Under the microscope

Former Sex Pistol Glen Matlock, 61, answers our health quiz

CAN YOU RUN UP THE STAIRS?

I’M REASONABLY fit for my age. I walk about 12,000 steps a day and swim every day whenever I go on holiday. I’m certainly not a couch potato.

GET YOUR FIVE A DAY?

I TRY to. I’m not big on fruit, but I’ve always liked my vegetables, even during my Pistols days. I’ve just turned vegetarian, because I didn’t want to keep eating heavy meals.

EVER DIETED?

I’M ABOUT 5 ft 7in and weigh about 11¾st. I’d like to lose a bit of weight, but I don’t know what to cut out. The half a spoon of sugar in my coffee isn’t going to make much difference, is it?

ANY VICES?

I SMOKE a pack a day. I didn’t start until I was 24; with everyone else on the tour bus smoking away, I thought I may as well take up the habit, too. I drank too much, but I’ve been on the wagon for a long time. I don’t miss it.

ANY FAMILY AILMENTS?

ALZHEIMER’S. My father, who died aged 84 three years ago, had it — that was pretty horrible. My nan had it, too. So I try to keep my brain active by doing crosswords and writing songs. I don’t sit at home watching TV!

WORST ILLNESS/INJURY?

SOMEONE broke my nose after a gig (I’d left the Pistols by then) at a club in Blackpool in the Eighties. This bloke bumped into me, and the next thing I knew, hit me. I had no time to go to hospital because we were driving back to London that night. When I visited A&E ten days later because my nose was a bit crooked, I learned it had been broken. By then it had set, and I was told it was too late to fix it.

HEALTH BOOK THAT’S CHANGED YOUR LIFE?

I’M HALFWAY through Allen Carr’s Easy Way To Stop Smoking. I’d like to quit ciggies, but there’s a big difference between wanting to quit something and actually doing so.

POP ANY PILLS?

COD liver oil and multi-vitamins seem to keep me healthy.

HAD ANYTHING REMOVED?

NOTHING since my tonsils when I was five. I kept getting colds, and that just seemed to be something they did then.

TRIED ALTERNATIVE REMEDIES?

MY MUM rubbed Arnica on my skin to reduce bruising. I think it worked and, to me, smelled of loving attention!

EVER BEEN DEPRESSED?

YES. Several years ago when my dad had Alzheimer’s and a couple of other things were going on. I saw a shrink a few times, and I think taking time out to do something for myself helped.

WHAT KEEPS YOU AWAKE

JETLAG. Normally I sleep like a log.

LIKE TO LIVE FOR EVER?

IF I was in good shape, sure. If I wasn’t, it might be better to check out earlier. GLEN’S new album, Good To Go, is out now on Mighty Village Records. Interview by YORK MEMBERY