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Frank Carter and the Sex Pistols, Birmingham O2 Academy, September 2024

Frank Carter and the Sex Pistols at the O2 Academy, Birmingham flyer
Frank Carter and the Sex Pistols at the O2 Academy, Birmingham flyer

FRANK CARTER and the SEX PISTOLS / THE MOLOTOVS, Birmingham O2 Academy, 21st September 2024

A couple of years ago I was lucky enough to catch the Professionals live, a band that Steve Jones and Paul Cook formed after the break up of the Sex Pistols. Steve had left the band by this time so there was only Paul remaining but as a one off In London, they were joined by Glen Matlock, the Pistols original bass player. I assumed seeing this line up do Silly Thing, Pretty Vacant and Stepping Stone would be the closest I would ever get to seeing the original Pistols line up live. Also on the bill was a young band called the Molotovs, more of whom later.

Fast forward a couple of years and news arrived that three members of the Sex Pistols – Glen, Paul and Steve would play a gig, without original vocalist John Lydon aka Johnny Rotten to raise funds for a concert hall in their old stomping ground that was threatened with closure. Surprising enough already you’d think after a sixteen odd year hiatus but the real head turner was that they were to be joined by the much younger Frank Carter (he’s still 40!) whose pedigree includes Gallows, Pure Love and The Rattlesnakes. Frank is considered by many to be one of the best at fronting up a rock band. One gig in Shepherds Bush rapidly turned into three nights in a row and by the time the third gig had ended, all that was left were rave reviews from those who had witnessed it.

Then came the announcement of five more dates and the inevitable scramble for tickets. So on Saturday 21st September I found myself in the pissing rain, standing outside the O2 Academy in Birmingham sharing anecdotes with kids in the queue, as we passed the time waiting for the doors to open.

And this is where we meet the Molotovs again. Having previously had Paul Cook join them on drums when they covered God Save The Queen there’s an obvious friendship here between this young band and the Pistols drummer. Tonight they dropped the majority of their covers, playing most of the songs off their excellent demo tape. (find it on Youtube),this is a band that fire on all cylinders. Bassist Issey is a constant flurry of movement, stopping only to deliver harsh stares whilst pumping out thunderous bass lines. Singer Matt has more than a touch of Paul Weller about him, including his moves and confidence, but that’s no bad thing. They deliver a well rehearsed and entertaining set, definitely one to watch. They tour with Adam Ant later this year.

The Molotovs rocking out in Birmingham
The Molotovs rocking out in Birmingham
The Molotovs punk band in Birmingham
The Molotovs band

A tug of the instrument’s covers and the first sign of the Sex Pistol’s arrival appears with Steve Jones’s Marshall amps revealed in the striking day-glo colours of their infamous ‘Never Mind The Bollocks’ album. The band swiftly march out on to the stage as a backdrop of two speakers with the words Boredom and Nowhere is lowered down.

Then, within seconds of arrival the opening heart beat of ‘Holiday In The Sun’ strikes up and the second the first guitar chord arrives the place goes wild. I mean really wild, euphoric madness, everybody is locked in from the get go, as if the band are playing their last song, not the opener. Any doubts about whether this will work are instantly dispelled. It just sounds right, Glen’s bass, flowing as it should be, Paul Cook hitting the drums like he’s in his twenties and Steve Jones looking effortless on guitar whilst delivering that iconic, perfect guitar tone that brings the bite to the songs.

And then theres’ Frank. If you’ve seen his previous bands you know what to expect but its clear he’s something of a revelation to quite a few of the crowd as he sings from the barrier, then moves into the crowd and gets circle pit going. With an onslaught of tunes from NMTB, one after another, where the crowd seem to know every word one thing becomes abundantly apparent. The band are loving playing together. Frank is reverential to the others, he’s not trying to be Johnny and the Pistols themselves are clearly having fun. It’s the little japes, glances and smiles on stage that have so often been absent in recent years that are great to see. It’s a different vibe, not as edgy but a glorious one instead. Frank leads the crowd in singing their hearts out for songs like ‘No Feelings’ and ‘Problem’ but when the band play ‘Bodies’ with all its vitriolic lyrics and the opening line of ‘She was a girl from Birmingham’ its actually apparent how much all this means.

With hoarse voices already assured for the next day the encore is mercifully short with ‘My Way’ followed by a singalong version of ‘Anarchy In The UK’ bringing things to a close followed by a mass exodus of quite frankly stunned but happy punters heading out into the streets with massive grins on their faces.

Nothing less than a triumph.

Steve Jones's Marshall guitar amps
Steve Jones’s Marshall guitar amps
Glen Matlock and Steve Jones
Glen Matlock and Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols
Frank Carter and the Sex Pistols
Frank Carter and the Sex Pistols
Frank Carter getting in amongst the crowd
Frank Carter getting in amongst the crowd
Frank Carter on stage in Birmingham
Frank Carter on stage in Birmingham
Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols
Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols
Frank Carter and the Sex Pistols
Frank Carter and the Sex Pistols. The comaraderie between members of the band was plain to see throughout the night

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