The UK in the 70s, following crippling poverty and political decadence, gave birth to kids whose suffrage brought them together to form iconic bands we all adore. The Clash. Joy Division. The Buzzcocks. The Jam, to name a few. Yet what many of these groups have in common is the influence of positively ragtag collective of misfits we all know as The Sex Pistols. And just when we needed some anarchy down under, the old boys, fronted by the stunningly vicious Frank Carter, blessed us with their electric energy.
The diverse crowd of varied ages, old and young punks alike, warmed and loaded up the springs in their calves to Civic, a local group who refreshed our ears with the sound of classic, hard, fast punk music that got everyone’s necks aching before the even main event. Then what followed; a scream of hallelujah, as Glen Matlock, Paul “Cookie” Cook, Steve Jones, and the ever so charismatic Frank Carter, graced us with their larger than life presence. Beginning with Holiday In The Sun, fitting being the famous opening track to Never Mind the Bollocks, the audience immediately began thrashing into each other as if they were crunchy chords strummed through a Marshall amp themselves. After all, if there wasn't a stampede and they didn’t scream the lyrics to every hit, then “Why the fuck are you here?”, in Frank’s words.
From the stage to the stands, the energy in the room was relentlessly electrifying and immeasurable, from beginning to end, as if I had gone back in time to London in 1977 as the Pistols where just about breaking through like a rebellious battering ram. And boys knew how to rev up the room, from Steve’s classic punk rock crunch of his guitar, Cookie’s speedy walloping of the kit, Glen’s low-end that was anything but Vicious (wink), and Frank’s volcanic energy, especially when he set up shop amongst the middle of the crowd and commanded the circle pit around him whilst performing the hit Bodies.
The Sex Pistols kicked off their run of Australia with what I would say was the most legendary punk show in the southern hemisphere, as Mr Carter himself claimed that even after touring the entire world that it was the “Best Show” so far, which I’m sure puffed up everyone excitement even more, including myself. As they concluded this phenomenal gig with the ever so iconic Anarchy in the UK, along with a tremendous rendition of Frank Sinatra’s My Way famously done by Sid Vicious, my teenage self left the venue a healed and grinning boy. Seeing these boys in the flesh, and group renounced for their rightfully vulgar form of rebellion towards pervs and pollies alike, brought a refreshing sense of relief and hope that should oppressive powers destroy our lives, art, and culture, there will always be Anarchy.
Catch them in Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane, and Fremantle!!!!!