The sun is hot enough to melt lead and Billy Idol, spiky hair and punk lip still intact, is wearing a huge black leather jacket live on the Other Stage. It can only be Generation Sex, where he’s joined by Sex Pistols’ Paul Cook and Steve Jones and Generation X’s Tony James. That Billy keeps this emblematic yet sweaty punk device on for as long as he does shows a commitment that you suspect would defeat lesser bands.
With a setlist cherry-picked from both band’s catalogues, and opening with a searing Pretty Vacant, it’s unlikely to go wrong and it doesn’t. Cook remains a powerful drummer and Jones’ churning riffs sound freshly-coined, with Idol a knowing avatar for Pistols songs including Silly Thing, Black Leather and Problems alongside Generation X’s King Rocker, Dancing With Myself and the rest.
It’s a stirring smash and grab of a set, though at one point Jonesy has a technical hitch and takes off his guitar, which has the word ‘Rotten’ painted on the body. Written on the back of the guitar? ‘C*nt.’ Tony James, meanwhile, seems to have a picture of snooker star Ronnie O’Sullivan on the head of his bass.
With screen images including the band in the heyday of punk, a Sniffin’ Glue cover and pimply pogoers with ’70s faces, God Save The Queen’s invocation of no future and England’s Dreaming continues to pose questions, while Gen X’s Wild Youth has a different resonance when played by men in their sixties. Also played is My Way, as sung by Sid Vicious on The Great Rock ‘n’ Roll Swindle soundtrack, and the defiance wins out over the mawkishness.
Briefly a picture of late Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren, wearing his CASH FROM CHAOS t-shirt, appears onscreen. Had he been here, McLaren may well have approved – Generation Sex really did give it some bollocks, and they didn’t even play Anarchy In The UK.
Our Friday Glastonbury 2023 reviews: the Arctic Monkeys is here. Foo Fighters is here. And our review of Friday at Glastonbury: Sparks, The Hives, Alabaster DePlume and Mozart Estate is here.
Our Saturday Glastonbury 2023 reviews: Lana Del Rey is here. Guns N' Roses is here. The Pretenders is here.
Join us back here tomorrow for all the action from Sunday, including Elton John and much more.
And catch up with our expedition to the wilder corners of Glastonbury on Thursday here.
Photo: Anna Barclay