Tag Archives: sex pistols

Sid Vicious: Dead at Twenty-One

On This Date, February 2nd, in 1979: Sex Pistols’ bassist Sid Vicious (Born Simon John Ritchie) died of a heroin overdose in New York City. He was 21 years old. Sid did not live a long life, and that is a shame. But he was such a mess when he died, it is difficult to speculate on the type of person he might have become had he never met/murdered Nancy Spungen, and eventually gotten his act together. Some people just aren’t built to last (see also Darby Crash and Kurt Cobain), so maybe it’s a moot point to even entertain such thoughts as what he might be like in his fifties, if he were alive today. Continue reading Sid Vicious: Dead at Twenty-One

Happy Birthday, John Lydon!

John Lydon (aka Johnny Rotten) singer for the Sex Pistols and Public Image was born on this day, January 31st, in 1956. My friend Rey once told me a story of how he, as a journalist, had attempted to conduct an interview with Lydon during the days of Public Image. It didn’t go so well. Each time Rey asked a question, rather than answer, Lydon would just repeat that question back to him in a mocking voice. Rey told me that he got up and left the room several times in an attempt to terminate the interview, but the publicist insisted he continue and promised that Lydon would behave from then on. Eventually he gave up and wrote the article about what an asshole John Lydon was. Because Rey is awesome. I love that story. Happy Birthday, John!

Happy Birthday, Glen Matlock!

Sex Pistols Matlock
Glen, Johnny, Steve and Paul Circa 1976

Glen Matlock, bassist for the Sex Pistols, was born on this day, August 27th, in 1956. The Sex Pistols, including Matlock, were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2005. Favorite Sex Pistols Songs: “I Wanna Be Me,” “Pretty Vacant,” “Silly Thing.”

Rock Star Birthdays on May 10th : Sid Vicious, Donovan and Bono


May 10, 1957 – February 2, 1979

Sid Vicious, (born John Simon Ritchie), bassist for the Sex Pistols and infamous pop culture icon, would have celebrated his Birthday today, if he had not died in 1979May 10th is also the Birthday of Sixties Pop Guru, Donovan (born in 1946) and some guy named Paul Hewson (born in 1960), who sings and pontificates for the band U2. Happy Birthday, guys!

The Sex Pistols US Live Debut

“The Time Has Come to do it Now…”

On This Date, January 5th in In 1978: The Sex Pistols played their first US gig at the Great Southeast Music Hall in Atlanta, GA before an estimated attendance of 500 people.