Though there is some discrepancy regarding the reason for original Sex Pistols bassist Glen Matlock’s departure from the band, two things will always be true: Glen and Johnny did not get along, a rift fueled by the late Malcolm McLaren—the "piece of shit" who intentionally stoked tension between band members to create the animosity he felt solidified their image.
The second truth is the significant extent of Glen’s contribution to the Never Mind the Bollocks album. If memory serves me correctly, Glen only performed bass on one song, "Anarchy in the U.K.," but he is a credited songwriter on 10 out of the album's 12 tracks. Glen was replaced by Sid Vicious, who—because he couldn’t play to save his life—only appeared on one track, "Bodies". Guitarist Steve Jones actually performed the majority of the bass work on the album.
Regardless of the perspective taken, Glen was a vital part of Sex Pistols history. There is merit to the sentiment Steve Jones once expressed in an interview: the group likely would have recorded more albums if Matlock had stayed and if the band had not participated in the infamous television interview with Bill Grundy. While Glen was a primary catalyst in the band’s story, being essential to the songwriting and the music, his departure led to the introduction of Sid Vicious. It is a matter of historical debate whether the band would have achieved the same legendary status without that specific sequence of events. The chaos—replacing Glen with the iconic Sid, releasing only one album, and the eventual abrupt breakup—is what ultimately defined their legacy
As most who know me are aware, I am a lifelong fan of the Sex Pistols. My friend
Dave
is no different. He recently managed to obtain a signed copy of an EP by Glen Matlock
called Sexy Beast. Released in 2017, it features a powerhouse lineup: Earl Slick
on guitar, Slim Jim Phantom
(of the Stray Cats) on drums, and Jim Lowe
on bass. Dave gave this to me as a gift, and it is also signed by Earl Slick. To say this is awesome would be an understatement; I now have the autographs of three of the original Sex Pistols. Thank you, my friend!