The
Independent Review Sept 28th 04
2 Cover Story
The
world according to Glen Matlock
Glen Matlock was the bassist for The Sex Pistols before leaving the band in 1977. He has since played with a number of other bands, most famously Rich Kids, and has re-appeared with the Pistols for both recorded and live performances.
If you weren't a rock star, what would you be doing now?
I've always wanted to be in the south of France handing out the sun-loungers and ask "demi-jour ou pour tout le jour?". Yeah, I reckon I could do that. And Maybe I'd have to oil a young body or two.
Do you still see any school friends?
I do, actually. I'm not on Friends Reunited constantly or anything, but a good friend of mine is at the Treasury, and another is a good mate of [fellow pistol] Paul Cook's, who turned up unexpectedly at a gig in Las Vegas last year. That was a nice little surprise.
Would you every appear on 'I'm a Celebrity.....'
My motto in life is "never say never", but I don't think so somehow.
Are you still proud to be British?
I'm proud to be English. In this shrinking global village world, people like to hang on to their roots. I'm more proud to be English every time I go abroad now. You have to put "UK" down on the form, but I always put "Born in England". That's me.
What scares you?
Gross ineptitude, Ulterior motives. George Bush.
Is there any hope for Iraq?
Not at the moment. Not that I can see.
Where's the greatest place in the world to play a gig?
I like Japan. Apart from the Budokan in Tokyo, that is. While in the rest of Japan they go mad, there they clap politely between numbers. That's a bit odd if you've just played "Anarchy in the UK". One of the best gigs was in Santiago in Chile, which was like being a gladiator. All hell broke loose because the crowd wouldn't leave, and they tear-gassed them. They weren't that surprised; apparently they do that every Friday night.
Do you get recognised in the street?
If I'm gigging, and in my glad rags, then yes. The rest of the time, not so much so, but I did get asked for an autograph on the Isle of Wight ferry at about 1.00am, which was a little weird.
Bill Hicks or Billy Connolly?
That's a hard one to call. Bill Hicks.
What would be your last meal?
Cheese and tomatoes and marmite on toast. All grilled up - the food of the gods.
Ghosts: figment of our imagination or reality?
I've never seen one, but the jury's out on that one, as far as I'm concerned. There's stuff out there.