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MILKYWAY
I too knew John. He used to practice bass by listening to Rush LPs. He was really talented but publicly downplayed his bass-playing abilities in order to maintain his crude image. He could have played like John Entwistle if he had allowed himself.

Very sad.

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Silver Dagger

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Nikolai

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lettingitbleed
Yes, great image and attitude, but zero talent as a bass player. Big Sex Pistols fan, but dude could not play. McClaren hired him because he looked the part.

Johnny Rotten brought him into the group after they cleverly fired their main songwriter and bassist, Glen Matlock. Sid then fell in love with his image, Nancy Spungen and heroin in that order.

Opinions are mixed about him as a person. Nick Kent called him "The Exploding Dimwit". Others who knew him insist he was clever and sharp ... until the smack got hold of him. One thing everyone agrees with - he couldn't play for shit.

His greatest moment was My Way.

I actually knew the guy and went to college with him in Kings Cross, north London from 74/76. We were mates for about 2 years and used to bunk into shows (crash them) until he joined the Sex Pistols and his head went up his arse.

During this time I witnessed a goof ball but generally fun guy to be around degenerate into a nasty, violent and self-loathing junkie which was really sad.

The last time I spoke to him he was proudly waiting in an alley way in posh Hampstead, north London, to mug old ladies and relieve them of the contents of their handbags.

The last time I saw him was on stage with the Sex Pistols at Uxbridge University in Dec 77 - quite an experience as I was taking photos and was literally pushed onto his side of the stage and he was about to take a swing at me when I dived back into the crowd.

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Silver Dagger

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Edith Grove

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Silver Dagger
I actually knew the guy and went to college with him in Kings Cross, north London from 74/76. We were mates for about 2 years and used to bunk into shows (crash them) until he joined the Sex Pistols and his head went up his arse.

During this time I witnessed a goof ball but generally fun guy to be around degenerate into a nasty, violent and self-loathing junkie which was really sad.

The last time I spoke to him he was proudly waiting in an alley way in posh Hampstead, north London, to mug old ladies and relieve them of the contents of their handbags.

The last time I saw him was on stage with the Sex Pistols at Uxbridge University in Dec 77 - quite an experience as I was taking photos and was literally pushed onto his side of the stage and he was about to take a swing at me when I dived back into the crowd.

Wow, SD! I wouldn't mind hearing more stories like this if you'd like to share.

BTW, this doesn't sound anything like a story I heard from a tour guide in London back in '03 who basically told me that Vicious was "mentally challenged," who could do no better than to barely hold a job at Whitely's before going with the Pistols.

I first met Sid on a night when students at my college - Kingsway-Princeton - overtook the place in a demonstration against education cuts.

There was a knock on the door outside and it was this guy all dressed in black who asked me if 'John' was around. I hadn't the faintest idea who he met but invited him in and we sat down and talked - mainly about music. He mentioned liking some of the bands that I was into at the time like The Pink Fairies, Hawkwind,Roxy Music, Alice Cooper, The Stones and most importantly Syd Barrett from whence he got his name. I thought he was an interesting guy. Half an hour later he went off to find his friend John who I know now was John Lydon - a guy I used to see stalking the college corridors with long dyed henna hair and a badge bearing the legend 'In Search Of Eddie Riff'. That was the name of an album by Roxy Music sax and oboe player Andy Mackay.

As I said, over time we became mates and hung out together but bad blood brewed after he took a shine to my girlfriend.
He moved into a squat with my best friend and I used to see him whenever I went up there but by this time he was starting to get into bad habits, inspired by his other hero Keef.
I remember a few occasions where he was so strung out that he would come to college on the coldest winter's day in just a string vest.

In the next year of college I returned late only to find that my place in cinema studies was taken by him. He was never Sid to me, always Spiky John because of his hair. The Sid name really only came about in mid 76 after he styarted hanging about at Sex on the the Kings Road.

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Nikolai

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Silver Dagger

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Nikolai

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lettingitbleed
Yes, great image and attitude, but zero talent as a bass player. Big Sex Pistols fan, but dude could not play. McClaren hired him because he looked the part.

Johnny Rotten brought him into the group after they cleverly fired their main songwriter and bassist, Glen Matlock. Sid then fell in love with his image, Nancy Spungen and heroin in that order.

Opinions are mixed about him as a person. Nick Kent called him "The Exploding Dimwit". Others who knew him insist he was clever and sharp ... until the smack got hold of him. One thing everyone agrees with - he couldn't play for shit.

His greatest moment was My Way.

I actually knew the guy and went to college with him in Kings Cross, north London from 74/76. We were mates for about 2 years and used to bunk into shows (crash them) until he joined the Sex Pistols and his head went up his arse.

During this time I witnessed a goof ball but generally fun guy to be around degenerate into a nasty, violent and self-loathing junkie which was really sad.

The last time I spoke to him he was proudly waiting in an alley way in posh Hampstead, north London, to mug old ladies and relieve them of the contents of their handbags.

The last time I saw him was on stage with the Sex Pistols at Uxbridge University in Dec 77 - quite an experience as I was taking photos and was literally pushed onto his side of the stage and he was about to take a swing at me when I dived back into the crowd.

Thanks for your insights, man. So you saw the SPOTS tour?

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Silver Dagger

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Nikolai

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Silver Dagger

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Nikolai

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lettingitbleed
Yes, great image and attitude, but zero talent as a bass player. Big Sex Pistols fan, but dude could not play. McClaren hired him because he looked the part.

Johnny Rotten brought him into the group after they cleverly fired their main songwriter and bassist, Glen Matlock. Sid then fell in love with his image, Nancy Spungen and heroin in that order.

Opinions are mixed about him as a person. Nick Kent called him "The Exploding Dimwit". Others who knew him insist he was clever and sharp ... until the smack got hold of him. One thing everyone agrees with - he couldn't play for shit.

His greatest moment was My Way.

I actually knew the guy and went to college with him in Kings Cross, north London from 74/76. We were mates for about 2 years and used to bunk into shows (crash them) until he joined the Sex Pistols and his head went up his arse.

During this time I witnessed a goof ball but generally fun guy to be around degenerate into a nasty, violent and self-loathing junkie which was really sad.

The last time I spoke to him he was proudly waiting in an alley way in posh Hampstead, north London, to mug old ladies and relieve them of the contents of their handbags.

The last time I saw him was on stage with the Sex Pistols at Uxbridge University in Dec 77 - quite an experience as I was taking photos and was literally pushed onto his side of the stage and he was about to take a swing at me when I dived back into the crowd.

Thanks for your insights, man. So you saw the SPOTS tour?

Yep - sure did Nik. One of my top 10 gigs of all time. I was in the front row taking photos too. I'm looking for a recording of the gig if you know of any?

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Squiggle
I like some of the Sex Pistols' songs but I'm one of those who think they were finished as soon as they dumped Matlock and hired Sid Vicious. Not only was Matlock the main musical songwriter, which would have made the change bad enough, but Sid was a bad cartoon of a punk. And has since - and at the time - been accepted as a good cartoon of a punk.

That said, I do feel sorry for the silly sod. I'd possibly feel less so if some of the stories about him were true. No, I'd still feel sorry but I would despise him rather than regret him.

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Nikolai

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Silver Dagger

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Nikolai

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Silver Dagger

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Nikolai

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lettingitbleed
Yes, great image and attitude, but zero talent as a bass player. Big Sex Pistols fan, but dude could not play. McClaren hired him because he looked the part.

Johnny Rotten brought him into the group after they cleverly fired their main songwriter and bassist, Glen Matlock. Sid then fell in love with his image, Nancy Spungen and heroin in that order.

Opinions are mixed about him as a person. Nick Kent called him "The Exploding Dimwit". Others who knew him insist he was clever and sharp ... until the smack got hold of him. One thing everyone agrees with - he couldn't play for shit.

His greatest moment was My Way.

I actually knew the guy and went to college with him in Kings Cross, north London from 74/76. We were mates for about 2 years and used to bunk into shows (crash them) until he joined the Sex Pistols and his head went up his arse.

During this time I witnessed a goof ball but generally fun guy to be around degenerate into a nasty, violent and self-loathing junkie which was really sad.

The last time I spoke to him he was proudly waiting in an alley way in posh Hampstead, north London, to mug old ladies and relieve them of the contents of their handbags.

The last time I saw him was on stage with the Sex Pistols at Uxbridge University in Dec 77 - quite an experience as I was taking photos and was literally pushed onto his side of the stage and he was about to take a swing at me when I dived back into the crowd.

Thanks for your insights, man. So you saw the SPOTS tour?

Yep - sure did Nik. One of my top 10 gigs of all time. I was in the front row taking photos too. I'm looking for a recording of the gig if you know of any?

I'm envious. I saw the reformed Pistols at the Shepherd's Bush Empire in '96. Great gig, but more panto than anything else. I skipped the other reunions.

Try this place:

[sex-pistols-pil-live.blogspot.com]

Some terrific stuff on there.

Have you heard that the complete Goodman sessions are going to be issued later this year? 'X-Spunk' the thing's called. Goodman finished mixing the sessions for CD shortly before he died, and sent a copy to Glen Matlock - along with a properly mixed version of the Burton gig from '76.

I never get tired of hearing that stuff.

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mariannerl
Back in 1984 I lived for a while (a few weeks) in the hotel room he had years before (he lived there also for a longer time if that is true..). At the Ferndale in London. I did not know but about it but the owner, Maurice, told me so. There should be a small scene in the "swindle" movie where you can see the hotel. At the time I lived there, another musician (singer) lived there. But I rather don't mention it here (political reasons..). Funny thing was, that I was asked to deposit a guitar in my room for a couple of days, from a member of that -better not named- band. But since I don't know the difference between a bass or something else... maybe it was bass guitar. Who knows?

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parislocksmith
Love the Pistols as a band and a phenomenon but any sympathy I may have felt for Sid Vicious vanished when I saw the part of Who Killed Nancy where (I think) Matlock's friend recounted how Vicious used his belt to strangle a cat. Not quite right in the head, obviously. Also, Lydon's account of his 'food preparation' in his autobiography is a bit hard to stomache.

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Silver Dagger

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Nikolai

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Silver Dagger

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Nikolai

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Silver Dagger

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Nikolai

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lettingitbleed
Yes, great image and attitude, but zero talent as a bass player. Big Sex Pistols fan, but dude could not play. McClaren hired him because he looked the part.

Johnny Rotten brought him into the group after they cleverly fired their main songwriter and bassist, Glen Matlock. Sid then fell in love with his image, Nancy Spungen and heroin in that order.

Opinions are mixed about him as a person. Nick Kent called him "The Exploding Dimwit". Others who knew him insist he was clever and sharp ... until the smack got hold of him. One thing everyone agrees with - he couldn't play for shit.

His greatest moment was My Way.

I actually knew the guy and went to college with him in Kings Cross, north London from 74/76. We were mates for about 2 years and used to bunk into shows (crash them) until he joined the Sex Pistols and his head went up his arse.

During this time I witnessed a goof ball but generally fun guy to be around degenerate into a nasty, violent and self-loathing junkie which was really sad.

The last time I spoke to him he was proudly waiting in an alley way in posh Hampstead, north London, to mug old ladies and relieve them of the contents of their handbags.

The last time I saw him was on stage with the Sex Pistols at Uxbridge University in Dec 77 - quite an experience as I was taking photos and was literally pushed onto his side of the stage and he was about to take a swing at me when I dived back into the crowd.

Thanks for your insights, man. So you saw the SPOTS tour?

Yep - sure did Nik. One of my top 10 gigs of all time. I was in the front row taking photos too. I'm looking for a recording of the gig if you know of any?

I'm envious. I saw the reformed Pistols at the Shepherd's Bush Empire in '96. Great gig, but more panto than anything else. I skipped the other reunions.

Try this place:

[sex-pistols-pil-live.blogspot.com]

Some terrific stuff on there.

Have you heard that the complete Goodman sessions are going to be issued later this year? 'X-Spunk' the thing's called. Goodman finished mixing the sessions for CD shortly before he died, and sent a copy to Glen Matlock - along with a properly mixed version of the Burton gig from '76.

I never get tired of hearing that stuff.

Excellent stuff Nik. It's there but apparently awful quality. Anyway, better than nothing. The other ones I'm lookiong for desperately that I went to from that time are The Clash at the Rainbow 78 Sthey were supported by Sham 69 and Tanz Der Youth) and at the Lyceum at Christmas 78, I think...or was it 79?

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Nikolai

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Silver Dagger

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Nikolai

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Silver Dagger

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Nikolai

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Silver Dagger

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Nikolai

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lettingitbleed
Yes, great image and attitude, but zero talent as a bass player. Big Sex Pistols fan, but dude could not play. McClaren hired him because he looked the part.

Johnny Rotten brought him into the group after they cleverly fired their main songwriter and bassist, Glen Matlock. Sid then fell in love with his image, Nancy Spungen and heroin in that order.

Opinions are mixed about him as a person. Nick Kent called him "The Exploding Dimwit". Others who knew him insist he was clever and sharp ... until the smack got hold of him. One thing everyone agrees with - he couldn't play for shit.

His greatest moment was My Way.

I actually knew the guy and went to college with him in Kings Cross, north London from 74/76. We were mates for about 2 years and used to bunk into shows (crash them) until he joined the Sex Pistols and his head went up his arse.

During this time I witnessed a goof ball but generally fun guy to be around degenerate into a nasty, violent and self-loathing junkie which was really sad.

The last time I spoke to him he was proudly waiting in an alley way in posh Hampstead, north London, to mug old ladies and relieve them of the contents of their handbags.

The last time I saw him was on stage with the Sex Pistols at Uxbridge University in Dec 77 - quite an experience as I was taking photos and was literally pushed onto his side of the stage and he was about to take a swing at me when I dived back into the crowd.

Thanks for your insights, man. So you saw the SPOTS tour?

Yep - sure did Nik. One of my top 10 gigs of all time. I was in the front row taking photos too. I'm looking for a recording of the gig if you know of any?

I'm envious. I saw the reformed Pistols at the Shepherd's Bush Empire in '96. Great gig, but more panto than anything else. I skipped the other reunions.

Try this place:

[sex-pistols-pil-live.blogspot.com]

Some terrific stuff on there.

Have you heard that the complete Goodman sessions are going to be issued later this year? 'X-Spunk' the thing's called. Goodman finished mixing the sessions for CD shortly before he died, and sent a copy to Glen Matlock - along with a properly mixed version of the Burton gig from '76.

I never get tired of hearing that stuff.

Excellent stuff Nik. It's there but apparently awful quality. Anyway, better than nothing. The other ones I'm lookiong for desperately that I went to from that time are The Clash at the Rainbow 78 Sthey were supported by Sham 69 and Tanz Der Youth) and at the Lyceum at Christmas 78, I think...or was it 79?

Try this one for The Clash. It's there - and lots, LOTS more.

[www.clashcity.com]

A soundboard

Christmas 78 ... while you were at The Clash, yours truly was at the second PiL gig at the Rainbow. Boxing Day one. Scary, but I loved it. Rival football firms having pitched battles, beer cans flying everywhere, everyone speeding. My third ever gig.

Linton Kwesi Johnson supported. He was awesome and otherworldly.

PiL played Belsen - a weird choice, because it was a (then) unreleased and unrecorded Pistols song - based on a Sid lyric.

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Silver Dagger

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Nikolai

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Silver Dagger

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Nikolai

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Silver Dagger

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Nikolai

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Silver Dagger

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Nikolai

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lettingitbleed
Yes, great image and attitude, but zero talent as a bass player. Big Sex Pistols fan, but dude could not play. McClaren hired him because he looked the part.

Johnny Rotten brought him into the group after they cleverly fired their main songwriter and bassist, Glen Matlock. Sid then fell in love with his image, Nancy Spungen and heroin in that order.

Opinions are mixed about him as a person. Nick Kent called him "The Exploding Dimwit". Others who knew him insist he was clever and sharp ... until the smack got hold of him. One thing everyone agrees with - he couldn't play for shit.

His greatest moment was My Way.

I actually knew the guy and went to college with him in Kings Cross, north London from 74/76. We were mates for about 2 years and used to bunk into shows (crash them) until he joined the Sex Pistols and his head went up his arse.

During this time I witnessed a goof ball but generally fun guy to be around degenerate into a nasty, violent and self-loathing junkie which was really sad.

The last time I spoke to him he was proudly waiting in an alley way in posh Hampstead, north London, to mug old ladies and relieve them of the contents of their handbags.

The last time I saw him was on stage with the Sex Pistols at Uxbridge University in Dec 77 - quite an experience as I was taking photos and was literally pushed onto his side of the stage and he was about to take a swing at me when I dived back into the crowd.

Thanks for your insights, man. So you saw the SPOTS tour?

Yep - sure did Nik. One of my top 10 gigs of all time. I was in the front row taking photos too. I'm looking for a recording of the gig if you know of any?

I'm envious. I saw the reformed Pistols at the Shepherd's Bush Empire in '96. Great gig, but more panto than anything else. I skipped the other reunions.

Try this place:

[sex-pistols-pil-live.blogspot.com]

Some terrific stuff on there.

Have you heard that the complete Goodman sessions are going to be issued later this year? 'X-Spunk' the thing's called. Goodman finished mixing the sessions for CD shortly before he died, and sent a copy to Glen Matlock - along with a properly mixed version of the Burton gig from '76.

I never get tired of hearing that stuff.

Excellent stuff Nik. It's there but apparently awful quality. Anyway, better than nothing. The other ones I'm lookiong for desperately that I went to from that time are The Clash at the Rainbow 78 Sthey were supported by Sham 69 and Tanz Der Youth) and at the Lyceum at Christmas 78, I think...or was it 79?

Try this one for The Clash. It's there - and lots, LOTS more.

[www.clashcity.com]

A soundboard

Christmas 78 ... while you were at The Clash, yours truly was at the second PiL gig at the Rainbow. Boxing Day one. Scary, but I loved it. Rival football firms having pitched battles, beer cans flying everywhere, everyone speeding. My third ever gig.

Linton Kwesi Johnson supported. He was awesome and otherworldly.

PiL played Belsen - a weird choice, because it was a (then) unreleased and unrecorded Pistols song - based on a Sid lyric.

Great stuff Nik. That's a drink I owe you for that. Are you going to the Ronnie, Bill and Charlie gig next month? If so, meet me beforehand for a beer.

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Nikolai

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Silver Dagger

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Nikolai

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Silver Dagger

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Nikolai

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Silver Dagger

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Nikolai

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Silver Dagger

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Nikolai

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lettingitbleed
Yes, great image and attitude, but zero talent as a bass player. Big Sex Pistols fan, but dude could not play. McClaren hired him because he looked the part.

Johnny Rotten brought him into the group after they cleverly fired their main songwriter and bassist, Glen Matlock. Sid then fell in love with his image, Nancy Spungen and heroin in that order.

Opinions are mixed about him as a person. Nick Kent called him "The Exploding Dimwit". Others who knew him insist he was clever and sharp ... until the smack got hold of him. One thing everyone agrees with - he couldn't play for shit.

His greatest moment was My Way.

I actually knew the guy and went to college with him in Kings Cross, north London from 74/76. We were mates for about 2 years and used to bunk into shows (crash them) until he joined the Sex Pistols and his head went up his arse.

During this time I witnessed a goof ball but generally fun guy to be around degenerate into a nasty, violent and self-loathing junkie which was really sad.

The last time I spoke to him he was proudly waiting in an alley way in posh Hampstead, north London, to mug old ladies and relieve them of the contents of their handbags.

The last time I saw him was on stage with the Sex Pistols at Uxbridge University in Dec 77 - quite an experience as I was taking photos and was literally pushed onto his side of the stage and he was about to take a swing at me when I dived back into the crowd.

Thanks for your insights, man. So you saw the SPOTS tour?

Yep - sure did Nik. One of my top 10 gigs of all time. I was in the front row taking photos too. I'm looking for a recording of the gig if you know of any?

I'm envious. I saw the reformed Pistols at the Shepherd's Bush Empire in '96. Great gig, but more panto than anything else. I skipped the other reunions.

Try this place:

[sex-pistols-pil-live.blogspot.com]

Some terrific stuff on there.

Have you heard that the complete Goodman sessions are going to be issued later this year? 'X-Spunk' the thing's called. Goodman finished mixing the sessions for CD shortly before he died, and sent a copy to Glen Matlock - along with a properly mixed version of the Burton gig from '76.

I never get tired of hearing that stuff.

Excellent stuff Nik. It's there but apparently awful quality. Anyway, better than nothing. The other ones I'm lookiong for desperately that I went to from that time are The Clash at the Rainbow 78 Sthey were supported by Sham 69 and Tanz Der Youth) and at the Lyceum at Christmas 78, I think...or was it 79?

Try this one for The Clash. It's there - and lots, LOTS more.

[www.clashcity.com]

A soundboard

Christmas 78 ... while you were at The Clash, yours truly was at the second PiL gig at the Rainbow. Boxing Day one. Scary, but I loved it. Rival football firms having pitched battles, beer cans flying everywhere, everyone speeding. My third ever gig.

Linton Kwesi Johnson supported. He was awesome and otherworldly.

PiL played Belsen - a weird choice, because it was a (then) unreleased and unrecorded Pistols song - based on a Sid lyric.

Great stuff Nik. That's a drink I owe you for that. Are you going to the Ronnie, Bill and Charlie gig next month? If so, meet me beforehand for a beer.

I'm not. but I may hold you to it if The Stones ever tour again ...

By the way, PiL are putting together a European tour. Mostly festivals so far, although they're doing gigs in Dublin and Brussels. They're having to do it themselves, as no promoter will touch them - or so I hear.

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Edith Grove
Quotes are getting long here.

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parislocksmith
Love the Pistols as a band and a phenomenon but any sympathy I may have felt for Sid Vicious vanished when I saw the part of Who Killed Nancy where (I think) Matlock's friend recounted how Vicious used his belt to strangle a cat. Not quite right in the head, obviously. Also, Lydon's account of his 'food preparation' in his autobiography is a bit hard to stomache.

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Eleanor Rigby

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parislocksmith
Love the Pistols as a band and a phenomenon but any sympathy I may have felt for Sid Vicious vanished when I saw the part of Who Killed Nancy where (I think) Matlock's friend recounted how Vicious used his belt to strangle a cat. Not quite right in the head, obviously. Also, Lydon's account of his 'food preparation' in his autobiography is a bit hard to stomache.

correct.
Anyone who deliberately injures women or pets deserves to have his head shoved up his arse. What a dickhead.

RIP with a horse up ya arse....

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MKjan
A fantastic natural air guitarist who accidently picked up a real guitar.

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Keefan
I don't idolize Sid by any means, but there's a strong argument to be made that Sid wasn't the one who killed Nancy. There's even a movie about this.

[www.whokillednancy.com]