LONDON: 100 Club

Wednesday 24th May, 2023

7:30pm

Event information

Singer Songwriter Punk Pioneer.

Forever changing rock 'n' roll history as chief songwriter with the Sex Pistols, the
evolving path walked by Glen Matlock remains unbound by genre, geography, &
task.

His contribution to the Sex Pistols, and thus culture itself, is well documented.
Penning the anthem Pretty Vacant, arguably the most famous punk song ever,
Glen wrote the music to all the Sex Pistols classics, including Anarchy In The UK
and God Save The Queen, creating the benchmarks for any aspiring rock band
who followed in their wake. Periodic Sex Pistols reunions have allowed the world
the chance to see Glen reaffirm his rightful position as the cornerstone of the
Pistols. The Sex Pistols, however, represent only a fraction of Glen's legacy.

His next band, the Rich Kids, put out one of the most influential albums of the
late 70s, Ghosts Of Princes In Towers, packed full of rock ‘n’ pop gems. Working
with Iggy Pop, (who recorded Glen’s song Ambition), during the 80s kept him
sharp and sought-after with a body of work during this period giving rise to
releases by bands such as The Spectres and Hot Club. In the 1990s Glen
emerged as a solo force to be reckoned with. His album Who’s He Think He Is
When He’s At Home? recorded for Creation Records, home of Oasis, was a fullon
guitar album, blistering in its intensity, taking everyone by surprise. Not
content to kick up his heels, the reinvention continued with a series of fine
albums by his band project, The Philistines.

Invigorated in the wake of the Pistols re-emergence, Glen continued to record
songs to rival those on Never Mind The Bollocks for swagger and craft. Open
Mind, On Something, & Born Running were albums showcasing the full spectrum
of Glen’s prowess. Pile drivers rubbed shoulders with reflective refrains &
personal lyrics. One highlight, Hey Mister, was seized upon by BBC radio.

It's not just Glen's solo work that sets him apart from the pack. Headhunted by
artists from all backgrounds and styles, both in the U.K. and abroad, has seen
him not merely contribute, but shape some of the coolest sounds around.
Acclaimed cutting edge albums by Wendy James, Viv Albertine, International
Swingers, and King Mob have been enriched by his input, while his own studio
projects with Earl Slick & Slim Jim Phantom show a continuing rich vein of
inspirational song writing.

In 2018, with both Earl & Slim Jim on board, he released Good To Go, a solo
album that garnered a string of positive press reviews and feedback from fans,
many believing it to be his best body of work to date. It's no coincidence that
Glen's resurgence is mirrored by his frequent appearances on TV, from The One
Show, The Wright Stuff and even the quiz show Pointless, where he proved a
formidable contestant alongside Slim Jim Phantom. Glen was also the figurehead
for the Anarchy Arias project in which songs from the punk era underwent
transformation into classical mini masterpieces.

Always in demand live, Glen has heeded the call from all corners of the musical
world, whether it be the rockabilly of Robert Gordon or reformed Faces. His
knack of continual inspiration and invention comes in part from his belief in just
getting out there and engaging. Picking up his guitar and delivering an acoustic
set, either in his beloved London, or some far flung outpost in the global rock
universe, keeps Glen grounded and in tune with life and its stories.

Keen to expand his world view and experience, Glen has developed a niche in
DJ sets guesting in nightclubs in countries as geographically dispersed as Brazil
and Italy. In 2018 Glen became one of the first UK musicians to perform in South
Korea's Demilitarized Zone, a feat which brought much attention in the media,
including BBC News.

At the start of 2018, Glen was a guest on the sold out European Tour with
Dropkick Murphy's and Flogging Molly, and having just played to a sold out 100
Club featuring Earl Slick, Chris Spedding and Neal X, all of whom guested on the
new album, plus a five night residency at the esteemed venue of Boisdales, you
will find him constantly on the road.

Glen has also performed at the prestigious DMZ Peace Festival on the North /
South Korean border, hosted by the mayor of Seoul. Returning to Korea for the
Anzari Festival in Seoul; performed in Mumbai; completed a sold out 5 night solo
tour of Sweden and has been publicising his latest album with personal
appearances in Italy and Japan while at his Parisian showcase, art world
Glitterati such as Sophie Calle and Grayson Perry were seen singing along in
joyous enthusiasm.

Further to this 2019 is already beckoning with shows in South America in
January and invitations to play in California soon after.
‘Keep On Pushing’ from ‘Good To Go’ was recently featured as ‘Best Song in
The Universe Ever’ for the last week of November on Stevie Van Zandt’s
underground garage show on Sirius XM, which is broadcast across America and
around the world.

Passing on his vast knowledge and experience to others has become important
to Glen (his two sons are making musical waves of their own) and he has latterly
embraced college music teaching and motivational speaking. This seems fitting
for one of the most famous, yet grounded, musicians to emerge at the forefront of
the most turbulent and celebrated musical upheaval in rock 'n' roll.

History is, thank God, not what Glen Matlock is about. Embracing the past, but
constantly seeking out the new, musically, professionally and personally, keeps
Glen out of his comfort zone, and at his best. Alive and alert.
- Phil Singleton