50 years since they first exploded onto the British music scene, scared our parents, swore on daytime TV, were banned from a load of venues and, indeed, by a number of local councils and gave a disenfranchised youth something to cling on to, something to believe in. The Sex Pistols were way beyond anything seen or heard in mainstream music, inspired countless other bands to form with the realisation that it wasn’t necessary to follow musical norms or to even actually be able to play an instrument well. Did punk rock ruin us all and cause the collapse of society? Absolutely not but for a hell of a lot of us who were approaching, or in, our teens at the time it played a vital role in shaping who we are today – our attitudes towards society, towards our fellow human beings and towards systems that are so often just imposed on us. In short it led to us really thinking for ourselves and to question/kick against things others believe they can simply force us to do.
But that was then.
Today, in the glorious surrounds of Halifax’s Piece Hall – a Grade 1 listed building and the sole survivor of the 18th Century northern cloth halls – the Sex Pistols are playing as part of the venues ‘Live At The Piece Hall’ series of summer concerts.
But it’s not just the Pistols we’re here to see. Whenever they play nowadays there is always quality supports. Panic Shack open and deliver a no holds barred, relentless 35 minutes of brilliant riot grrl attitude. Their songs – ‘Gok Wan’, ‘Baby’, ‘Jiu Jits You’, ‘The Ick’, recent release ‘grin & bear it’ are loud, raw, packed with energy and attitude. Panic Shack are fun but at the same time shout loud and clear against misogyny, inequalities, and plenty of attitudes that sadly still seep into everyday society. As they often do they swap the chorus of set closer ‘Pockets’ for ‘Free Palestine’ much to the displeasure of a lone punter who decides he’ll storm down the front and make various gestures. The band don’t notice and realising he’s alone he skulks back to wherever he came from fairly quickly. A band that doesn’t take themselves too seriously yet packs a serious punch when it comes to acerbic commentary on the outdated social opinions of many amongst us.
Next up The Undertones, a band that every time I see them – and it’s been many – leave me wondering just how is it possible for one band to have written so many absolutely perfect, poppy, punky, bangers. They waste no time building up to their massive crowd pleasing anthems. The unmistakeable guitar that introduces ‘Jimmy Jimmy’ and the crowd is bouncing from the get-go. The Undertones deliver an hour of razor sharp guitars, huge jump around drum beats and irresistable sing-along lyrics. The agony and heartache of teenage years condensed into three minute slices of glorious noise.
‘You’ve Got My Number’, ‘Male Model’, ‘Thrill Me’, ‘Here Comes The Summer’, the always huge ‘Teenage Kicks’, ‘My Perfect Cousin’ – not a weak note amongst them. Add in the lesser known ‘See That Girl’, superb new track ‘Time Is Terminal’ and the blistering set closer ‘Get Over You’ and you really couldn’t ask for more from a band celebrating 50 years who still sound as fresh now as they did all those years ago. Four original members and with vocalist Paul McLoone fronting them for the last twenty seven The Undertones thankfully show no signs of giving up just yet.
And so to the headliners. Sex Pistols with Frank Carter. No Lydon – back stabbing and years of legal battles mean he’s likely never going to front this band again – but that really doesn’t matter. Carter, formerly of Gallows and more recently with the Rattlesnakes, has for a couple of years been having an absolute ball fronting one of the most iconic bands ever. Glen Matlock, Steve Jones, Paul Cook and Carter stroll nonchalantly onto the stage to a raucous noise from the now packed Piece Hall. Matlock combs his slick, grey hair and then they launch into the ferocious opening sounds of ‘Holidays In The Sun’ and from this moment on those present are lost in a haze of nostalgic bliss. Beer flies, arms wave, old and young pogo while Carter pounds the stage snarling the lyrics. He doesn’t try and replicate the persona of Rotten. He doesn’t stare like a maniac, he doesn’t sulk, he’s not comical or theatrical. He IS a performer, someone who grabs your attention and doesn’t let go and he delivers tonight’s set with passion, some banter and a whole lot of fun.
‘Seventeen’ follows, the crowd already whipped into a frenzy before the slower, heavier ‘New York’ gives some relief to those who have suddenly realised a Pistols moshpit might not be the best place for them. Carter calls for the crowd to open up and joins them for ‘Pretty Vacant’. Cook, Jones and Matlock carrying the noise, Carter lost in the mayhem before being held aloft and carried back to the stage. Of course ‘Bodies’ gets a huge singalong – it seems no-one can resist the chance to yell “Fuck this and fuck that”. ‘I’m Not Your Stepping Stone’, ‘Liar’, ‘No Feelings’ – all are brilliant, all take you back to those days of rebellion, of not giving a damn what anybody else thought of you, when music really was causing the establishment to worry. Throughout it all Carter grins, arms round Matlock and Jones between his strolls around the stage riling the crowd into ever increasing bedlam. ‘Liar’ goes straight into ‘God Save The Queen’, once the rallying cry of a lost generation with no work, and no hope – “No future for you” sung back with gusto tonight from many already collecting their pensions. This isn’t 1976/1977. Tonight there’s a huge, video backdrop to the band – images and clips from their early years. There’s even band introductions during the Stooges ‘No Fun’ with guitar/bass/drum solos – Carter introducing the three original members, Steve Jones, in his England football shirt, referring to Carter as “Frankie baby. The young one. He is rock n roll”
Some will argue tonight was a real punk rock gig even without that genuine sense of anger, the danger, the angst, the very real fear for what the future holds. Others will beg to differ. Tonight is a fantastic celebration of a band, an album and songs that really did change the lives of thousands of young people. No-one can argue against that. Delivered by three originals who really can play their instruments, fronted by someone with a genuine passion for the songs he’s singing. Someone who knows how to work a crowd, who knows how to have a good time. Sex Pistols power through an insanely good ‘No Feelings’, ‘Problems’ and ‘EMI’. The surfers keep coming over the barrier, faces split with beaming smiles, security helping them over and then escorting them back into the crowd. Water is passed out, much of it to just be thrown everywhere. Despite the wildness of the moshpit it’s all good natured. ‘My Way’ gets a huge sing-a-long, the crowd swaying before it erupts into the Vicious version with Carter literally bouncing across the stage. They finish with ‘Anarchy In The UK’. It still sounds absolutely furious, the floor of the Piece Hall exploding with the last dregs of energy from those who have given everything tonight, the passion still there after half a century. It’s an extended version, “Cos I, wanna be anarchy” echoing round the venue many times before that final chant of “I get pissed, destroy”. The band lap up the deserved cheers, guitar picks are thrown out and then it’s all over. A brilliant seventy minutes from the band who changed the course of the UK music scene so long ago. A band whose influence on youth culture is still present today.
It’s an early finish in time for England’s World Cup quarter final game, the venue remaining open so people can stay and watch it on the big screen. The perfect ending to a fantastic night.
