pretty catchy too…”SOLO DISCOGRAPHY1996 Who’s He Think He Is When He’s at Home?2000 Open Mind2004 On Something2010 Born Running2013 Rattle Your Cage: The Best of Glen Matlock & ThePhilistines2018 Good To Go2023 Consequences Comingwww.GlenMatlock.co.uk
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