Thursday, April 26, 2007

Sid Vicious, the Sex Pistols And Secret Spies


In only two short weeks from now some of us will be celebrating the 50th birthday of British punk-rock icon, Sid Vicious. Sid 50?! GOOD GOD ALMIGHTY! Can it really be true? Yep, it can be true. And, indeed it is true.

Sadly, of course, Sid himself won't be around to see it because the poor bastard overdosed on heroin at only 21 years of age on February 2, 1979.

So, why, you may ask, am I telling you all this 2 weeks ahead of Sid's should-have-been-half-a-century? Well, doubtless when the big day arrives, we will see glowing tributes to Sid and his mighty contribution to punk rock.

However, I hope that overblown misty-eyed nostalgia doesn't get in the way of the real story; hence the reason why I'm getting my say in now and before the flood-gates open on May 10.

Next to the mighty Ramones, the Sex Pistols are my all-time favorite band, but the fact of the matter is that Sid could play the bass-guitar about as good as I can pilot the Space Shuttle. Not at all, in other words.

Yes, he looked the punk-rock part: spiky black hair; sunken cheekbones, leather-jacket, Billy Idol-style sneer, and more, but that's about it. With Sid, it was all image and no substance. Not a single, solitary bit.

When Sid replaced original Pistols bass-player Glen Matlock, it marked the end for the London band. And when Sid took that last, fatal hit of heroin it was the end of him too.

And while punk-rockers all across the world were saddened by Sid's death 28 years ago, it's doubtful that MI5 (the British equivalent of the FBI) shed a tear.

Check out my Celebrity Secrets to find out what the real-life equivalents of "James Bond, 007" secretly thought of Sid and the other Pistols: John Lydon, Steve Jones, Paul Cook and Glen Matlock.

You'll also find in the book details of some of the New York Police Department's files on Sid's arrest in 1978 after allegedly stabbing to death his junkie girlfriend Nancy Spungen, or as Pistols guitarist Steve Jones succinctly referred to her: "That fucking bird." Sid you were a stupid fool, and heroin ended your life at a tragically young age. And even though it's doubtful that MI5 will be raising a glass to you on your 50th, I will.

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