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Sex Pistols' bassist Glen Matlock, who is also responsible for writing the majority of the Pistols well known punk rock anthems, is coming to Hampton's Vintage Bistro for a guaranteed sell out show on Monday, December 7.

A few weeks ago this column featured the Vintage as an exciting new venue that not only knocks out some incredible food but has also been bringing some exciting musical acts to the stage. Since that column the Vintage has announced some exciting new shows that are solidifying its place on the provincial live music scene.

New upcoming dates at the Vintage include tonight's (Thursday, Nov. 12) stop of the Guess Who's Driving Tour featuring Kim Wempe and Carmen Mikol that has been winning over fans as the two singer/songwriters traverse the nation. Neil Youngs' sister Astrid will make a stop on Tuesday, Nov. 17 and Jane Sibbery (who now goes by the moniker Issa) makes an appearance Tuesday, Dec. 15.

Last week I got an e-mail from Jeff Liberty who does promotion and booking for the Vintage introducing a roster of upcoming shows that included an appearance by the man behind songs that changed the face of popular music forever. I had to do a double take.

The history of the Sex Pistols is legendary. While not 100 per cent free of mythmaking, the saga of the Pistols is one of rock and roll's best stories to tell. Back in 1976 rock and roll music needed some excitement infused back into it. In the UK, progressive rock and horribly bland pop music had been ruling the charts. Rock and roll on that side of the pond had become boring, but something was bubbling under the surface that was about to explode into pop culture consciousness and forever change the landscape.

An odd combination of events were lining up to create a tipping point. The hit parade featured the likes of the Bay City Rollers. England was awash in high unemployment rates, London was in the grips of a lengthy garbage collecting strike in the midst of a heat wave and the Queens' Silver Jubilee was about to commence, giving the message to royal subjects that all was just dandy in Jolly Olde England.

Enter the Sex Pistols. Formed in a record shop and somewhat under the direction of manager/bullshit artist Malcom McClaren, an agent provocatuer who had a knack for understanding popular culture and outrage, the original line up of Glen Matlock, Steve Jones, Paul Cook and Johnny Rotten turned music and pop culture upside down. In an age of squeaky-clean pop songs or 14 minute progressive rock epics, the Pistols hammered out two and a half minute songs at a buzzsaw clip with thundering volume. But there was something that set these songs apart, they expressed anger and disgust at pretty much everything that came before them. The monarchy, the music industry, religion: all were targets in the Sex Pistols sites and people where taking notice.

The Sex Pistols' live shows were the start of what would be later dubbed punk rock. Their appearance and behaviour was outrageous for the day and taking such broad swipes at the establishment was generating tremendous response from the press. City councils were banning them from appearing in their towns. An explosive swearing match on a television talk show now known as 'the Grundy Incident' showed all of England that punk rock was rude and crude and in your neighbourhood.

While the establishment cited the Pistols as the demise of all that is good on this earth, music lovers bought up their singles and pushed them to number one on the UK record charts. When that happened the Pistols were rewarded with seeing the number one spot left blank that week. The Pistols were too hot to handle.

Despite having written the songs that would make the Sex Pistols legendary, Glen Matlock was fired from the band and replaced with Sid Vicious on bass. The story of Matlock being sacked differs depending on whom you are listening to. Some cite his love of the Beatles as the reason, others point to Vicious being a better media villain. Matlock maintains that he left on his own accord "sick of all of the bullshit".

With a talentless heroin addict on bass, the Pistols got signed to a major label, released Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols, toured America and imploded. Years of legal battles saw the band getting ownership of their assets back from Malcolm McLaren and the Pistols reformed in 1996 for the Filthy Lucre tour with the original lineup, including Matlock on bass. They still play live to this day and have entered the video game arena where their songs are now featured on Guitar Hero.

Glen Matlock continues on with his solo projects including his one-man acoustic show that he's bringing to the Vintage Bistro in December. Matlock will be playing his songs (Anarchy in the UK, God Save the Queen, Pretty Vacant etc) and telling tales from his days as a teenaged Sex Pistol.

It's not often that you get to see someone who was at ground zero for the start of any movement or cultural phenomenom. Glen Matlock is one such person and this will be an opportunity not to be missed.

There are only 55 seats available at the Vintage and tickets are $30 per.

If your NB based musical act, event or venue would like to be featured in this column, please contact the palacial NB Beat offices at oneyearofnbmusic@yahoo.ca