Photo Credit: Nel Cummings

Not only did they start the punk movement in the UK, they are also still to this day, one of the greatest bands to come out of Britain. Sex Pistols may only have one studio album to their name, but they continue to remain relevant to this day. Influencing many bands over the years after their disbandment in 1978 and several reunions since, the band performed a special fundraiser at Bush Hall back in 2024 with former Gallows/Pure Love/Rattlesnakes frontman Frank Carter. Now two years later and numerous runs across the globe together, Sex Pistols featuring Frank Carter took to the outdoor stages in 2026 with a special appearance at The Piece Hall in Halifax during the British heatwave.

Punks new and old flocked to the picturesque West Yorkshire venue, ready for a night filled with attitude, anarchy and authority. That is what the Sex Pistols bring no matter where they go. As the heroes of punk made their way onto the stage, Frank Carter made sure to give Cook, Matlock and Jones their own worthy entrance. Wasting no time in getting the ball rolling as the England game was on soon, ‘Holidays in the Sun‘ opened the set. With a fanbase that has followed the band from the start, the excitement of their return was certainly showcased at The Piece Hall. The entire front half of the courtyard were bouncing along, and with Frank Carter’s high intensity stage presence still continuing throughout every performance, everybody had something to cling on to for sure.

Tracks from their debut continued to flurry through, as ‘Seventeen‘ and ‘New York‘ kept the crowd entertained, it was ‘Pretty Vacant‘ that picked up the energy once again. The emotional ‘Bodies’ followed before a cover of ‘I’m Not Your Stepping Stone‘ came midway through the set. Carter may be the frontman, but the focus was on the Sex Pistols throughout. ‘God Save the Queen‘ had the entire courtyard screaming the words ahead of ‘No Fun‘, originally by The Stooges to much surprise. The songs continued to be churned out. No rest for the wicked.

As ‘E.M.I‘ and the final cover of the night, ‘My Way‘ finished, it was time for one more song. No time for an encore, the Sex Pistols went all out for ‘Anarchy in the U.K.‘ to conclude a triumphant return to Yorkshire and showing no matter who fronts the band, old school punks will always turn out to witness the greatest and much loved punk icons almost five decades on.

Photo Credit: Nel Cummings