SPILL LIVE REVIEW: SEX PISTOLS FEATURING FRANK CARTER w/ PANIC SHACK @ HISTORY, TORONTO

SEX PISTOLS FEATURING FRANK CARTER w/ PANIC SHACK

@ HISTORY, TORONTO

SEPTEMBER 21, 2026

While an actual Sex Pistols reunion continues to remain impossible, the band, consisting of guitarist Steve Jones, drummer Paul Cook, and bassist Glen Matlock, has reconvened, bringing modern punk icon, Frank Carter, along with them. As a result, the Anarchy In The U.K. 50 Years Of Punk tour is a spectacular celebration of one of the genre’s most foundational bands and their sold-out stop at Toronto’s History demonstrated the intergenerational appeal behind the legacy of the Sex Pistols.

Opening the show was Panic Shack. Hailing from Cardiff, Wales, the five-piece, female fronted band took the stage to a packed venue. Over the course of their thirty-minute set, they displayed a sound reminiscent of classic punk – making for a great pairing with the headliner – while some heavier tracks gave them a more modern edge. Lead singer, Sarah Harvey, led the band with raw aggression with an underlying sardonic tone. Their set included “Gok Wan,” “Thelma & Louise,” “Who’s Got My Lighter?,” “Pockets,” and their most recent single, “Grin And Bear It.”

The Sex Pistols followed, walking on stage to thunderous cheers and applause. A quick scan of the audience told you everything you needed to know; History was full of lifers and new fans alike. The Sex Pistols have not toured since 2008, and despite some touring from ’96 to ’08, the band really has not toured extensively beyond 1978. Regardless of where you fell on the generational spectrum, there was an excitement in the air that stemmed from the surprise that this was happening; in many ways, this was a bucket list concert, a once in a lifetime opportunity. The band opened with “Holidays In The Sun” where Carter snarled with a level of angst and amusement, very much akin to that of original vocalist, Johnny Rotten. As he spit and snarled, Carter immediately proved his worth as a singer while showing the audience just why Jones, Cook, and Matlock saw in him. There was no moment of awkward transitions or shifts in expectations, Carter was Rotten, and then some. This was further seen when he jumped into the audience, forming a circle pit around him as he sang “Pretty Vacant.” The mosh pit would persist in glorious fashion for the rest of their set.

The Sex Pistols, simply put, sounded fantastic. Jones created a distorted wall of sound while Cook and Matlock held the rhythm section together, allowing for Carter’s melodies to soar above. There was power in their performance, something that age has failed to hinder. Highlights from their performance included “E.M.I.,” a trio of covers – Paul Revere And The Raider’s “I’m Not Your Stepping Stone,” The Stooges’ “No Fun,” featuring a fantastic, extended guitar solo from Jones, and a stirring rendition of Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” – “No Feelings,” with Carter emptying the pit, inviting just women to have a safe and joyous moshing experience, and “Bodies.” Naturally, the band performed both quintessential Pistols’ tracks, “God Save The Queen” and “Anarchy In The U.K.,” the latter of which featured Comeback Kid’s Andrew Neufeld on vocals. The pair of songs that remain the benchmark of punk rebellion and some of the best to emerge from the genre.

With Carter fronting, the Sex Pistols put on a fantastic show that refused to pull any punches. By performing Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols, almost in its entirety – minus just “Sub-Mission” – the Anarchy In The U.K. 50 Years Of Punk tour truly is a celebration of the legacy of not just the Pistols, but also punk rock. To sing the “no future” refrain from “God Save The Queen” with two thousand people amid the turmoil of our modern world was to understand the enduring relevancy of the Sex Pistols in a way that nothing else could perhaps demonstrate. While there is no telling how far this will continue, the Sex Pistols featuring Frank Carter truly is a powerfully special live experience, making for an absolutely must see punk spectacle.

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Main Photo Credit: Henry Ruggeri | Background Photo Credit: Sex Pistols