Sex Pistols • October 10, 2025 • The Union Events Center
Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe
Few bands have had an impact on rock music quite like the Sex Pistols. Nearly five decades after shaking up the music world, the legendary British punk outfit is back on the road with a lineup that brings together three original members and a new voice behind the microphone. Featuring guitarist Steve Jones, drummer Paul Cook, bassist Glen Matlock, and vocalist Frank Carter, this incarnation offers fans an opportunity to experience the band’s explosive catalog with some of the musicians who created it.
There were, naturally, two significant absences. Original frontman Johnny Rotten (John Lydon) is not part of the touring lineup, and of course, bassist Sid Vicious, who died in 1979. Their contributions remain an important part of the band’s story, but this lineup isn’t about recreating the past note for note. Instead, it brings together musicians who helped build the Sex Pistols’ legacy with a frontman capable of injecting fresh energy into the material.
Frank Carter is an intriguing choice for the vocal position. Known for his work with Gallows and Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes, he has built a reputation on ferocious performances, raw vocals, and an unpredictable stage presence. Those qualities made him a natural fit for the Sex Pistols. He’s not Johnny Rotten, nor does he need to be, or even try to be. Carter brings his own personality to the songs, respecting their history while delivering them with the kind of aggression and conviction they demand. His performance pumps youthful energy into the show that the crowd seemed very drawn to.
At the center of the performance are Jones, Cook, and Matlock. Their involvement is what gives this touring lineup its connection to the original band. Jones supplied the unmistakable guitar attack, Cook drove the music forward from behind the drum kit, and Matlock provided the bass foundation that helped shape the band’s early sound. Together, they offer something that goes beyond a tribute act: the opportunity to see three musicians who were instrumental in creating an iconic sound that we love and has influenced countless punk rock bands.
And there’s certainly no shortage of material to draw from. “God Save the Queen,” “Pretty Vacant,” and “Holidays in the Sun” (the show opener) remain essential pieces of the Sex Pistols catalog. These aren’t simply songs remembered fondly by longtime fans. They are enduring punk anthems, full of attitude, urgency, and the rebellious spirit that made the band such a disruptive force.
What makes this tour particularly interesting is the contrast between familiarity and change. The songs are instantly recognizable, but Carter’s interpretation added a little twist. His vocal style and stage energy bring a contemporary edge without stripping away the rawness that made the originals so powerful. It was great hearing how grateful Carter was to be a part of Sex Pistols and on this tour. Meanwhile, having Jones, Cook, and Matlock onstage ensured that the performances retained a direct connection to the music’s origins.
For longtime fans, the tour is an opportunity to reconnect with a band whose influence extends far beyond its relatively short original recording career. For younger audiences, it was a chance to discover why the Sex Pistols became such an important name in punk rock. Their music helped inspire countless artists and continues to resonate with anyone drawn to loud guitars, direct lyrics, and a healthy disregard for convention.
The absence of Rotten will inevitably be part of the conversation, particularly among fans who hold the original lineup in the highest regard. But the presence of Carter alongside three original members makes this more than a nostalgic exercise. It’s a new chapter in the continuing story of a band whose music refuses to sit quietly in the history books.
The Sex Pistols featuring Frank Carter may not be the lineup that first shocked Britain, but with Steve Jones, Paul Cook, and Glen Matlock back together, there’s plenty of genuine punk pedigree onstage. Add Carter’s intensity to the mix, and the result is a celebration of music that still sounds rebellious, relevant, and wonderfully loud. They had the mosh pits to prove it. They even had a female-only mosh pit.
