Stepping Stone

Sid Vicious

Sid Vicious, born John Simon Ritchie (10 May 1957 – 2 February 1979), was an English musician who acquired fame briefly as the bassist of the punk group Sex Pistols. Vicious joined the Sex Pistols in early 1977 to replace Glen Matlock; since his skills on bass guitar were highly questionable he only performed on one song on the band's sole studio album, Never Mind the Bollocks. During the brief drug-filled ascendancy of the Sex Pistols, Vicious met Nancy Spungen, who became his girlfriend and manager and died, after the Sex Pistols had broken up, in a New York hotel room. Vicious continued his drug habit. Jailed for another offence, he emerged detoxed, but was given heroin by his mother at a party celebrating his release and died that night. more »