Sex Pistols announce reunion with Frank Carter
For two nights only, the Sex Pistols are set to return. Original members Steve Jones and Paul Cook have announced new shows with Frank Carter, with the proceeds set to help save a venue close to their hearts.
In a bid to raise money for Bush Hall, an independent venue in Shepherd’s Bush, the original Sex Pistol members are reuniting to perform their landmark album, Never Mind The Bollocks, in full. In place of their original vocalist, John Lydon, Carter, best known for his work with The Rattlesnakes, will be stepping up to the plate as a modern protégé of the group.
“When the Sex Pistols call, you answer. I’m very excited to be a part of it,” Carter said of the project as he becomes an honorary member of the pioneering punk band. “This has been a joy from start to finish,” he added.
For Jones and Cook, the mission project is a deeply personal one. Times continue to be incredibly tough for grassroots and independent venues. Still, in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns, venues are still struggling to survive and stay open as they recoup major losses.
Currently, grassroots music venues have a closing rate of a staggering two venues per week, with 38 per cent of remaining venues reporting a loss of earnings. Across the sector profits hit only 0.5 per cent, meaning that the independent music scene really is powered by love alone.
Bush Hall is one of those venues. Originally built in 1904, it’s been everything from a soup kitchen to a bingo hall in its life. Notably, in the 1980s and ‘90s, it was a beloved dancehall, snooker and social club. Now, it’s one of West London’s most beloved small venues, with a capacity of 400 and a stunning theatre interior.
As West London natives, both born and raised in Shepherds Bush, the venue has been a staple for Jones and Cook. It’s a place they’ve grown up around. Therefore, saving the hall comes with deep, personal motivations.
“This is my local venue. I grew up in Shepherd’s Bush, and I still live round here,” Cook said. “It would be a real shame to see it disappear, and we want to keep it going. So everyone get down to the gig!”
The decision to bring back the Sex Pistols was a purposeful one, knowing that a reunion would be a great way to bring in a lot of interest and, realistically, more money for the venue. “We’re going to be playing Pistols numbers ’cause they need support, and they need the money. We thought it would be a great way to stop it going under,” Cook added.
As well as featuring Carter on vocals, the band will also include the group’s original bassist, Glen Matlock, who was kicked out of the Sex Pistols in 1977 before their debut album was released. As another West London local, the cause is just as close to his heart, too. “Smaller music venues are the lifeblood of new music,” Matlock said. “It’s in these intimate spaces that raw talent gets a chance to shine, where bands can really connect with their audiences, and where the spirit of live music truly comes alive, so we need to keep them going.”
The Sex Pistols themselves came up in London’s various small and independent venues. Without these grassroots rooms, it would be impossible for the next generation of talent to emerge, so it’s only fitting that one of the UK’s most historic groups would help protect the pathway for future acts. As a two-night residency, the gigs will take place on August 13th and 14th at Bush Hall, with tickets going on sale on June 5th at 10am.
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