Glen Matlock recently opened up about the Sex Pistols’ live shows with new frontman Frank Carter, revealing a notable shift in the band’s stage presence, in a conversation published by Flood Magazine.
When asked about his excitement for hitting the road with the Pistols, Matlock reflected on the early shows with Carter — who stepped in to take over John Lydon’s role as lead singer — and what the experience has meant for the band.
“It’s good to play your music to a whole new bunch of people, because there are lots of young kids who come,” Matlock said. “We did a couple of gigs right at the beginning with Frank [Carter] to help a local club out called Bush Hall, which is around the corner from where Paul [Cook] and Jenny [his wife] live.”
The bassist then shared a telling observation from Paul Cook’s wife that seemed to capture the broader change Carter had brought to the group.
“After the first night, she said, ‘You know what? I’ve seen you guys play for the past 35 years, and it’s the first time I’ve ever seen you come on stage with a smile on your faces,'” Matlock continued. “So you can read into that what you like.”
The comment suggests that Carter’s arrival has injected a renewed energy and positivity into the Sex Pistols’ live performances, marking a fresh chapter for the iconic band.
That fresh energy is no coincidence. Carter brings with him a well-established punk pedigree, and his approach to the material has been notably different from what longtime fans might expect from a band once defined by confrontation and chaos.
Uncut noted that Carter — a veteran of a different punk generation through his work with Gallows and Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes — sings Johnny Rotten’s lacerating lyrics with a smile. That detail aligns closely with what Matlock described from those early Bush Hall shows.
The band’s renewed momentum is also reflected in their busy touring schedule. antiMusic reported that the Sex Pistols featuring Frank Carter announced rescheduled 2026 North American tour dates in March, signaling that the group is committed to bringing their revamped live show to audiences across the Atlantic.
Closer to home, the band has a major UK date on the horizon as well. JamBase listed the Sex Pistols featuring Frank Carter for a performance at Castlefield Bowl in Manchester on July 12, 2026. The Undertones and John Cooper Clarke are also on the bill — a lineup that underscores the band’s continued relevance within the broader British punk and alternative scene.
Together, the touring activity and Carter’s infectious stage presence paint a picture of a band that has found a second wind. They are drawing in younger audiences while honoring the legacy that made them one of the most influential acts in rock history.
