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Legendary British punk band Sex Pistols is set to embark on a UK and Ireland tour, commemorating five decades of punk rock.
Dubbed ‘The Anarchy In The UK’ tour, the celebratory series of concerts planned for London, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dublin in December marks 50 years since the release of the band’s seminal track ‘Anarchy in the UK’.
The band will be joined by musician Frank Carter (vocals) and will feature original band members Steve Jones (guitars), Paul Cook (drums) and Glen Matlock (bass).
The group formed in 1975 and was known for their rebel spirit, lyric provocation, and speaking out against the monarchy and the established political order. Their sole studio album ‘Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols’ (1977) was a UK number one and continues to be regarded as an impotant milestone in the history and development of punk rock.
They disbanded in 1978. Former bassist Sid Vicious died of a heroin overdose in 1979, following his arrest for the alleged murder of his girlfriend, Nancy Spungen. Sex Pistols frontman John Lydon, aka: Johnny Rotten, went on to form the band Public Image Ltd, also known as PiL.
In 2024, Jones, Cook, Matlock, and guest vocalist Frank Carter (known for Gallows and Frank Carter and The Rattlesnakes) reformed Sex Pistols, with Lydon not performing – the latter having promised to never return to the group following a high-profile court battle against the rest of the band in a bid to stop their songs being used in a Disney+ series of their story, titled Pistol.
The tour will kick off at Dublin’s 3 Arena on 7 December before moving to Edinburgh’s Corn Exchange on 9 December and Glasgow’s O2 Academy on 10 December. The tour will end with two nights in London, one at the O2 Academy Brixton on 18 December and a final show at Eventim Apollo on 20 December. The band will also play shows this summer at The Piece Hall, Halifax (11 July), Castlefield Bowl, Manchester (12 July), Cardiff Castle (1 August) and Scarborough Open Air Theatre (2 August).
The only question remains: Will they change it to God Save The… King?