Glen Matlock Praises Kneecap and Slams Pro-Trump Punk as “Weird”

Glen Matlock, bassist and founding member of the Sex Pistols, has praised Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap while criticising what he calls the “weird” embrace of right-wing politics by some people in the punk scene — including his former bandmate John Lydon.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4 Today, Matlock reflected on how punk began as a reaction to social and political frustration in the 1970s. He said those early days, much like now, were marked by political tension and the rise of the far right.

“We were fed up with what was going on musically and socially,” Matlock said, explaining that punk was about stirring things up, challenging authority and having some fun along the way.

“It’s strange seeing punks back Trump”

Matlock said he finds it hard to understand why some people who identify as punk now support figures like Donald Trump.

“It’s kind of weird,” he said. “I’m constantly surprised by how many punks I see who are pro-Trump. A lot of people have got the wrong end of the stick.”

He added that punk was always a broad and diverse movement, stretching musically from bands like Talking Heads to The Slits, but said its core values were never about backing powerful right-wing politicians.

Kneecap praised for punk spirit

When asked whether rebellious music still exists today, Matlock said it does — but artists who truly push boundaries rarely get mainstream attention.

“The media and record companies have got very good at shutting out things that challenge the norm,” he said, adding that much of what gets played on the radio now feels “vacuous”.

He singled out Kneecap as an exception, praising the group for carrying a genuine punk attitude.

“Whatever you feel about them, at least they’re pushing it,” he said.

Kneecap later welcomed Matlock’s comments, joking that he is “way f***ing sounder than Johnny Rotten”.

Contrast with John Lydon

Matlock’s comments stand in sharp contrast to those of Lydon, who has publicly praised Trump in the past and once described him as “the Sex Pistols of politics”. Lydon, now fronting Public Image Ltd., has also spoken positively about figures such as Nigel Farage.

Lydon has previously attacked Kneecap over their pro-Palestinian statements on stage, making comments the band strongly criticised.

“Did he really mean the lyrics?”

Matlock said Lydon’s political stance helped confirm long-held doubts he had about his former bandmate.

“John was fantastic back then and wrote great lyrics,” Matlock said. “But did he really mean them? I never found him that sincere.”

Politics, consequences, and the future

Speaking previously to NME, Matlock linked modern politics to the title of his solo album Consequences Coming, suggesting some leaders will eventually face backlash for their actions.

He said claims that “the right is the new left” — arguments he heard after Boris Johnson became prime minister — showed how people had been “hoodwinked”.

Meanwhile, the Sex Pistols are marking 50 years since their breakthrough, touring with Frank Carter as frontman. Kneecap, for their part, have promised a brand-new album and major plans for 2026.

Despite the changing times, Matlock made one thing clear: for him, punk was never about siding with power — it was about questioning it.