Glen Matlock has revealed he has not seen former Sex Pistols bandmate Johnny Rotten since 2008 but says reconnecting is a “two-way street”. The former bassist for the punk rock band reunited with fellow original members Paul Cook and Steve Jones this week to help raise funds for west London music venue Bush Hall. The trio were joined by singer Frank Carter, who stepped into Rotten’s role for the gigs as the former frontman has distanced himself from the band.
Tensions were raised between the group following a court case in 2021 which saw the band’s former drummer Cook and former guitarist Jones sue Rotten, real name John Lydon, to allow their songs to be used in a new TV series Pistol about the group. During the case, Cook said the original group were probably “gone for good” as a result of a legal dispute. Discussing Rotten on ITV’s Good Morning Britain on Friday, Matlock said: “I haven’t seen him since 2008.
” Asked if he had received a WhatsApp from him, Matlock added: “No, it’s a two-way street and he knows my number.” The Sex Pistols were formed in 1975 and disbanded in 1978, but later performed live shows together on a number of occasions, most recently in 2008. The punk band were known for their rebel spirit and speaking out against the monarchy and the established political order in provocative lyrics.
Matlock said: “There were lots of things that had to be said back then, I think they do now, really. “I don’t think we ever really set ou.