2026 marked fifty years since the landmark gig that unknowingly would light a spark and ultimately pioneer and shape the direction that the Manchester music scene took. Joy Division, The Smiths, Creation, and Factory Records all have roots tied to the Sex Pistols' inaugural Lesser Free Trade Hall show. And each of those outfits went on to inspire their own domino effect of future bands: Oasis, Radiohead, The Stone Roses. A half-century and countless revivals later, The Sex Pistols are back delivering their incomparable punk sounds, but with a slightly different-looking line-up. The modern iteration features Frank Carter (of The Rattlesnakes) at the helm, accompanied by original members Steve Jones, Paul Cook, and Glen Matlock. 

Introducing the band that catalysed the birth of British punk would never be an easy role to fill, but, arguably, no one other than Dr John Cooper Clarke could've filled those shoes more perfectly. The quintet's arrival was prefaced by Clarke shuffling in the shadows, his hat peering just slightly past the precipice of the backstage curtains. Striding onto the stage, microphone in hand, the crowd waited with bated breath as he confidently and rhythmically proclaimed: "...on the other hand, shut the f**k up, it's the Sex Pistols". Met with thunderous applause and deafening cheers, the bard swiftly exited the stage but remained on the sidelines to witness the long-awaited return of the Sex Pistols to the capital of the North.

For those unfamiliar with Frank Carter's other musical avenues, namely Frank Carter and The Rattlesnakes, his role as frontman of the Sex Pistols may have been met with confusion, trepidation, or all-out repudiation. But those familiar with the gritty, punk-laced cuts that embellish his discography would wholeheartedly state that there's perhaps no one better. Not only did Carter do the legends' legacies justice, he won over the crowd. 

The night's setlist offered a re-jigged version of the band's only traditional studio record ('Never Mind The Bollocks... Here's The Sex Pistols'), with only a handful of omissions (including 'Submission' and 'Did You Do No Wrong'), that instead had carefully selected covers in their place (Paul Anka's 'My Way', and The Stooges' 'No Fun'). The opening snarl of 'Holidays In The Sun' set the tone for the entire evening - these weren't tired punk veterans emerging from retirement relying on a shiny new frontman to carry the energy, the original members mirrored Carters' infalliable preformance, turning the pavilion into a hair gel-filled, yellow and pink-tinged 1970's time capsule. 

Though the set was rightfully focused on the Sex Pistols, with the evening penned 'Sex Pistols and Frank Carter', it would be amiss if the latter didn't bring some of his Rattlesnakes' antics to the evening. Though his entrance into the crowd didn't come as a surprise – teased by stairs integrated into the stage – fans didn't quite expect him front-and-centre in the mosh pit that ensued during 'Pretty Vacant'. This exact moment pinpointed exactly why Carter was the perfect choice. He embraced the sweat, flying beers, uncoordinated limbs, and thrashed around with fans in a glorious rabble that celebrated the Sex Pistols' concrete musical impact. 

As the sun set over the Castlefield bowl, the sky spilling out the band's bold pinks and yellows, one thing remained clear. While frontmen aren't easily replaceable, the Sex Pistols rightfully placed their trust in Frank Carter to do John Lydon and Sid Vicious justice. And who knows? In another fifty years, we might be seeing the legacies of bands formed on this very night. 

 Lana Williams

@lanatakesphotos / @_lanaajade

Images: Lana Williams