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• Sid Vicious was a legendary English punk rock musician who played bass for the The Sex Pistols and also had a short lived solo career. In 1978, Vicious was arrested and charged with the murder of his girlfriend Nancy Spungen. The pair were the subject of the 1986 Alex Cox film Sid and Nancy. He died of a drug overdose at the age of 21 while out on bail.

• Fast Facts

  1. Birth Name: John Simon Ritchie
  2. Born: May 10, 1957
  3. Hometown: London, England
  4. Died: February 2, 1979
  5. Years Active: 1976-1979

• Musical Career

  Prior to joining the Sex Pistols, Vicious played in a band called The Flowers of Romance with original Clash member Keith Levene. He joined the Pistols in 1976 after the departure of original bassist Glen Matlock. Though he is remembered as a musician, his actual musical ability was dubious by all accounts. During the recording of the band's sole album, Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols, the other members of the band reportedly forbade him to play—guitarist Steve Jones played the bass parts instead. As a solo artist, Vicious is remembered for his warbling vocal treatment of Frank Sinatra's "My Way."

• Related Mahalo Pages

  The Sex Pistols | The Ramones | Patti Smith | The Clash | New York Dolls | The Misfits | Black Flag | Minor Threat | Talking Heads | Nirvana | Green Day | AFI

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