I Was a Teenage Sex Pistol: Matlock, Glen, Silverton, Peter: 9781906615352: Amazon.com: Books (original) (raw)
Customers say
Customers find the book well worth reading and enjoyable. They describe the story as interesting, concise, and fascinating. Readers praise the writing style as colorful, enjoyable, and descriptive. Overall, they describe it as a fun read.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
10 customers mention "Readability"10 positive0 negative
Customers find the book well worth reading, enjoyable, and cool to read about it first-hand. They say it's the best Pistols book out there and a valuable addition to the volumes written by people who were not involved.
"...I really think this is the best Pistols book out there. No sensationalism or grandeur at all. Just a musician telling his story...." Read more
"...It was a historical time in music though and is very cool to read about it with the first hand experiences." Read more
"...Little known facts revealed. Great book! Great great great great." Read more
"...Yes! Well worth the time to read, even if it disappoints you on some levels because Matlock doesn't give the reader the nonsense they're wanting..." Read more
7 customers mention "Story quality"7 positive0 negative
Customers find the story interesting, clear, and concise. They also appreciate the anecdotes and funny road stories. Readers describe the book as fascinating, informative, and great fun.
"...part of the book covers the reunion, how they all got together, funny road stories. Many stories i hadnt read anywhere else...." Read more
"...Mr. M does a clear concise story on the start of the band and its influences from glam and the mod scene...." Read more
"...It's a great story, but clearly Matlock only scratched the surface of what actually happened." Read more
"...Honestly fascinating, informative and great fun. God save Glen Matlock." Read more
6 customers mention "Writing style"6 positive0 negative
Customers find the writing style well-written, colorful, and enjoyable. They say the first-person writing is descriptive and accurate. Readers also mention the book is very British.
"...GM's writing is colorful with tons of London slang (could use a glossary) and lots of anecdotes of other stars of the era..." Read more
"Felt like I was there…very descriptive and accurate historical account. Little known facts revealed. Great book! Great great great great." Read more
"...This book is a lot of fun, much more plain spoken and substantial than either of Lydon's books (which I also enjoyed, but not nearly as much), the..." Read more
"...Glen's first person writing is enjoyable as he tells, in detail, of his upbringing, & his time in the Sex Pistols...." Read more
3 customers mention "Fun read"3 positive0 negative
Customers find the book a fun read.
"...All very entertaining reads but different amounts of salt required for each, John's requiring far more than a pinch almost throughout." Read more
"...This book is a lot of fun, much more plain spoken and substantial than either of Lydon's books (which I also enjoyed, but not nearly as much), the..." Read more
"This was a fun read, an autobiography of a member of the notorious, though actually short lived punk band...." Read more
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Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2020
I've been a serious Pistols enthusiast for over 20 years, consuming as much on them as i could get since they have such a unique little story. Well everyone is sleeping on this book. Until Paul Cook writes his memoir, this is fhe only sane account of the Pistols saga available. Let's face it, John Lydon is as big of a BS'er as Mclaren was. (He's actually worse cause people do respect and listen to him). Steve Jone's life story is worth reading even if you have no idea who the Pistols were. I was actually actually surprised how little of it had to do with the Pistols but still managed to be so good (Unfortunately for him, because he had such a messed up life from early on).
Yet here is the memoir of "the normal one". The one they made fun of. Glenn knows what he's selling and he delivers. He keeps the details of his life minimal and delivers. Find out how he ended up working for Mclaren (because he didnt take speed). Yes some of his anecdotes are kinda un interesting, specially if you are not familiar with 1970's British pop culture. As a non Brit, i am unfamiliar with many of the names and places he mentions. Im sure a Brit will understand some passages better than i. He tells you how he met Jones and the band. He focuses on the music. He let's you know without bragging that he was the creative force behind the music. He tells you about the writing process, band dynamics. Tgis is a book for people who like the Pistols because of THE MUSIC!! All Sid Vicious marks, Fashion victims, And consumers of Tabloid nonsense and Mclaren fantasy Swindles need not apply! ( He does have nice things to say about Sid,since they actually got along, and gives credit to Mclaren when it's due). He has interesting observations, such as when he mentions that Jones & Cook didnt even notoce when their band got taken away from them. Actually when the Pistols star taking off, Jones and Cook fade into the background (which fits with the brevity of the Pistols years in Jones' memoir). It becomes the Rotten & Mclaren show. Poor Glenn had no chance! Like the song says: "No one is innocent" this book makes you feel less sorry for John Lydon and Steve Jones, since they practically handed over the band to Mclaren in a silver platter. He reffers to the Filth and the fury as "John's side of the story". However Glenn never comes accross as bitter, and he seems to be fair and as imparcial as possible. This is as close to an imparcial and indepth analysis of the whole situation from someone who was there as you will get. This Matlock guy seems way deeper, smarter and inteligent than pretentious John Lydon could ever portray himself as on TV.
The latter part of the book covers the reunion, how they all got together, funny road stories. Many stories i hadnt read anywhere else. I really think this is the best Pistols book out there. No sensationalism or grandeur at all. Just a musician telling his story. Perfect antidote for all the other 'bollocks'
6 people found this helpful
Reviewed in the United States on October 3, 2015
If you have any interest in the period of music known as punk rock, this is a must read. In fact if you have any interest in pop culture, contemporary music and or the history of rock and roll, IWATSP should at the very least be on your list somewhere.
Mr. M does a clear concise story on the start of the band and its influences from glam and the mod scene. You get the feeling they just wanted to have a band and only later did the angry confrontational part kick in. Its also useful as mostly its been Mr. Lydon with his two fine books to have written on the band and the times but GM is a great counterpart. He and Lydon clearly had friction but also it appears respect. In any case its useful to get a different side of the story. The truth is probably a composite of the two.
GM's writing is colorful with tons of London slang (could use a glossary) and lots of anecdotes of other stars of the era (Siouxie, Billy idol, Freddie Mercury, Chrissie Hynde and so on).
odd now that the book has a sentimental tinge to it. The band didnt last very long even after Matlock leaves. But then maybe that is because the pistols were really genuine. Prefab bands shrink wrapped last much longer. They did do a few reunion tours but not new material. 1976 is almost 40 years ago now. It was a historical time in music though and is very cool to read about it with the first hand experiences.
3 people found this helpful
Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2023
Felt like I was there…very descriptive and accurate historical account. Little known facts revealed. Great book! Great great great great.
Reviewed in the United States on September 22, 2015
Matlock glosses over much of the band's history and is equally unwilling to give more than very superficial impressions of the principal characters--considering how much time he spent with them, and the impact they've had on rock'n'roll history. It's a great story, but clearly Matlock only scratched the surface of what actually happened.
One person found this helpful
Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2018
Reading first chapter i thought i'd made a big mistake having just read John and then Steve's accounts of the Sex Pistol years but i should have realised Glen's style was always going to be very different from theirs; it just takes a little adjustment. Suitably acclimatised subsequent chapters became increasingly entertaining.
Glen's account appears far more balanced, certainly much more so than John's who's personality was forever changed by fame, for better or worse, but mainly worse.
If you truly want an inside look into band dynamics, personalities and moving from zero-to-hero and back again in some cases then Glen's book is the one for you followed by Steve's and then John's. All very entertaining reads but different amounts of salt required for each, John's requiring far more than a pinch almost throughout.
6 people found this helpful
Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2017
Matlock tells his story his way, with no filters and no extra filler. He says what he wants to say and leaves it at that. Is this the definitive tome on the Sex Pistols? No, but I doubt we'll ever get one. Is it a valuable addition to the volumes that have been written by people who weren't there? Yes! Well worth the time to read, even if it disappoints you on some levels because Matlock doesn't give the reader the nonsense they're wanting to hear about someone he doesn't deem worthy of talking about. And good on him for it.
One person found this helpful
Top reviews from other countries
5.0 out of 5 stars Straight from the horse's mouth!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 8, 2024
I cannot get enough of Glen's writing. He was there, and what a story he has to tell!! Funny and exciting, it is such an interesting read. He feels like a mate after reading this. Recommended!!
5.0 out of 5 stars Autobiografia di Glen Matlock in Inglese
Reviewed in Italy on February 2, 2024
Questa autobiografia in Inglese, scritta da Glen Matlock, è molto gustosa. Il personaggio è mitico: la maggior parte dei brani dei Sex Pistols sono stati scritti da lui. Ha fatto parte della prima formazione e poi ha lasciato il posto di bassista a Sid Vicious. Ma Glen è un "signore" e racconta i retroscena senza astio e con giusto orgoglio.
5.0 out of 5 stars I was a Teenage Sex Pistol fan
Reviewed in Germany on July 13, 2022
And I’m still a fan, just an old one. Having read John and Steve’s books, as well as Viv Albertine’s Clothes, Music, Boys, which gives a lot more background about Sid, I thought it’d be time to read Glen’s book. It was a quick read and a thoroughly enjoyable one. I’m glad that he went on to have a decent career in music, and not go down the road of Pete Best the milkman.
5.0 out of 5 stars I was a teeenage sex pistol
Reviewed in Spain on May 19, 2017
entretenida autobiografía de Glen matlock,Bajista de los Sex pistols pre-sid vicious.bien ambientada en el Londres de los 70,anecdotas divertidas,buen trabajo,Mr Matlock.
5.0 out of 5 stars Headline (required)
Reviewed in Japan on January 25, 2019
I read the original version over 20 years ago. Still the most lucid and probably the most honest telling of the Pistols story - I’ve read them all. Not as punchy or interesting as John or Steve’s books, but the best version to read to get just the facts.