Sex Pistols and Frank Carter have kicked off their run of Bush Hall shows, and switched up the lyrics to classic track ‘God Save The Queen’. Check it out below, as well as their brief cameo from Yungblud.
Taking place on Tuesday night (August 13), the gig marked the first of their three sold-out shows at London’s Bush Hall, and saw Carter and Sex Pistols‘ Glen Matlock, Paul Cook and Steve Jones perform ‘Never Mind The Bollocks’ in its entirety.
While they did not perform the album’s tracklist in chronological order, they did play every song featured, including their cover of The Stooges‘ ‘No Fun’.
One standout moment though was the rendition of the 1977 classic track ‘God Save The Queen’, which not only starred an impromptu appearance from Yungblud, but also saw Carter switch up the lyrics to “God save the King”.
Coming eighth in the setlist – following on from ‘Liar’ and ahead of ‘Submission’ – the punk hit was adapted by the new frontman to reflect the current UK monarch, King Charles III.
Check out footage from the set and the full setlist below.
Sex Pistols and Frank Carter’s August 13 setlist was:
1. ‘Holidays in the Sun’
2. ‘Seventeen’
3. ‘New York’
4. ‘Pretty Vacant’
5. ‘Bodies’
6. ‘Did You No Wrong’
7. ‘Liar’
8. ‘God Save the Queen’ (Lyrics changed to fit “God Save The King”, and with a cameo from Yungblud)
9. ‘Submission’
10. ‘Satellite’
11. ‘No Feelings’
12. ‘E.M.I.’
13. ‘Problems’
14. ‘No Fun’ (The Stooges cover)
15. ‘Anarchy in the U.K.’
The shows were announced to raise funds for the historic Shepherd’s Bush venue. In late July, it was revealed that thanks to some crowdfunding and the success of the Sex Pistols shows, the independent London venue is continuing to make plans for the months ahead. All proceeds from the ‘Never Mind The Bollocks’ shows have gone to help the venue’s long-term cultural output.
It comes after the future of the venue was put under threat, and it seemed increasingly likely in recent months that it may close down for good. Earlier this year, for instance, it revealed that it needed to raise £42,000 through crowdfunding to prevent it from losing its music status.
Speaking about the historic venue coming under threat, Carter spoke to NME at Download Festival 2024 and said that supporting grassroots venues like Bush Hall is a cause that has always been a cause close to his heart.
“It’s important for me to support grassroots venues, always,” Carter explained. “Now though, it’s most prevalent because they’ve been so let down by the government. There is no funding for arts. No funding for the places where arts happen.”
Bush Hall, located in the Shepherd’s Bush neighbourhood of West London, was established in 1904 and became a music venue in 2001. It has hosted gigs by the likes of R.E.M, Amy Winehouse, Florence & The Machine, Adele, The Killers and Nick Cave. It was also the venue for one of Kings Of Leon’s first UK shows in 2003.
The shows from Frank Carter and Sex Pistols continued last night (August 14), and again tonight (15).
Following an “overwhelming response” to the gigs, Sex Pistols and Carter this week confirmed that they’ll be returning to the capital for another live concert. The band are due to take to the stage at the O2 Forum Kentish Town on Thursday, September 26.