Sid Vicious: Rock 'n' Roll Star by Malcolm Butt

by Malcolm Butt

"As Nancy Spungen's body lay in a pool of blood in the bathroom of their suite at the Chelsea Hotel, Sid Vicious sat on the bed next door. 'You can't arrest me,' he was reported to have told the police, 'I'm a rock 'n' roll star.'" "The death of Nancy Spungen and the dreadful, almost inevitable death of Sid Vicious too, from a self-administered drug overdose, were the culmination of the period of mayhem otherwise known as the Sex Pistols. Probably the most controversial band ever - and the best-known punk band - the Sex Pistols erupted out of London in 1976, offending everyone from hippies, housewives and politicians to the media and the rock music establishment itself. With their raw, anarchic music, aura of sex and violence, outrageous and confrontational behaviour, and performances that degenerated into riots, they were assured of maximum notoriety. And then there was Sid Vicious if the Sex Pistols were the ultimate punk band, then Sid was the ultimate Sex Pistol and punk icon." Sid Rock 'n' Roll Star is one of the most sensational stories in music history, told with an insider's knowledge. Malcolm Butt reveals the degradation of Vicious's childhood as the only son of a drug addict, his introduction to the Pistols, arch-exponents of punk, his ousting of Glen Matlock as the group's bassist (probably because his playing was even worse), his obsession with violence and self-mutilation, and his rapid decline into a world of heroin-induced paranoia and self-delusion. The 21 short years of Sid's life are chronicled here, showing all that was rotten in the rock world. Sid did it his way - and as this book shows, the only way was out. Book jacket.

Genres: Biography, Music, Nonfiction, Rock N Roll

Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[Lynx · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I found the book somewhat informative I also found it incredibly bias and off-putting. The never-ending name calling of Nancy Spungen was absolutely unnecessary and I'm kinda sick of women being blamed for mens decisions. Nancy herself was just a teenager/early twenties, she had mental health and addiction issues and TOGETHER, their self-destructive behaviour led to their downfall. She didn't have the man tied up for 2 years sticking needles into his arms. He made his own decisions and unfortunately they both went down that hole together.

I discuss Sid and Nancy, and my thoughts on the book on my podcast Muses, check it out here, iTunes or whichever platform you listen on!

[George Huxley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good info. Nothing overtly special about it. Man, I first heard about Sid a long while back. I was in 5th grade and me and my mom watched Sid and Nancy, the next day at school I immediately declared it my favorite movie ever. Still a pretty kick-ass movie by the way, Alex Cox is pretty badass. Fuck, this guy was amazingly fucked and fuckingly amazing. Despite him pretty much doing absolutely nothing but fucking, shooting up, mutilating himself, and occasionally strumming along on his bass; I still love this guy. He's no Jim Morrison, but still, goddam what an amazing guy. The book though, that's what this is about. Haha. Mr. Butt seems to have most of his information there, generally well written, and near the end he even got my eyes a bit misty with his cataloguing of Sid's death wish after Nancy died. Overall good shit, maybe it's just because of the subject matter, but I enjoyed it most definitely. R.I.P. Sid & Nancy, Vive Le Rock!

[Lady Makaveli · Rating 5 out of 5]

After I read this I wrote a long 'essay' on Sid Vicious. I think he is a brilliant and tragic soul taken all too soon by the hands of a very greedy, abusive mother. His story is one that the world needs to hear in my opinion. He was extreme; but he had a good heart. He was a good soul born into a hopeless situation, with the very person who brought him into it being the very one to take him out of it. If I knew where the "essay" I wrote was I'd post it here, but for now all I'll say is if you want to know what suffering even while fighting for hope and healing, this man is the one to listen to. He should still be with us. May your next journey be dark and beautiful, Mister Sid Vicious <3 .... You've earned it.

[Fishface · Rating 4 out of 5]

Traces the decline and fall of the Sex Pistols' hapless bassist, Sid Vicious, as he followed his girlfriend Nancy Spungen over the cliff's edge. I wonder what he'd say if he knew how much he did to promote the "straightedge" movement. It's not a fun or smiley read, but it sure brings back those dim, dead days.

[Amanda Manak · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't to excited with this book. I had read the book written by his girlfriends mom and really enjoyed that book, so i wanted to hear about Sid Vicious from someone other than the girl he murdered Mom. It was nothing like her book. To tell you the truth, i didn't even finish it!

[dhani Machfud · Rating 3 out of 5]

Menceritakan sisi lain dari seorang pemabuk di dunia rock n roll yang berbahaya: Sid Vicious,..mengenai ketergantungannya kepada speed dan heroin serta jalinan asmara yang aneh dengan Nancy Spungen yang berakhir dengan kematian wanita tersebut.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a huge Sex Pstols fan and this was an awesome book

[Aaron Reinwald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book, sad but hey that's at least as true of a story as we can get. Born around the needle - died with the needle.

[Em Mirra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pending.

[TrumanCoyote · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Could've done without the last several pages of Summing Up though.)