Music legend Glen Matlock revealed he spoke to director Danny Boyle before he made his biographical mini-series about the Sex Pistols, but felt the Oscar winner ignored him. The six-part Disney+ show was based on fellow Pistol Steve Jones’s account of the group.
Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk shortly after the Pistols reformed for London shows sans John Lydon, Glen said: “I thought Steve glossed over my contribution [to the band]. I then spoke with Danny Boyle before they made it and I thought he ignored what I had to say.”
Glen has said in the past that he has told Steve he has a “shocking memory” after learning the details of his account of their early days making music. However, he concedes that part of the problem is each member has their own recollections and they all vary.
“There’s four people at any one time in a band. Everybody’s got a different story to tell. Everybody’s got their slightly different take on things and the truth lies somewhere between all of them now.
“Somebody needs to come along and say: ‘Well, this is true. That’s not true.’ You’ve got to read what everybody has to say about it [to get to the truth].
“I did write a book on it a while back I Was A Teenage Sex Pistol. That was my take on it. Steve, had his take. John got the hump because the TV thing was about Steven and not him. That’s what the problem was on that one,” he said referring to the feud that arose between the band and their former frontman over the show.
John, who was known as Johnny Rotten when he was with the band opposed plans for their music to be used in the TV show. The other band members argued under the terms of a band agreement in 1998 licensing decisions can be determined on a majority rules basis. John ultimately lost a court case he took against the band and relations have been strained since.
Despite the controversies surrounding the show, Glen acknowledges it helped reignite interest in the group although he says it is a shame John won’t join them for shows.
“All that aside it did help revitalise this current lineup of the Pistols, but we got another guy singing, not John. It’s a shame John’s not doing it,” he mused.
The current iteration of the group sees Frank Carter singing alongside Paul Cook, Steve Jones, and Glen Matlock. After recent gigs in London’s Bush Hall which they did to “help out” the venue further tour dates are planned.
Outside of the Pistols Glen has worked with a who’s who of the music industry. One of his most recent gigs was working with Blondie playing bass on their tour. However, he has also found time to focus on his own projects and last year released his solo album, Consequences Coming, which he says is his “take on the state of the nation at the time”.
He is also getting set for his own tour of the UK later this year with his band Chris Musto, Jim Lowe and Neal X. He says the show will encompass tracks from “all aspects of his career”.
“When I do a set of my stuff people get off on it, because even I might do a Pistols song or a Rich Kids song or a song I wrote last week. But they all hang together because they are all songs that I wrote.
“I think I’ve written some good songs over the years, but it’s always measured against what I’ve done in the past. But I think that’s a reason to continue doing it. I’m a songwriter. That’s what I am above anything else. I’m a songwriter, but I happen to be not a bad bass player.”
Glen Matlock will tour the UK later this year with his band Chris Musto, Jim Lowe and Neal X. It kicks off in Norwich on November 15 and ends in London’s Dingwalls on November 30. Tickets and more information are available here.
