It was not a well-kept secret at all. When Frank Carter from The Spots hit the stage at London’s historic The 100 Club, he asked, “How many of you were here the first time around?” As Paul Cook, Steve Jones, and Glen Matlock joined, Carter added, “Put your hands together for the greatest punk band of all time.” This was, of course, an evening with Sex Pistols.
The Spots, aka Sex Pistols
The 100 Club, London – 21 March 2025
The show began with Holidays In The Sun and Seventeen. Carter was soon crowd surfing and crowd walking, still somehow belting out lyrics as he roamed the room.
A cover of Monkees’ (I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone was in the set before drummer Paul Cook declared, “It’s getting hot out there, we’ll slow it down” for Submission.”
A hot, sweaty and totally rammed 100 Club saw The Spots play the Sex Pistols’ Never Mind The Bollocks in full. The intimate show drew massive attention, including prominent musicians Noel Gallagher, Paul Weller, and Bobby Gillespie, who were spotted enjoying the electric atmosphere.
No Feelings and The Stooges’ No Fun and Problems followed, while EMI almost burst the room apart. “From the bottom of my heart,” Carter said as the evening closed, “thank you very much for coming out. It’s a dream come true.”
Anarchy In The UK was a fitting end. The band and crowd were in harmony for an anthem for the ages played in The 100 Club, which played a central role in punk’s history. This was the venue that hosted the September 1976 two-day punk special, at which the Sex Pistols played on the first day with a bill including The Clash, Siouxsie and the Banshees and Subway Sect.
Frank Carter and Paul Cook, Glen Matlock and Steve Jones as the Sex Pistols will play their first official 2025 gig at the Royal Albert Hall for Teenage Cancer Trust at the Royal Albert Hall on Monday, 24 March.
The other headliners are The Who (March 27 and 30); The Corrs (March 28); James Arthur (March 26); Micky Flanagan hosts a night of comedy (March 25); and Erased Tapes presents a special bill topped by Penguin Cafe (March 29). Tickets are available from https://www.teenagecancertrust.org/events/music-and-entertainment/teenage-cancer-trust-concert-royal-albert-hall
