Sex Pistols' Glen Matlock says pro-Trump punks are 'weird'

Glen Matlock told BBC Radio 4's Today program he is surprised to see punk musicians who are pro-Trump, calling it "a bit weird," and he praised Irish hip-hop group Kneecap for pushing boundaries despite controversy.

Glen Matlock, the Sex Pistols' bass guitarist, said he is surprised by punk musicians who support President Donald Trump. He made the remarks during an interview on BBC Radio 4's Today program. Matlock reflected on the Sex Pistols' rise in the 1970s and said the band sought to stir things up amid a troubled musical scene. He also commented that the punk genre has broadened and that mainstream outlets often limit boundary-pushing music. What was reported: - Matlock said he is "constantly surprised" by how many punks on his Facebook appear to be pro-Trump and called that situation "a bit weird." - He recalled that the Sex Pistols were "fed up" with the musical landscape in the 1970s and tried to have a laugh and provoke a reaction. - Matlock described contemporary punk as a "very broad church" and said some punks and early influencers may have "got the wrong end of the stick." - He criticized media outlets and record companies for shutting down artists who push boundaries and called much radio music "quite vacuous." - Matlock named Irish hip-hop group Kneecap as an example of an act that stands apart and is pushing boundaries; the group has shown pro-Palestinian, anti-Israeli stances at festivals, faced backlash from U.K. politicians, and was barred from entering Hungary. Summary: Matlock's comments underline political and artistic divisions within contemporary punk and a sense that the genre has shifted from earlier eras. He praised Kneecap for standing out even as their political expressions generated controversy in recent years. Undetermined at this time.