Does Matlock have Irish blood? “John’s the only Pad in the band,” he sighs. I tell him how ironic it is for John Lydon to espouse the virtues of Brexit. Inevitably, we turn to the dreaded “B” word, still making headlines more than half a decade after it was voted on. Matlock is ringing from England and quickly gauges that I’m Irish. “They’re saying we should get The Sex Pistols back together, but I’m like, ‘Do I really wanna share a stage with someone championing Farage ?’ I’m guessing the Guinness and Beamish have influenced some of John’s choices.” As bassist and chief songwriter for The Sex Pistols, Matlock can likely relate to this predicament, especially since the band’s lead singer has been making headlines for all the wrong reasons. Matlock’s referring, of course, to the Band Aid fracas, where Geldof walked off with Midge Ure’s thunder.
But if it happened to me, then it probably happened to Midge.” Talking’s like playing lead guitar or being an Olympic athlete, there’s an aptitude to it, and some people have the gift of the gab. There are these pregnant pauses, where you think you can get some words in, but you don’t. “I like Bob a lot, he’s a good bloke, but it’s hard to get a word in edgeways. “I did an interview with Bob Geldof a few weeks ago,” says singer-songwriter Glen Matlock.