Frank Carter heads up with one of the most legendary acts for the ultimate punk reunion.
It is said that Sex Pistols’ and their Never Mind the Bollocks record are all in a league of their own. The true originators of punk, no one else on the planet had their attitude, gusto or honesty. For some, it is the epitome of a punk movement. For others, it possesses anthems of a genre, issued during a time that can be considered just as poignant now as it was upon its release in the late ’70s.
Now, for punks old and new in tow, the 50-year old wait for their momentous return was here.
After the line-up performed together for a series of shows at London’s Bush Hall in order to save the venue’s financial future, the original roster of Paul Cook, Steve Jones and Glen Matlock didn’t want to hang up the ol’ guitar straps just yet. “There was an overwhelming response on social media from fans asking to play different parts of the country,” Jones went on to say. “So guess what? It will be done. We will be tighter than a rat’s arse by the time we get to Kentish Town.”
For the tour however, the Sex Pistols have a new frontman. With Carter fronting the egregious punk rock collective The Rattlesnakes, it was a no-brainer for many punk fans when the announcement was dropped that Carter would be the stand-in for fellow punk icon Johnny Rotten. With the same cut-throat vocal delivery and colossal stage presence, the fresh, new blood affirmed fans’ excitement for the return of the one of the most important punk bands to ever surface from the UK.
Luckily for us, the tour began here in Nottingham’s Rock City and so we were the first to experience the first of five dates celebrating this iconic album. It was a night honouring some of the greatest figureheads in rock history.
Not just living but past too, as Lemmy Kilmister’s bust stood proud on display once more, a glittering presence for a venue overflowing with snapshot moments and memories.
A sold-out Rock City was packed to the rafters with 3-generations worth of avid punk-goers, as hot suspense filled the air. All walks of life filtered through the double doors, kitted out with the most illustrious leather jackets and multi-coloured Mohawks in true punk style, the true non-conformity style still living and breathing to this day.
Before too long, we were introduced with tonights’ support The Molotovs. Brazen, bold and rambunctiously loud, they set the tone in the most daring of ways with a sound not too dissimilar to the likes of The Subways and The Reytons.
As Rock City’s lights dimmed and a classical version of “God Save The Queen” plays from the speakers, the loudest cheer erupts from the crowd as the Sex Pistols waltz onto the stage. Fifty years in the making, for many it may have seemed all too surreal. An album cover drapes behind Paul ‘Cookie’ Cook, while yellow and pink Marshall amps stand on top of one another, draped with QPR flags, as Steve Jones and Glen Matlock pick up their weapons of choice, their trusty conspirators who have wiped the floor in punk for so many years. The minute Cookies’ sticks hit the skins, the swamped crowd start pogo-ing as they have been doing all those years ago. The skittish bars of “Holidays in the Sun” echo around the venue as Carter begins his own chapter in his ever-evolving career as the leading man to the original Sex Pistols. Throughout the show, it’s worth mentioning that Frank himself was a state of shock, repeatedly stating how much of a privilege it was to perform on that stage.
Next up was “New York” before the venue reaches another level, as 2,000 belched out “Pretty Vacant,” and the whole venue is screaming in a state of hysteria, like the days of old. What a sight to behold.
Before we know it, the anthem proclaiming against the monarchy begins and we’re swept up again in the roar, the hum and the noise with God Save the Queen, as many understandably substitute King for Queen. Of course, no matter what band he’s fronting, it wouldn’t be a Frank Carter show if he’s not in the crowd himself. The band launch into “Satellite” as Carter dives into the crowd and encourages those to start a circle pit, before he crowd-surfs back to the stage on the swarming, sweaty bodies beneath him.
The usual suspects of The Stooges’ cover “No Fun” is thrown in from the extensive 16-track record, before “EMI” and “Problems” round out a truly explosive regular set of remarkable punk staples. The break before the two-song encore allows the audience to catch their breath too. Many Dads’ wipe away tears from their eyes, as they embrace their sons and daughters – perhaps an occasion they’d never thought they’d be able to experience with their kids.
After catching their breath, the band are back for their two-song encore. First, they perform Sinatra’s “My Way”, a startling entourage last played live in 2002 on tour. Before we were met with Pistols’ most iconic moment ever. Anarchy in the UK. Jones’ distortion unearths the venues’ foundations as the roof is well and truly blown off. Franks’ heartfelt tenacity and gritty deliverance is one of joyous wonder as he keeps the songs’ political message alive, substituting the lyrics with “EDF, USA & IDF.” At one moment, everything is cut but the drums and its the crowds’ turn to just sing the iconic lines, “I wanna be anarchy, “And I wanna be anarchy” over and over again. A proper goosebump moment. Wonderful stuff.
A raw and thunderous performance to a song forever indicted to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, it’s a striking send-off to the first night of the tour – and a reminder of why the Sex Pistols are still punk legends. As if they’d be anything else at this point. What a truly special night that will forever go down in the halls of Rock City, it’s very walls encased with legends from those thrilling days of yesteryear. Nottingham has just added a few more to the list.
manvmusic.com 
Leave a comment