This year promises to be an especially exciting 10th anniversary of Hastings Fat Tuesday as original bassist and main songwriter for the Sex Pistols, Glen Matlock, will be headlining Tuesday night, performing at The London Trader, The Albion and The Carlisle.
Glen Matlock forever changed rock ‘n’ roll history at just 16 years of age when he wrote the music to all the Sex Pistols’ classics, including Anarchy In The UK and God Save The Queen. He co-wrote 10 of the 12 songs that featured on their classic punk debut “Never Mind the Bollocks! After leaving The Sex Pistols due to creative differences, he formed Rich Kids – whose line-up featured future Ultravox members Midge Ure and Rusty Egan plus The Clash’s Mick Jones – and released the highly influential Ghosts Of Princes In Towers in 1978.
He’s worked with Iggy Pop, released an album through Creation with his band The Philistines and was recruited to tour and record with The Faces, Wendy James and Viv Albertine. In 2018, Glen became one of the first UK musicians to perform in South Korea’s demilitarised zone. With Earl Slick and Slim Jim on board, his latest album, Good To Go, was released late last year and features the single, Keep On Pushing, which Steve Van Zandt picked for his Coolest Song In The World feature on his show Little Steven’s Underground Garage.
In a recent Q&A with Glen he was asked; Sex Pistols supported Budgie on Hastings Pier in the summer of 1976. What are your memories of that evening? “Not a lot really, it was so long ago. I do remember asking Budgie’s singer [Burke Shelley], who had a high voice, why they called their band that and he said, ‘It’s because I sound like a budgie’. His bass stack was about eight Vox AC30s on top of each other, which was a bit weird. I remember Malcolm McLaren [Sex Pistols’ manager] and Jamie Reid [who did the Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols artwork] were around. I’d been to Hastings as a kid. My grandparents had retired and moved to Hartley, which is near Cranbrook. I’d get a bottle of Coke and crisps and watch my granddad have a few pints and a plate of whelks. ”Who’ll be in your band at Fat Tuesday? “Chris Musto on drums, Jim Lowe on bass, I’m playing rhythm guitar and singing, and Neal X, who was guitarist in Sigue Sigue Sputnik.” We’re looking forward to playing Hastings. Can anyone recommend a decent chippy?”
Tuesday night doesn’t stop there, a raucous night of Mardi Gras madness, music, merry-making, and more music as Fat Tuesday culminates. Twelve venues host ‘The Fat Tuesday Tour’ where 24 bands play 20 minute sets in three venues each. Some of the other artists performing on the tour are; Beans On Toast, Sisterray, Animal Noise, Sister Susie, Marie White, Matilda’s Scoundrels, The Kiffs, Jamie Smart, Sabrina Gunston and Dr Savage.
High-caliber live music and DJs will ensure the festival goes out on a high – prepare to dance yourself into the small hours! The Great Fat Tuesday After Show Party is now infamous, and deservedly so; this year we welcome SAM CALVER at The Brass Monkey to lead the proceedings and in association with In The Woods – DJ’s DANNY RAMPLING, ILONA, King Sunny Ade P and special guests who will party with us till 4pm at Grand Elektra !!