Full Breakdown
Glen Matlock’s “I Was a Teenage Sex Pistol” Documentary Offers Bassist’s Perspective on Sex Pistols Legacy
5/5/2026, 2:12:08 AM
Documentary Release and Core Details
The music documentary *I Was a Teenage Sex Pistol* will be available for digital purchase or rental in the United States on May 26, with pre-orders opening May 12 via Apple TV. Directed by Andre Relis and Nick Mead, the film adapts Glen Matlock’s 1990 memoir of the same title and follows a release-window model similar to the FX miniseries *Pistol*. It presents new interviews with Matlock and a range of punk-era figures, positioning the bassist’s narrative at the center of the Sex Pistols story.
Background: Matlock’s Role in the Sex Pistols
Glen Matlock co-wrote ten of the twelve tracks on the 1977 album *Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols*, including “God Save the Queen” and “Anarchy in the UK.” He was dismissed from the band before the majority of the album’s recording, appearing only on “Anarchy in the UK.” Matlock’s 1996 memoir, later expanded into the documentary, was intended to address what he perceives as his marginalization in earlier retellings, notably the FX series *Pistol*, which portrayed him as “privileged and disconnected” and dramatized his removal in a bathroom scene.
Key Figures and Interviewees
The documentary features commentary from:
- Glen Matlock (founding bassist)
- Steve Jones (guitarist)
- Paul Cook (drummer)
- Debbie Harry, Clem Burke, Chris Stein (Blondie)
- Wayne Kramer (MC5)
- Fat Mike (NOFX)
- Additional contributors include Alan Jones, Gary Kemp (Spandau Ballet), Rat Scabies (The Damned), and many others listed in the film’s credits.
Data & Statistics
- 10 of 12 songs on *Never Mind the Bollocks* co-written by Matlock.
- Documentary release: May 26, 2026 (digital platforms); pre-order start: May 12, 2026.
- Film includes interviews with at least 30 musicians and industry figures.
- The Sex Pistols’ 50th-anniversary North-American tour runs from September 11 (Dallas, TX) to October 18 (Hollywood, CA).
Official Statements & Responses
Matlock describes the documentary as a “cathartic” effort to correct the historical record and emphasizes his contribution to the band’s success. He also notes that Danny Boyle, director of *Pistol*, “totally ignored” his input. Steve Jones acknowledges Matlock’s dissatisfaction with the FX series, calling him “a scapegoat” in the dramatization but expressing personal support for Matlock’s memoir project.
Criticism & Opposition
Matlock contends that *Pistol* misrepresents his departure, arguing he left voluntarily after “endless fights with John Lydon and Malcolm McLaren.” He criticizes the series for presenting a “quasi-documentary” that could mislead viewers. The documentary’s exclusion of John Lydon, who remains estranged from former bandmates, further underscores the divergent narratives surrounding the band’s history.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the circumstances of Matlock’s exit: the FX series depicts a forced removal orchestrated by manager Malcolm McLaren, while Matlock asserts a self-initiated departure. Additionally, the series’ portrayal of Matlock as “privileged” contrasts with his claim of being sidelined despite substantial songwriting contributions. No direct comment from Lydon is available to reconcile these accounts.
Verbatim Quotes
- “It was written as a way of me dealing with the aftermath of the initial Sex Pistols brush with fame and was a way of dealing with the manner I felt I’d been passed over in musical folklore, telling the tale of my contribution to the band — which I think without which the group wouldn’t have had the success it did,” — Glen Matlock, bassist, Sex Pistols
- “I told Danny Boyle what really happened and he totally ignored me,” — Glen Matlock
- “Maybe it’s not a big deal, but it’s important to me. It comes across as a quasi-documentary, and people won’t know any better.” — Glen Matlock
- “Glen and I talked about it, but he’s never going to be happy about that,” — Steve Jones, guitarist, Sex Pistols
- “Why don’t you check out the US release of my documentary, I Was a Teenage Sex Pistol, loosely based on the still available book of the same name I wrote in the ‘90s? It tells the tale of my contribution to the band, which I think without it the group wouldn’t have had the success it had. For anybody interested in the birth of British punk and its effect on the then wider music scene, I’d suggest it’s essential viewing — but then I would say that!” — Glen Matlock
What’s Next: 50th-Anniversary Tour
Following the documentary’s release, the reconstituted Sex Pistols—Steve Jones, Paul Cook, Glen Matlock, and vocalist Frank Carter—will embark on a 50th-anniversary North-American tour, beginning September 11 in Dallas and concluding October 18 in Hollywood. The tour is positioned as a celebration of the band’s influence on punk culture and a platform for the documentary’s themes to reach a broader audience.
