PUNK part I

Sid Vicious, born John Simon Ritchie (10 May 1957 – 2 February 1979), was an English musician who was the bassist of the punk group Sex Pistols. Vicious joined the Sex Pistols in early 1977 to replace Glen Matlock. Since his skills on bass guitar were highly questionable, Vicious only performed on one song on the band's sole studio album Never Mind the Bollocks. During the brief drug-filled ascendancy of the Sex Pistols, Vicious met Nancy Spungen (February 27, 1958 – October 12, 1978), who became his girlfriend and manager and later died. Vicious continued his drug habit. Jailed for another offence, he emerged detoxed, but was given heroin by his mother at a party celebrating his release and died that night.

Sex Pistols

According to various publications (such as the biography England's Dreaming by Jon Savage) and films (namely The Filth and the Fury) Vicious was asked to join the group after Glen Matlock's departure in February 1977 due to his being present at every gig. Manager Malcolm McLaren once claimed "if Johnny Rotten is the voice of punk, then Vicious is the attitude."

McLaren also said in person and in a documentary that if he'd met Vicious before he had hired Rotten to be the singer, Vicious would have been the Sex Pistols' front man, because he had the most charisma of anyone on that stage. Alan Jones described Vicious as "[having] the iconic punk look (...) Sid, on image alone, is what all punk rests on." His nails would be painted in a sloppy manner with purple nail polish. Vicious played his first gig with the Pistols on 3 April 1977 at The Screen On The Green in London. In 1977 Sid Vicious met Freddie Mercury because they were both recording in the same studio, he insulted Mercury but Mercury grabbed him by the lapels and pushed him out of the booth. His debut was filmed by Don Letts and appears in Punk Rock Movie. What Vicious had lacked in musicianship he made up with unmatched punk charisma, as he hurled insults at the crowd and slashed himself. On the group's U.S. tour in January 1978, although not during a show, he carved the words "Gimme a fix" into his chest. In the Longhorn Ballroom concert, he spat into the crowd and mocked and taunted the "Cowboys" in the audience.

In March 1977, Vicious had met American Nancy Spungen; they began to date. They, and with them the group, deteriorated visibly during the American tour. The Pistols broke up in San Francisco after their concert at the Winterland Ballroom on 14 January 1978.

Something Else Lyrics

Look at that

Here she comes

Here comes that girl again

One of the cutest since I don't know when

But she don't notice me when I pass

She goes with all the guys from outta my class

But that can't stop me from thinkin' to myself

She's sure fine lookin', man,

She's something else

Look at that 'cross the street

There's a car built just for me

To own a car would be a luxury

But right now I can't afford the gas

A brand new convertible is out of my class

But that can't stop me from thinkin' to myself that car's fine lookin', man,

It's something else

Hey, look at that

Just wait and see

Worked hard and saved my dough

I buy that car and then I roll up with joe

Get me that girl and we go ridin' around

We look real sharp with the wide top down

I keep on dreamin' and thinkin' to myself

When it all comes true, man,

Wow, that's something else

Hey, look at that

What's all this?

Never thought I'd do this before

But here I'm a-knockin' on her door

My car's out front

And it's all mine

It's a '41 job not a '59

I got that girl and I'm thinkin' to myself she's sure fine lookin', man,

Wow, she's something else