Glen Matlock "I Was A Teenage Sex Pistol" Documentary Screening and Q&A at The Barbican Centre, Thursday October 23rd

Last night, we went along to the first screening of the new Glen Matlock documentary "I Was A Teenage Sex Pistol" at the Barbican Centre, part of the excellent Doc 'n' Roll Film Festival. The movie was followed by a Q&A session with Glen and directors, Nick Mead and Andre Relis being interviewed and taking questions from the audience. The documentary is based on Glen's memoir "I Was A Teenage Sex Pistol", telling his often overlooked side of the story, his part in the formation of the Pistols and his contribution to the song-writing of many of those classic tracks. Glen explains how he got to work with Malcolm McLaren and Vivienne Westwood in their Kings Road store Let It Rock which would evolve into a hangout for disaffected local youth including Steve Jones and Paul Cook. He explains how the Pistols got together and the personal dynamics that made the band so unique. More poignantly he discusses the negative impact of the infamous appearance on the Bill Grundy TV show and the frustration he felt in not being able to get out there and play, which was always his priority. 

Chris Musto, Neal X from Glen's band, Glen and Kathy Valentine from The Go-Go's

 

The machinations going on behind his back to get John Lydon's mate Sid Vicious in to replace him and Malcolm's preposterous press release to say he had been sacked for "liking the Beatles" is something that clearly still rankles. I guess his book and this movie must go someway to putting those demons to rest and he also busts some long standing myths about his relationships with Sid, his bandmates and manager. Although of course the movie concentrates on the Pistols, it does touch on his musical career after he left the band such as his time with The Rich Kids, touring with Iggy Pop and Blondie and his solo music too. "I Was A Teenage Sex Pistol" paints a picture of a man who basically just wants to get out there and play, to experience the shared joy of performing and writing music with like-minded people. Throughout the movie there are enlightening interviews with some impressive guests including Steve Jones, Paul Cook, Billy Idol, Debbie Harry, Chris Stein and Clem Burke, Dead Boys guitarist Cheetah Chrome, Kenney Jones from The Who and Neal X. In fact Neal was there at the screening along with drummer Chris Musto, both from Glen's current band. Also in attendance were Kathy Valentine from The Go-Go's, Billy Doherty from The Undertones and Tony Major from The WitchDoktors.

For more info on the Doc 'n' Roll Film Festival please check out their web-site here. For news and information on Glen Matlock's current recordings and gigs etc. please check out his official web-site. You can see a feature on his superb gig at The 100 Club in London earlier this year with Kathy Valentine supporting in our Blog archive here.

Glen Matlock at the 100 Club with special guest Kathy Valentine of The Go-Go's, February 27th

The 100 Club played host to two of my favourite legendary bass players - Glen Matlock of Sex Pistols and Kathy Valentine of The Go-Go's. Headliner Glen Matlock takes to the familiar stage where he has trodden the boards on numerous occasions - from the Sex Pistols appearance at the Punk Festival in September 1976 to the location of the press conference to announce the Sex Pistols reunion in 1996 and regular solo appearances over the years. Forsaking his bass for guitar and lead vocals, Glen is backed by his excellent band comprising the super cool guitarist Neal X (formerly of Sigue Sigue Sputnik), drummer Chris Musto and bassist Jim Lowe and they ran through a great selection of Glen's solo songs and cover versions alongside The Rich Kids "Ghosts of Princes In Towers" and of course the classic he penned for the Sex Pistols, "Pretty Vacant". It was no-nonsense, good time singalong Rock 'n' Roll that left all of us with huge smiles on our faces. Opening the night was Kathy Valentine, bassist with The Go-Go's, who entertained us with a set comprising some of her favourite songs such as Nick Lowe's "Heart of The City" and Suzi Quatro's "48 Crash" alongside solo material, such as my personal highlight "In My Closet" and of course a few Go-Go's songs such as "Vacation", "Apology" and "We Don't Get Along". She was joined by Glen's band to play a raucous take on The Go-Go's "The Whole World Lost It's Head" and the new collaboration with Neal X, a superbly catchy 7" vinyl single "I Love You More" released under the name KVNX, which was available for sale on the night. Kathy was behind the merch desk to sign copies of the single and her searingly honest autobiography "All I Ever Wanted: A Rock 'n' Roll Memoir" and I also took along my gig ticket from The Go-Go's last U.K. show back in 1995 when they played a fantastic show at the Shepherds Bush Empire. Kathy glady signed the ticket and reminisced about the show. Here are some photos and videos from the night.

 

 

"I Love You More" is available to download at the KVNX Bandcamp site here. You can see some more videos of Kathy's set at our Retro Man Blog YouTube channel here.

Glen Matlock's excellent "Triggers" book is a must read, it's a musical journey through his life told through a selection of various songs that had a big influence on him as a songwriter. His latest solo album "Consequences Coming" is also well worth getting hold of. 

 Glen at the recording of the Word In Your Ear Podcast, promoting his book "Triggers".

David Worth's Punk Rock Cartoons L.A. Exhibition and The International Swingers Punk Super-Group

International Swingers & Artist David Worth - Photo copyright Dawn Laureen

David Worth, the artist responsible for the excellent Punk Rock Cartoons filed this report on the opening of his exhibition in Los Angeles. "I first went to Los Angeles in January 2012 to exhibit my cartoons. The show was organised by Tequila Mockingbird, who is well-known on the LA scene and has been involved in putting events on for many years. I have kept in touch with her over the years and she has had my cartoons on display in Los Angeles consistently in various locations since my first visit. They were on permanent display at The Cat and Fiddle pub on Sunset Boulevard until its closure in December 2014. There is a photo posted by Russell Brand of himself, Noel Gallagher and Morrissey sat in the pub with my Lemmy cartoon on the chimney breast behind them. As you walked into the pub there was a cartoon of Morrissey. I don't know what he would have made of it.

The International Swingers - Cartoon copyright David Worth

I was due to be in LA to display my artwork on 15th January 2015 and just after Christmas it was looking uncertain where the location for the exhibition would be. Tequila had mentioned this to Gary Twinn (He was a member of the Australian group, Supernaut in the 1970s , then in Twenty Flight Rockers in the 80s, and now a member of The International Swingers) and he suggested having them on display at E.B's Beer and Wine Bar at The Farmers Market. With only a few weeks notice the show was put together and Gary said he would put a punk rock karaoke on the night of my show and the following night get The International to play as part of event. The band is a Punk super-group featuring Clem Burke of Blondie, Glen Matlock of the Sex Pistols, James Stevenson of Chelsea, Gen X, Gene Loves Jezebel, The Alarm, The Cult, etc and Gary Twinn.

The International Swingers - Photo copyright David Worth

I arrived in LA on the Thursday 15th January in the afternoon. After checking into my hotel and unpacking I then met up with Tequila and Debbie, who was driving us around and we went to the legendary Rainbow Bar and Grill for a few drinks, then next door to see Headcat, the band featuring Lemmy, Slim Jim Phantom and Danny Harvey. I was a bit spaced out as I had been awake since 2.30am the previous day, along with an hour taxi ride to Manchester Airport, a three hour check-in, a shuttle flight to London, an 10 and a half hour flight and an eight hour time difference and no sleep in between. The following day we went to the Farmer's Market and met up with Gary at E.B's Beer and Wine Bar. The area the pictures would be hung was next to the bar in a very prominent position. The afternoon was spent sorting out which pictures to hang and Gary hammering the nails in the wall and hanging them. The event was very well publicised by Gary and he had large vinyl posters on stands all over the vast Farmer's Market and also had postcards printed up. There was also a feature in the Beverley Gazette, a free paper that was distributed in the area. The event kicked off with karaoke which had quite a few punk songs thrown in for good measure. There was a constant stream of people wanting to get up and sing. This was very well attended. It was a fantastic night and I met some really great people.

Some of David's Punk Rock Cartoons on display - Photo copyright David Worth

The following night it was back to the E.B's Bar. When we arrived the stage was set up ready for the band to play. Gary, Clem Burke and James Stevenson were there already. Glen Matlock wasn't there and bass playing  was down to Steve Fishman. The band played a set of some of their original songs, plus some by Blondie, Sex Pistols, Eddie Cochrane and The Monkees. The place was packed and it was a great atmosphere. At the show I also met Mick Rossi of Slaughter and the Dogs, Ian McCallum of Stiff Little Fingers and Dennis Morris, the photographer who took iconic photographs of Bob Marley. He also photographed the Sex Pistols and early PiL, including the first album cover and designed Metal Box. He had had an exhibition of Sex Pistols photographs on display in LA  a few weeks before. Whilst in LA I also met Rodney Bingenheimer, the legendary DJ. The cartoons are still on display at E.B's Beer and Wine Bar, West Patio, The Farmer's Market, 3rd & Fairfax, Los Angeles. If you are in the area, nip in and buy a pint from the friendly bar staff, have a look at the cartoons, which are also on sale and buy yourself some food from the many food outlets there. The International Swingers have just achieved 100% of their Pledge Music campaign to release their debut album. Details can be found at this link. There is also an animated video I did for one of their songs, F.B.I." - David Worth

David would like to thank Gary Twinn and Tequila Mockingbird for putting the whole thing together. James Stevenson, Clem Burke and Steve Fishman for playing and Dawn Laureen for the photograph. I'd like to say thanks to David for submitting the feature and would recommend checking out his Punk Rock Toons web-site to see his excellent artwork. David's drew his first ever caricature back in April 2010, it was of Public Image Limited and was actually published on both the official John Lydon and PiL web-sites. Things got even better when one of his cartoons was published as a full page picture in John Lydon's "Mr. Rotten's Scrapbook".  Since then David has drawn various bands and people from the world of Punk Rock and other genres such as The Clash, The Damned, Ramones, Garbage, Morrissey, Kate Bush, Iron Maiden and Motorhead amongst many others. He has also branched out in Movie and TV characters.

Crash 74: Glam Garage Beat from founder members of Sparks & Revillos: Live at the 12 Bar Club London May 31st

One of the founder members of Sparks, Harley Feinstein and ex-Revillos drummer Nicky "Rocky Rhythm" Forbes, have got a Glam Garage Beat band together called Crash 74, for what appears to be couple of London shows including an appearance at London's premier sleazy Rock'n'Roll venue, the 12 Bar Club, on Friday May 31st. I'm not sure exactly how permanent this line-up, or indeed the band itself will be, so don't miss the opportunity to go along and see some real Rock pedigree in action!

We hope to be meeting up with Nicky soon for a Retrosonic Podcast special edition where he will be discussing his superb, no holds barred music memoir, "The Rhythm Method" (Sex, Drums and Rock'n'Roll), which is available from Amazon or from the Revillos site. We will also touch on some of the Bands and Artists that Nicky has been involved with, such as Dave Vanian's Phantom Chords, The Revillos, The Pork Dukes, Joe Strummer, Glen Matlock and Tenpole Tudor.

King Mob featuring Chris Spedding, Glen Matlock & Martin Chambers Live 229 The Venue London November 17th

KING MOB

Stephen W Parsons (aka Snips): vocals • Chris Spedding: guitar •  Sixteen: guitar • Glen Matlock: bass • Martin Chambers: drums

LIVE AT 229 THE VENUE THURSDAY 17TH NOVEMBER 

“…exotic tremolo guitars shimmer while echo-drenched vocals wrap themselves seductively around some 21st century boogie beats – and it rocks like a bastard. Can’t wait to see them live.” 

(Classic Rock magazine) 

This November, brand new English beat combo, KING MOB will play an exclusive London show at 229 The Venue, Great Portland Street. Comprising Stephen W Parsons aka Snips – vocals (film composer and vocalist of legendary 70’s band Sharks), guitar legend Chris Spedding (Roxy Music, Elton John, John Cale, Paul McCartney), Glen Matlock - bass (Sex Pistols, Iggy Pop, Faces), Martin Chambers – drums (Pretenders), and hot new guitar talent Sixteen, KING MOB release their stunning debut album, Force 9 on 31st October.

Force 9 is an album that draws on the collective experience of all KING MOB’s members to create something totally unique. They bring the raw power of the ‘Spirit of ’69’ into a contemporary setting. It is thrilling, visceral stuff and it comes as no surprise that SPV/Steamhammer were quick to sign an exclusive recording deal for the World (excluding North America) with KING MOB.  

KING MOB began life when vocalist Stephen W Parsons (aka Snips) approached his old friend and ex-Sharks colleague Chris Spedding with the idea of forming a new band. Following a highly successful film and advertising career, Stephen had taken time out for a while and found himself DJ-ing at The Axe club on Hackney Road. Every Friday and Saturday night from midnight until 6am, the joint jumped to Stephen’s old school music in the form of Led Zeppelin, The Doors, Ike & Tina et al. Realising that these pre-1977 sounds were going down a storm with the younger crowd, Stephen’s passion for the sheer excitement and energy of R&B was re-ignited and happily Chris Spedding agreed to come on board to form a new combo. They also brought on board the exciting young guitarist Sixteen, already something of a local legend in Dalston, whose Rockabilly credentials and dynamic style led to exciting musical sparring between the two guitarists.

When it became clear that the group were really getting somewhere, with a record deal on the table and live tours a reality, Chris Spedding asked Glen Matlock to join on bass and he in turn suggested that Martin Chambers complete the combo on drums.  Live dates, around the world, are currently being set up for 2012 so 17th November provides an ideal and exclusive opportunity to catch this brilliant new band live before everything really takes off next year.

KING MOB

VENUE: 229 THE VENUE DATE: 229 GREAT PORTLAND STREET TIME: 8PM (DOORS)TICKETS: £8 OTD/£5.50 IN ADVANCE BOX OFFICE: http://www.229thevenue.co.uk/  Tel:  020 7323 7229 NEAREST TRANSPORT:  GREAT PORTLAND STREET TUBE