This then was only my second time seeing Sex Pistols, the first time was at Finsbury Park in 1996. To be honest, having seen them once, with a brilliant supporting cast, I didn't feel a need to see them again when they played in 2002, 2007 and 2008. The decision to spend the day in Margate was more down to the idea of a day out than it was a burning desire to see the Pistols again. Of course The Stranglers were on the bill, so that is a given draw as was curiosity about the band without Lydon. Of course I have heard quite a few of the Frank Carter fronted gigs but not at first hand.
Getting to Dreamland in time to hear the last chords of 'Harmony In My Head', part by the magnetic draw of chatter with friends in the pub, and part by design, we were in good time for The Stranglers. They played a solid festival length set, no complaints, but nothing especially out of the ordinary to report, other than the fact that I was very impressed with the sound - excellent for an outdoor gig.
One issue with the organisation of the event, which was otherwise excellent, was the pausity of urininals. Such was the shortage that my first visit involved 20 minutes of queing! Still, it would be petty to grumble about such a trivial issue when the ladies have had to endure this situation for many years. Learning from my mistake I hot-footed it to the loos as soon as I heard the opening thump of 'No More Heroes'. This got me in and out within the duration of that last song. It also gave me the opportunity to enjoy the sight of a line of men old enough to know better standing at the urinals with one hand holding their knobs as their free hands punched the air as they bellowed out the chorus!
The summer light was fading and the garish illuminations around the Dreamland arena were painting the crowd multi-coloured as the 'God Save The Queen Symphony' opened up to herald the arrival of Sex Pistols. Opening with 'Holidays In The Sun' (a favourite from 'NMTB'), it was time to make a judgement call on Frank Carter. I have heard opinions across the spectrum from perfect to abysmal. Ultimately, I was a little ambivalent on the matter. For a start, how do you fill Rotten's shoes, you can't so don't try mimickry... and he didn't. To his credit he conduced the evening's proceedings well, the three musicians not engaging much with the audience. One critisism that I would have would be to do with this moshpit thing (something that didn't involve me on account of me being about 50 yards from where the action was!). At no punk gig that I have been to has it been necessary to orchestrate the activity at the front of the stage... that has always been spontaneous. How the mainly 60 plus audience responded to Frank's encouragement I cannot say, but I guess there was a run on Deep Heat the morning after!
As I said, I wasn't particularly hung up about whether the lead singer was great or not. For me the important thing was to take in the contribution of Matlock, Cook and Jones to the noise eminating from the stage. For sure the visual aspect of John Lydon and his attitude of contempt was a massive part of what set Sex Pistols apart from any other band at the time. But the music cannot be overlooked. Those songs played as they were, changed the music business.... for a while...until the biz clawed back control. The essential thing to remember is that those songs changed people... changed the way they acted and thought... for the rest of their lives. Punk as an attitude rather than a music scene. So, it was the fact that three of people that created that situation that had me enthrawled for an hour in the shadow of the rollercoaster and the illuminated Dreamland 'D'.
The track listing of 'Never Mind The Bollocks' was played out in full bar 'Submission' I think, with the set supplemented by a few choice tracks, not least by 'Silly Thing', the best song that the Sex Pistols never did!
God Save The Sex Pistols!
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