Sid Vicious(1957-1979)
- Actor
- Writer
- Composer
Along with fellow Sex Pistol member, Johnny Rotten, lanky, sneering,
pock faced Sid epitomised the punk movement born in the mid 1970s in
working class England. Sid Vicious (real name John Beverly) wasn't an
original member of the Pistols, but rather joined the band after
original bassist, Glen Matlock dropped out after personality clashes
with lead singer Rotten. On stage, Sid (often stripped to the waist)
would incite the audience to get wilder and more frenzied, and his
infamous antics included spitting and spraying beer into the audience.
The British establishment despised the Pistols with a passion, and Sid
was viewed as a crude, foul mouthed hoodlum corrupting English youth
with his unclean image. Unfortunately for a naive Sid, he fell into the
company of alleged drug user, Nancy Spungen, and his world spiralled
out of control leading to the break up of the Pistols (their last show
being in San Francisco), and Sid's lame attempts to kick start his own
solo career, which included a demented cover of the popular Frank
Sinatra song "My Way", accompanied by a violent video clip. Vicious and
Spungen took up residency in the Chelsea Hotel in New York City in
early 1978, however their self destructive personalities meant a
tragedy was fast approaching, and on October 12th 1978, Spungen was
found dead in their hotel room from stab wounds. Vicious was charged by
police with Spungen's murder and released on bail, pending trial.
However, only four months later in February 1979, Vicious himself was
found dead of a heroin overdose. Sid was dead at aged 21. His will
requested his ashes be poured over Nancy's grave at the King David
Cemetery in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Along with Janis Joplin, Brian
Jones & Jimi Hendrix, Sid had assured himself a place in rock and roll
history, as another iconic music figure dead at a young
age.