Glen Matlock

 Glen Matlock was born on August 27th, 1956 in London, England. 

Glen Matlock

Glen Matlock, John Lyndon, 
Steve Jones and Paul Cook
The Sex Pistols 1976

Glen Matlock and Sid Vicious 1978

Also on this date:

Let’s Scare Jessica to Death premiered in 1971

Sex Pistols Timeline:

8/27/1956 - Glen Matlock Born

5/9/1957 - Sid Vicious Born

10/8/1976 - Sex Pistols Sign with EMI

12/1/1976 - Sex Pistols and the Filth and the Fury

1/6/1977 - Sex Pistols Dropped by EMI 

3/10/1977 - Sex Pistols Sign to A&M

3/16/1977 - Sex Pistols Dropped by A&M

4/3/1977 - Sid Vicious First Gig

5/27/1977 - Sex Pistols Release God Save the Queen

6/7/1977 - Sex Pistols Boat Party

1/5/1978 - Sex Pistols 1978 Tour Begins

1/14/1978 - Sex Pistols Last Stand

1/17/1978 - Sex Pistols Call It Quits

10/12/1978 - Sid Vicious Arrested for Murder

10/23/1978 - Sid Vicious Suicide Attempt

12/9/1978 - Sid Vicious Arrested for Assault

1/2/1979 -  Sid Vicious Murder Trial Begins

2/2/1979 - Sid Vicious Dies

11/7/1986 - Sid and Nancy

Poly Styrene

 Poly Styrene was born on July 3rd, 1957 in Bromley, England. 

Marianne Joan Elliot-Said (1957-2011)

On her 19th birthday on July 3rd, 1976 she saw an early show of the Sex Pistols at Hastings Pier and decided to form a punk band.

X-Ray Spex (1976-1979)

With Daughter Celeste Bell 

Sex Pistols Release God Save the Queen

 On May 27th, 1977 the Sex Pistols released the single God Save the Queen. 

God Save the Queen 

Sid Vicious, Steve Jones,
Johnny Rotten and Paul Cook

The single was co-written by Glen Matlock but was released after his parting with the band. 

Sex Pistols Timeline:

8/27/1956 - Glen Matlock Born

5/9/1957 - Sid Vicious Born

10/8/1976 - Sex Pistols Sign with EMI

12/1/1976 - Sex Pistols and the Filth and the Fury

1/6/1977 - Sex Pistols Dropped by EMI 

3/10/1977 - Sex Pistols Sign to A&M

3/16/1977 - Sex Pistols Dropped by A&M

4/3/1977 - Sid Vicious First Gig

5/27/1977 - Sex Pistols Release God Save the Queen

6/7/1977 - Sex Pistols Boat Party

1/5/1978 - Sex Pistols 1978 Tour Begins

1/14/1978 - Sex Pistols Last Stand

1/17/1978 - Sex Pistols Call It Quits

10/12/1978 - Sid Vicious Arrested for Murder

10/23/1978 - Sid Vicious Suicide Attempt

12/9/1978 - Sid Vicious Arrested for Assault

1/2/1979 -  Sid Vicious Murder Trial Begins

2/2/1979 - Sid Vicious Dies

11/7/1986 - Sid and Nancy

Sid Vicious

 Simon John Ritchie was born on May 10th, 1957 in London England. 

Simon John Ritchie

Sid Vicious (1957-1979)

Sex Pistols Timeline:

8/27/1956 - Glen Matlock Born

5/9/1957 - Sid Vicious Born

10/8/1976 - Sex Pistols Sign with EMI

12/1/1976 - Sex Pistols and the Filth and the Fury

1/6/1977 - Sex Pistols Dropped by EMI 

3/10/1977 - Sex Pistols Sign to A&M

3/16/1977 - Sex Pistols Dropped by A&M

4/3/1977 - Sid Vicious First Gig

5/27/1977 - Sex Pistols Release God Save the Queen

6/7/1977 - Sex Pistols Boat Party

1/5/1978 - Sex Pistols 1978 Tour Begins

1/14/1978 - Sex Pistols Last Stand

1/17/1978 - Sex Pistols Call It Quits

10/12/1978 - Sid Vicious Arrested for Murder

10/23/1978 - Sid Vicious Suicide Attempt

12/9/1978 - Sid Vicious Arrested for Assault

1/2/1979 -  Sid Vicious Murder Trial Begins

2/2/1979 - Sid Vicious Dies

11/7/1986 - Sid and Nancy

Sid Vicious Joins the Sex Pistols on Stage

 On April 3rd, 1977 Sid Vicious played his first show as the bassist for the Sex Pistols at the Screen on the Green cinema in London, England. 

The footage was released as part of the documentary film, The Punk Rock Movie (1978) filmed and directed by Don Letts.

Sid Vicious and Johnny Rotten 

At the Screen on the Green Cinema

Sex Pistols Timeline:

8/27/1956 - Glen Matlock Born

5/9/1957 - Sid Vicious Born

10/8/1976 - Sex Pistols Sign with EMI

12/1/1976 - Sex Pistols and the Filth and the Fury

1/6/1977 - Sex Pistols Dropped by EMI 

3/10/1977 - Sex Pistols Sign to A&M

3/16/1977 - Sex Pistols Dropped by A&M

4/3/1977 - Sid Vicious First Gig

5/27/1977 - Sex Pistols Release God Save the Queen

6/7/1977 - Sex Pistols Boat Party

1/5/1978 - Sex Pistols 1978 Tour Begins

1/14/1978 - Sex Pistols Last Stand

1/17/1978 - Sex Pistols Call It Quits

10/12/1978 - Sid Vicious Arrested for Murder

10/23/1978 - Sid Vicious Suicide Attempt

12/9/1978 - Sid Vicious Arrested for Assault

1/2/1979 -  Sid Vicious Murder Trial Begins

2/2/1979 - Sid Vicious Dies

11/7/1986 - Sid and Nancy

Sex Pistols Sign to A&M Records

 On March 10th, 1977 the Sex Pistols signed a record deal with A&M Records outside of Buckingham Palace. 

With Malcolm McLaren, a suit and a cop looking on

Over the next week the the Sex Pistols did the types of things that made them famous and were dropped by A&M Records with a hefty signing and severance package in their pockets. 

One week later

Hence the Great Rock and Roll Swindle. 

Sex Pistols Timeline:

8/27/1956 - Glen Matlock Born

5/9/1957 - Sid Vicious Born

10/8/1976 - Sex Pistols Sign with EMI

12/1/1976 - Sex Pistols and the Filth and the Fury

1/6/1977 - Sex Pistols Dropped by EMI 

3/10/1977 - Sex Pistols Sign to A&M

3/16/1977 - Sex Pistols Dropped by A&M

4/3/1977 - Sid Vicious First Gig

5/27/1977 - Sex Pistols Release God Save the Queen

6/7/1977 - Sex Pistols Boat Party

1/5/1978 - Sex Pistols 1978 Tour Begins

1/14/1978 - Sex Pistols Last Stand

1/17/1978 - Sex Pistols Call It Quits

10/12/1978 - Sid Vicious Arrested for Murder

10/23/1978 - Sid Vicious Suicide Attempt

12/9/1978 - Sid Vicious Arrested for Assault

1/2/1979 -  Sid Vicious Murder Trial Begins

2/2/1979 - Sid Vicious Dies

11/7/1986 - Sid and Nancy

Sex Pistols Call It Quits

 On January 17th, 1978 the Sex Pistols called it quits. 

The Sex Pistols (1975-1978)

Sex Pistols Timeline:

8/27/1956 - Glen Matlock Born

5/9/1957 - Sid Vicious Born

10/8/1976 - Sex Pistols Sign with EMI

12/1/1976 - Sex Pistols and the Filth and the Fury

1/6/1977 - Sex Pistols Dropped by EMI 

3/10/1977 - Sex Pistols Sign to A&M

3/16/1977 - Sex Pistols Dropped by A&M

4/3/1977 - Sid Vicious First Gig

5/27/1977 - Sex Pistols Release God Save the Queen

6/7/1977 - Sex Pistols Boat Party

1/5/1978 - Sex Pistols 1978 Tour Begins

1/14/1978 - Sex Pistols Last Stand

1/17/1978 - Sex Pistols Call It Quits

10/12/1978 - Sid Vicious Arrested for Murder

10/23/1978 - Sid Vicious Suicide Attempt

12/9/1978 - Sid Vicious Arrested for Assault

1/2/1979 -  Sid Vicious Murder Trial Begins

2/2/1979 - Sid Vicious Dies

11/7/1986 - Sid and Nancy

Sex Pistols Last Stand

 On January 14th, 1978, at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco, CA., Johnny Rotten, Sid Vicious, Steve Jones and Paul Cook performed live for the last time together as the Sex Pistols.

Sid Vicious, Johnny Rotten,
Steve Jones and Paul Cook

After a one song encore of the Stooges “No Fun” Rotten’s last words were: “Ever get the feeling you been cheated? Good Night.”

No Fun

By January 17th the band had separated with Rotten making an announcement the next day. 

Sex Pistols Timeline:

8/27/1956 - Glen Matlock Born

5/9/1957 - Sid Vicious Born

10/8/1976 - Sex Pistols Sign with EMI

12/1/1976 - Sex Pistols and the Filth and the Fury

1/6/1977 - Sex Pistols Dropped by EMI 

3/10/1977 - Sex Pistols Sign to A&M

3/16/1977 - Sex Pistols Dropped by A&M

4/3/1977 - Sid Vicious First Gig

5/27/1977 - Sex Pistols Release God Save the Queen

6/7/1977 - Sex Pistols Boat Party

1/5/1978 - Sex Pistols 1978 Tour Begins

1/14/1978 - Sex Pistols Last Stand

1/17/1978 - Sex Pistols Call It Quits

10/12/1978 - Sid Vicious Arrested for Murder

10/23/1978 - Sid Vicious Suicide Attempt

12/9/1978 - Sid Vicious Arrested for Assault

1/2/1979 -  Sid Vicious Murder Trial Begins

2/2/1979 - Sid Vicious Dies

11/7/1986 - Sid and Nancy

The Beatles Last Stand

Ramones Last Stand

Sex Pistols Dropped by EMI

On January 6th, 1977, EMI dropped the Sex Pistols after only signing them in October of the previous year. 

Steve Jones, John Lyndon, Paul Cook
and Glen Matlock

The label cited the bands “adverse publicity over the past couple months as a reason. 

The Sex Pistols only EMI release

The band would release a song about the experience entitled “EMI”on their debut full length release two labels later. 

Sex Pistols Timeline:

8/27/1956 - Glen Matlock Born

5/9/1957 - Sid Vicious Born

10/8/1976 - Sex Pistols Sign with EMI

12/1/1976 - Sex Pistols and the Filth and the Fury

1/6/1977 - Sex Pistols Dropped by EMI 

3/10/1977 - Sex Pistols Sign to A&M

3/16/1977 - Sex Pistols Dropped by A&M

4/3/1977 - Sid Vicious First Gig

5/27/1977 - Sex Pistols Release God Save the Queen

6/7/1977 - Sex Pistols Boat Party

1/5/1978 - Sex Pistols 1978 Tour Begins

1/14/1978 - Sex Pistols Last Stand

1/17/1978 - Sex Pistols Call It Quits

10/12/1978 - Sid Vicious Arrested for Murder

10/23/1978 - Sid Vicious Suicide Attempt

12/9/1978 - Sid Vicious Arrested for Assault

1/2/1979 -  Sid Vicious Murder Trial Begins

2/2/1979 - Sid Vicious Dies

11/7/1986 - Sid and Nancy

The 1978 Sex Pistols US Tour Begins

On January 5th, 1978 the Sex Pistols kicked off the first US tour in Atlanta, Georgia at the Great South East Music Hall. A previous show had been cancelled in Pittsburgh due to visa issues. 

Steve Jones, Johnny Rotten, Paul Cook
and Sid Vicious 1978 visa photos

The band would then make their way through the southernmost points of the US over the next week. 

Malcolm McLaren had intentionally booked the most redneck venues available to promote as much chaos as possible. 

The Sex Pistols 1978

The band and the tour would implode just over a week later in San Francisco, California. 

Sex Pistols Timeline:

8/27/1956 - Glen Matlock Born

5/9/1957 - Sid Vicious Born

10/8/1976 - Sex Pistols Sign with EMI

12/1/1976 - Sex Pistols and the Filth and the Fury

1/6/1977 - Sex Pistols Dropped by EMI 

3/10/1977 - Sex Pistols Sign to A&M

3/16/1977 - Sex Pistols Dropped by A&M

4/3/1977 - Sid Vicious First Gig

5/27/1977 - Sex Pistols Release God Save the Queen

6/7/1977 - Sex Pistols Boat Party

1/5/1978 - Sex Pistols 1978 Tour Begins

1/14/1978 - Sex Pistols Last Stand

1/17/1978 - Sex Pistols Call It Quits

10/12/1978 - Sid Vicious Arrested for Murder

10/23/1978 - Sid Vicious Suicide Attempt

12/9/1978 - Sid Vicious Arrested for Assault

1/2/1979 -  Sid Vicious Murder Trial Begins

2/2/1979 - Sid Vicious Dies

11/7/1986 - Sid and Nancy

Sid Vicious Murder Trial Begins

 On January 2nd, 1979, the trial against Sid Vicious for the murder of girlfriend Nancy Spungen began in New York City. 

Sid Vicious Mugshot

Vicious would be dead from an overdose before a verdict. 

Sex Pistols Timeline:

8/27/1956 - Glen Matlock Born

5/9/1957 - Sid Vicious Born

10/8/1976 - Sex Pistols Sign with EMI

12/1/1976 - Sex Pistols and the Filth and the Fury

1/6/1977 - Sex Pistols Dropped by EMI 

3/10/1977 - Sex Pistols Sign to A&M

3/16/1977 - Sex Pistols Dropped by A&M

4/3/1977 - Sid Vicious First Gig

5/27/1977 - Sex Pistols Release God Save the Queen

6/7/1977 - Sex Pistols Boat Party

1/5/1978 - Sex Pistols 1978 Tour Begins

1/14/1978 - Sex Pistols Last Stand

1/17/1978 - Sex Pistols Call It Quits

10/12/1978 - Sid Vicious Arrested for Murder

10/23/1978 - Sid Vicious Suicide Attempt

12/9/1978 - Sid Vicious Arrested for Assault

1/2/1979 -  Sid Vicious Murder Trial Begins

2/2/1979 - Sid Vicious Dies

11/7/1986 - Sid and Nancy

Sid Vicious Arrested for Assault

 On December 9th, 1978, Sid Vicious was arrested for the assault of Todd Smith (brother of Patti Smith). He busted a beer bottle on his head during an altercation at a night club. 

Vicious was already out on bail on charges of murdering his girlfriend Nancy Spungen. 

He would be taken to Riker’s Island where he would endure heroin detox in a jail cell. 

Sex Pistols Timeline:

8/27/1956 - Glen Matlock Born

5/9/1957 - Sid Vicious Born

10/8/1976 - Sex Pistols Sign with EMI

12/1/1976 - Sex Pistols and the Filth and the Fury

1/6/1977 - Sex Pistols Dropped by EMI 

3/10/1977 - Sex Pistols Sign to A&M

3/16/1977 - Sex Pistols Dropped by A&M

4/3/1977 - Sid Vicious First Gig

5/27/1977 - Sex Pistols Release God Save the Queen

6/7/1977 - Sex Pistols Boat Party

1/5/1978 - Sex Pistols 1978 Tour Begins

1/14/1978 - Sex Pistols Last Stand

1/17/1978 - Sex Pistols Call It Quits

10/12/1978 - Sid Vicious Arrested for Murder

10/23/1978 - Sid Vicious Suicide Attempt

12/9/1978 - Sid Vicious Arrested for Assault

1/2/1979 -  Sid Vicious Murder Trial Begins

2/2/1979 - Sid Vicious Dies

11/7/1986 - Sid and Nancy

The Sex Pistols and the Filth and the Fury

 On December 1st, 1976, a very young group by the name of the Sex Pistols made their first TV appearance on the BBC Today Show hosted by Bill Grundy. 

The Sex Pistols with Grundy and entourage
including Siouxsie Sioux.

The Sex Pistols had recently signed with EMI and were a last minute replacement for label mates Queen, who had to cancel. Bill Matlock had not yet been replaced by Sid Vicious. 

Pre-Vicious Pistols with Matlock 

The Sex Pistols did what the Sex Pistols do. Profanities were uttered and chaos ensued, some of which was egged on by Grundy. 

After the show the phones lit up like phones tend to do when uptight people get offended. Someone thought it a good idea to run the calls into the green room occupied by the Pistols and the chaos continued over the phone. 

Bill Grundy

Bill Grundy “retired” from television a short time later and the Sex Pistols crashed and burned their way into punk rock history with future antics and chaos. The media labeled this event as  “The Filth and the Fury”. 

The controversy partly contributed to the Sex Pistols being dropped by EMI a short time later.

Sex Pistols Timeline:

8/27/1956 - Glen Matlock Born

5/9/1957 - Sid Vicious Born

10/8/1976 - Sex Pistols Sign with EMI

12/1/1976 - Sex Pistols and the Filth and the Fury

1/6/1977 - Sex Pistols Dropped by EMI 

3/10/1977 - Sex Pistols Sign to A&M

3/16/1977 - Sex Pistols Dropped by A&M

4/3/1977 - Sid Vicious First Gig

5/27/1977 - Sex Pistols Release God Save the Queen

6/7/1977 - Sex Pistols Boat Party

1/5/1978 - Sex Pistols 1978 Tour Begins

1/14/1978 - Sex Pistols Last Stand

1/17/1978 - Sex Pistols Call It Quits

10/12/1978 - Sid Vicious Arrested for Murder

10/23/1978 - Sid Vicious Suicide Attempt

12/9/1978 - Sid Vicious Arrested for Assault

1/2/1979 -  Sid Vicious Murder Trial Begins

2/2/1979 - Sid Vicious Dies

11/7/1986 - Sid and Nancy

Sid and Nancy

 On November 7th, 1986 the biopic Sid and Nancy was released in the US. 

The movie tells the tale of a fateful and destructive relationship between Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen. 

Directed by Alex Cox and starring Gary Oldman and Chloe Web as Sid and Nancy. 

At one point Daniel-Day Lewis and Courtney Love were being considered for the lead roles. 

Let’s take a moment to consider that alternate reality. 

Love did end up with a smaller role in the film. 

The lock and dog chain that Oldman wore in the film was given to him by Sid’s mother when he visited her while researching for the role. 

This record is one of my oldest possessions. 

One of the first things I bought with my own money. 

It still skips in all the same places.  

Love Kills featuring title tracks from

The Circle Jerks and Joe Strummer

Also on this date:

The Boogeyman was released in 1980

Sex Pistols Timeline:

8/27/1956 - Glen Matlock Born

5/9/1957 - Sid Vicious Born

10/8/1976 - Sex Pistols Sign with EMI

12/1/1976 - Sex Pistols and the Filth and the Fury

1/6/1977 - Sex Pistols Dropped by EMI 

3/10/1977 - Sex Pistols Sign to A&M

3/16/1977 - Sex Pistols Dropped by A&M

4/3/1977 - Sid Vicious First Gig

5/27/1977 - Sex Pistols Release God Save the Queen

6/7/1977 - Sex Pistols Boat Party

1/5/1978 - Sex Pistols 1978 Tour Begins

1/14/1978 - Sex Pistols Last Stand

1/17/1978 - Sex Pistols Call It Quits

10/12/1978 - Sid Vicious Arrested for Murder

10/23/1978 - Sid Vicious Suicide Attempt

12/9/1978 - Sid Vicious Arrested for Assault

1/2/1979 -  Sid Vicious Murder Trial Begins

2/2/1979 - Sid Vicious Dies

11/7/1986 - Sid and Nancy