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Sex Pistols’ legendary ‘Filthy Lucre Live’ album to be reissued with bonus tracks
Developed over time first seen 4 months ago
The Sex Pistols have announced a reissue of their 1996 live album 'Filthy Lucre Live' to mark 30 years since the band's unexpected reunion. The record captured the performance by Johnny Rotten, Steve Jones, Paul Cook and Glen Matlock at London's Finsbury Park on 23 June 1996, one of the decade's most surprising comebacks, coming two decades after the group's original break-up. Guitarist Steve Jones said the album proved the band were "a powerhouse", countering long-standing claims that the Pistols could not play.
The reissue is due on 20 November via UMR as a 2LP red vinyl set and single CD, adding the bonus tracks 'No Fun' (a cover of The Stooges) and 'Buddies' (a crowd version of 'Bodies') for the first time on this release, having previously appeared only as Japanese bonus tracks. The Finsbury Park setlist drew heavily on 1977's 'Never Mind The Bollocks', and the show took place amid Euro '96 fever, with England footballers Stuart Pearce and Gareth Southgate introducing the band. The news comes as Cook, Jones and Matlock currently tour with singer Frank Carter, a line-up John Lydon has repeatedly dismissed as "karaoke" and a "tribute act".
In short
- Sex Pistols' 1996 'Filthy Lucre Live' reissued 20 November for 30th anniversary.
- Two bonus tracks, 'No Fun' and 'Buddies', added to the release.
- Current band tours with Frank Carter, drawing criticism from John Lydon.
How this story developed
- 4 months ago The Sex Pistols have announced a reissue of their 1996 live album 'Filthy Lucre Live' to mark 30 years since the band's unexpected reunion.
Explained simply
The Sex Pistols were a pioneering British punk rock band formed in the mid-1970s who became cultural icons for their rebellious image and raw musical style. The group, featuring Johnny Rotten on vocals, Steve Jones on guitar, Paul Cook on drums, and Glen Matlock on bass, released one influential album in 1977 before breaking up, though their impact on music and popular culture remained significant.
In 1996, nearly two decades later, the band reunited unexpectedly for a concert at London's Finsbury Park. The performance was significant because it demonstrated the original line-up could still deliver powerful live performances, challenging the common perception that the Pistols were not particularly skilled musicians.
In recent years, tensions have emerged within the band over its direction and legacy, with former singer John Lydon publicly opposing the other members' touring activities with a replacement vocalist. This ongoing disagreement reflects differing views on how the band's heritage should be managed and what constitutes an authentic Sex Pistols performance.
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