There was a time when the Sex Pistols were considered one of the most dangerous bands in the world. Combustible and inflammatory, they were looked upon by the masses as utter degenerates and precisely the wrong influence for the youth. And that was what made the Sex Pistols so attractive. They were also more than a band: The Sex Pistols were a movement and, thanks to the early connections to Malcolm McLaren and Vivienne Westwood, a fashion statement (even if they'd hate that idea). You never knew what they were going to do next, and that occasionally led to disaster.
Don't get us wrong, everybody grows up and the four original members of the Pistols have all recently hit their 70's. The Sid and Nancy tragedy still sits uncomfortably in the band's timeline, and we're glad that Glen Matlock, Steve Jones, Paul Cook and Johnny "Rotten" Lydon are still around. When that foursome reunited in 1996 (after they had all just hit their 40's and yet were treated like old geezers), the performances were electric. At least, the one this writer caught at the Phoenix Festival '96 in the U.K. was. Rotten prowled the stage like a fucking lion, eyes wide and shoulders back. The band was immense.
Eleven years later, when they reformed yet again, a lot of that energy seemed to have dissipated. At the Brixton Academy, London, in 2007, it felt like they just weren't that into it. So here we are in 2026, and Rotten doesn't want to play anymore. In his place stands Frank Carter, formerly of Brit hardcore troupe Gallows. Incidentally, at 42 years old, Carter is almost exactly the same age the Pistols were when they first reformed in '96. Gallows was a furious band, phenomenal live. On the surface, the hiring of Carter could be inspired. At the Hollywood Palladium in mid October, it didn't feel that way.
The problem wasn't, by the way, the ladies-only mosh pit that Carter has been encouraging during "No Feelings." That is a brilliant, important and empowering idea that, in fact, proved to be one of the more energetic moments of the show. Maybe, just maybe, the problem was that this was the last night of the tour for a band including three 70-ish year olds. The knees can get tired nowadays. Or maybe the problem was the Los Angeles crowd; MC's rep in Seattle informed us that the gathered masses there were intense and rowdy.
To many in attendance, there wasn't a problem at all. This was a set from three men who, by this point, could probably play these songs in their sleep. The "they can't play" accusations have long died out; Jones, Matlock and Cook are undeniably extremely good musicians. Carter is a frontman and vocalist who is clearly relishing this opportunity. And it's very easy to dance/pogo to "God Save the Queen," "Bodies," "Holiday in the Sun," "Pretty Vacant," and any of the other punk classics from the groundbreaking Never Mind the Bollocks album (which turns 50 next year). These are some of the greatest punk anthems ever written and recorded.
The covers were fun; the Pistols have been performing the Stooges' "No Fun" and the Paul Revere & the Raiders/Monkees/Liverpool 5 gem "I'm Not Your Stepping Stone" for decades and they both got a run out at the Palladium. Less common, particularly while Rotten was in the band, was a blast through "My Way," famously sung by Sid Vicious on the Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle soundtrack. Carter gave it a valiant go. And there are few better ways to end a gig than with "Anarchy in the U.K."
There was nothing fundamentally wrong with the show. And yet it just didn't feel right. Maybe we were expecting too much. It is notable that the members of fellow veteran British punks Cock Sparrer are about the same age as the three Pistols, if not a little older. Their songs are good but not Bollocks good. And yet, when Cock Sparrer performed at this same venue a year ago, the energy was tangible.
This was a perfectly presentable, well-performed set from a veteran rock band. Welcome to the Sex Pistols 2026!
Photos by Alex Kluft
