John Simon Ritchie aka Sid Vicious died of a heroin overdose on 2nd February 1979 aged 21. He was a man who has now reached iconic status not only for being in The Sex Pistols but also for being on remand for the murder of his girlfriend Nancy Spungen when he died.
Sid replaced Glen Matlock in the Sex Pistols in February 1977 and ‘played’ bass guitar. He was though used by Malcolm McLaren, the manager of the Pistols, more as a symbol of punk attitude than as a musician.
Sid Vicious’ life was obviously tragic but before he met Nancy Spungen and his life spiralled in to a heroin hell, many refer to him as being intelligent and good company. Chrissie Hinde recounts in her 2015 biography:
‘It had just all happened too fast for Sid. The fame, the drugs and Nancy had merged into one. His face had become a smeared, distorted version of itself, his features twisted by sickness and a life Âtime’s worth of hen-pecking packed into a few unenviable months.’
Sid and Nancy appeared to mean only one thing for them both. Death.
