Former SEX PISTOL GLEN MATLOCK has stuck up for punk proteges Green Day, after his ex-bandmate John Lydon dubbed them "a w**k outfit".

Lydon - also known as JOHNNY ROTTEN - claimed the band had stolen the term punk and reduced a political movement into a simple musical style.

But Matlock insists the most important thing is they entertain.

The bassist says, "I think they are just doing what bands do. When Green Day first came out I thought it was kind of funny that there was this Californian band doing this very English sound.

"But I went to see Green Day with my son, who's a fan, and it was very impressive."