Never Mind The Walkers - Frank Carter And Sex Pistols Rock The Fillmore

If you told the teenage version of me that one day I would not only see the Sex Pistols live but also get to photograph them, my typical Austrian response would have been: “Ham’s da ins Hirn gschissen?” (Did someone take a shit in your brain?). Not only had the band broken up, Sid Vicious was dead, and Johnny Rotten wanted nothing to do with the band. I played some of their songs at High School dances (DJing with a double cassette player) and they never failed to shock the more proper kids (Austria was pretty conservative at that time).

It’s been decades but Sex Pistol songs still get turned louder and I had to explain to my kids why a bitey hamster was named Sid Viscious. Well miracles do happen and after last year’s aborted tour, I got my approval e-mail a few days ago, and have been riding that high ever since. 

Starcrawler started the evening. A favorite of other photographers at TCM, it was my first time seeing them. Their speed and energy set the pace for the evening. A curve ball for me was “If You're Gonna Be Dumb, You Gotta Be Tough” with a distinct country vibe - turns out this one was written for a Jackass Soundtrack - the title certainly fits. I loved their cover of The Ramone's Pet Semetary. Their set was fun mix of rock with some punk vibes and perfectly set the mood for the main act.

The big question in my (and probably everyone’s) was: How will Frank Carter approach the role of Sex Pistols singer, when Johnny Rotten set the standard decades ago and it’s been burned into people’s minds. I wasn’t very familiar with his work before the show and had deliberately stayed away from watching concert videos of the current tour. As one journalist described him: "He may be a grown-up and a dad now, but he’s still capable of being a figurehead for the pissed-off youth who are too young to have had the Sex Pistols". Within the first few seconds I found that quote so accurate. Carter was not trying to step into someone else’s role. He was a natural fit for this spot. 

He maintained his own style, most evident when he ventured into the crowd for “Pretty Vacant”. Jokes were flowing as he directed the crowd to form a circle pit. with references to everyone ages and the lack of universal healthcare in the US. By the looks of it, it was their first pit in a long time (or ever) for many of them. He joked about 5’7 energy and having to go back on stage. 

During “God Save The Queen” came the only moment I missed Rotten’s vocals. Carter was dead on vocally, but the original just carried so much disdain for the monarchy. But this is really nitpicking. There was not a thing to complain about. The Sex Pistols original members may be of a certain age, but the sound a vibes coming from stage took me back to my youth.

So kids, if your grandparents, bosses, or teachers move a bit slow today, they probably had a wilder time than you did last night.