Paul Cook reflected on the firing of bassist Glen Matlock from Sex Pistols in 1977 during a recent appearance on ‘The Rockonteurs’ podcast and admitted the decision was a mistake.
“The story around Glen leaving or departing or being sacked, whatever, is pretty messy.” the drummer recalled. “John [Lydon] and Glen had fallen out over some reason. I do not know why. They weren’t getting on. And John felt that it was me and Steve [Jones] now against [him]. We were a tight-knit couple, if you like. And John felt like he needed a bit of someone in the band who was on his side.”
Lydon got support from the band’s manager, Malcolm McLaren, who wanted Sid Vicious to replace Matlock. “It was the only time Malcolm and John were in alignment with anything, really. They were manipulating the situation to get rid of Glen and get Sid in the band,” Cook said.
The members already knew Vicious from his constant presence at their shows, “causing trouble, inventing the pogo, jumping up and down, smashing into people,” and McLaren believed he would be a good fit for Sex Pistols’ image.
Still, the drummer commented, “It was a stupid thing we could have done, getting rid of Glen. We were all writing great songs together.”
Sex Pistols broke up in 1978 following their controversial U.S. tour. The same year, Vicious got arrested and charged with his girlfriend Nancy Spungen’s murder. He died of a drug overdose four months later.
Matlock teamed up with the band for their 1996 reunion and recently played with Cook and Jones to raise money for the London music venue Bush Hall. Lydon did not join them due to his long-time disputes with the members and left his place to Frank Carter.