Glen Matlock, founding bassist of the Sex Pistols, is releasing his documentary 'I Was a Teenage Sex Pistol' on digital streaming platforms on May 26. The film offers his perspective on the band's story, featuring interviews with key punk figures. Pre-orders begin on Apple TV on May 12.
Four years after the FX miniseries Pistol presented guitarist Steve Jones's take on the Sex Pistols, directed by Danny Boyle, Matlock has partnered with directors Andre Relis and Nick Mead for his own account. The documentary includes new interviews with Matlock, Jones, drummer Paul Cook, Billy Idol, Debbie Harry, and other punk scene notables. It draws loosely from Matlock's 1996 memoir of the same name, which he wrote to address his overlooked role in the band's early success and the internal politics that followed. Matlock co-wrote much of the group's 1977 album Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols, though he appears only on 'Anarchy in the UK' and left before most recordings. In a statement, Matlock said, “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.” He added that the film features peers to convey his side, bringing him a sense of vindication now that the band has reformed in new lineups. Matlock has criticized Pistol for misportraying his exit, claiming he chose to leave amid conflicts with John Lydon and manager Malcolm McLaren. He told Rolling Stone in 2025, “I told Danny Boyle what really happened and he totally ignored me.” Jones acknowledged this to the same outlet, noting, “Glen and I talked about it, but he’s never going to be happy about that.” The band, now touring with Frank Carter on vocals, plans a US tour this fall after Jones recovered from a wrist injury.
