The wait is over for fans – 30 years on from their jaw-dropping reunion, The Sex Pistols are unleashing a reissue of 'Filthy Lucre Live', an album that captured the raw energy of their electrifying live show at London's Finsbury Park back in 1996. And to celebrate this momentous anniversary, UMR will be releasing this punk rock classic on November 20th – get ready for a sonic explosion!
This revamped edition of 'Filthy Lucre Live' is set to be a must-have for any die-hard Pistols fan, coming in a 2LP red vinyl set and single CD format. And for the first time ever, it will include two previously Japan-only bonus tracks – 'No Fun', their rip-roaring rendition of The Stooges' classic, and crowd-surfing anthem 'Buddies', a euphoric take on 'Bodies'.
The 1996 Finsbury Park show was a game-changer, seeing Johnny Rotten, Steve Jones, Paul Cook, and Glen Matlock reunite for the first time since their 1978 split. The setlist was a nostalgic trip down memory lane, chock-full of iconic tracks from their groundbreaking 1977 album 'Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols', including fan favourites like 'Anarchy In The U.K.', 'God Save The Queen', 'Holidays In The Sun', and 'Pretty Vacant'.
Looking back on the reunion, guitarist Steve Jones recalled that the 'Filthy Lucre' shows were a chance to silence their critics once and for all – proving that they still had what it took to rock. And drummer Paul Cook added that the tour's name was a cheeky nod to their punk rock heritage – a reference to a 1976 Daily Express headline that described punk music as 'filthy lucre'.
The original reunion tour was an historic moment in British music, coinciding with the height of Britpop and the national excitement surrounding Euro '96. And it's no surprise that the likes of football legends Stuart Pearce and Gareth Southgate were more than happy to introduce the band on stage at Finsbury Park.
This reissue arrives as part of an ongoing punk rock revival, with Cook, Jones, and Matlock currently touring alongside Frank Carter – bringing their unique take on 'Never Mind The Bollocks' to audiences across the UK and North America. With a series of major live dates scheduled for this year, including headline slots at Manchester's Castlefield Bowl, Cardiff Castle, and the Isle of Wight Festival, it's clear that The Sex Pistols are still very much in the game – 50 years on from the punk rock explosion.