Until recently, Spunk circulated only as a bootleg. "Pretty Vancant" shows up as "Lots of Fun," while "Anarchy in the U.K." appears as "Nookie." There are also some songs on Spunk that wouldn't make the proper album, including "Just Me," which later appeared as the B-side to "Anarchy in the U.K.," as does "Pretty Vacant"'s B-side, "No Fun." Never Mind the Bollocks tracks that don't appear on Spunk include "Holiday in the Sun" and "Bodies." Spunk contains most of the songs that would later surface on Nevermind the Bollocks, with some under different names. Despite being demos, the songs on Spunk are recorded surprisingly well and were once mistaken as a proper finished product by members of the British press. Some critics and fans as well as the group's infamous manager Malcolm McLaren have claimed to prefer Spunk to Never Mind the Bollocks, citing its rougher sound and closer feel to the band's live sound as a more accurate representation of what the group really sounded like. Instead Steve Jones would handle both guitar and bass for the band's official release. By the time Nervermind the Bollocks came out, Matlock's bass playing only appeared on one track ("Anarchy in the U.K.") despite having written most of the music on the album. Recorded during 19, Spunk stands out in one significant way - it's the only recorded material featuring the band's original lineup, which featured Glen Matlock on bass, who would be replaced by Sid Vicious in 1977. It surfaced in late 1977 as a bootleg containing the studio demos of what would later become the Pistols' sole studio album, Never Mind the Bollocks. Spunk is a record that came about in funny circumstances. In either case, the band needs no introduction. Despite rarely actually digging their records out of my stacks, the band's contribution to punk rock should be held without contention (although that's hardly the case). Born Running is the latest salvo from a musician and songwriter who is never satisfied with resting on his considerable musical achievements there is much more to come from this hugely gifted individual.It's easy to take the Sex Pistols for granted. The album was produced by Jim Lowe, who has produced numerous hugely successful albums for The Stereophonics. Also in the band's line up is drummer Javier Weyler, the current drumming incumbent with The Stereophonics, as well as guitarist James Stevenson, who, like Matlock, is a musical survivor from the original School of '76 British Punk Rock. It has an added poignancy insofar as it features the last recordings of guitarist Steve New, one of Matlock's oldest friends and fellow founder-member of The Rich Kids, who died in 2010. Glen's latest album, Born Running, recorded with his band The Philistines, offers up twelve more punchy and direct examples of Matlock's innate ability to craft timeless, melodic rock songs. Matlock's autobiography, I Was A Teenage Sex Pistol, was published to great critical acclaim in 1990, and updated and reprinted in 1996 with insights and updates following the reformed Sex Pistols 'Filthy Lucre' tour, which revealed that Matlock was also a fine raconteur and witty writer. The Rich Kids failed to live up to their promise, however and after they split, Matlock worked with Iggy Pop on his Soldier album and subsequent tour, and then formed The Spectres with former Tom Robinson Band guitarist Danny Kustow. To cap it all, 2010 sees Glen release a brand new album - arguably the finest to bear his name - in the shape of Born Running.Īfter Matlock's departure from The Sex Pistols, he hooked up with old pal, guitarist Steve New, alongside drummer Rusty Egan and guitarist / singer-songwriter Midge Ure, formerly of Scottish pop band Slik, to form The Rich Kids, who signed to EMI and were quickly ushered into a studio to cut the album Ghosts of Princes In Towers with one of Matlock's heroes, Spiders From Mars guitarist Mick Ronson. In a career that has spanned over thirty years, Glen has made indelible contributions to music as the original bass player with The Sex Pistols, formed the infamous Rich Kids, worked with a variety of artists ranging from Iggy Pop, fellow original School of '76 Brit Punk Rockers The Damned, through to neo-rockabilly singer Robert Gordon, whilst pursuing his own musically distinctive direction where melodic and inventive rock music thrives. Glen Matlock is one of the most respected, if underrated British musicians.