Sid Vicious performing with The Sex Pistols in 1978 (Photo by S. Fitzstephens) Seeing Iggy Pop stage dive at a recent Stooges gig in San Francisco may prove that some punk rockers, like fine wine, age pretty well. But of course, many punk legends never got the chance to achieve vintage status. Sid Vicious of The Sex Pistols died of an overdose at the Hotel Chelsea at the tart age of 21, thus failing to reach the golden years of stage diving. Today the ultimate punk rocker of the 1970s would have turned 50, and it begs the question, what would Sid be doing if he were still alive today? Perhaps he would have parlayed his boozing skills into a career as a wine critic. Would he have opened a London haberdashery? Maybe he and Johnny Rotten and the rest of the band would have reunited at Bonnaroo. We'll never know. What we do know is that Sid Vicious became an icon for the punk rock movement through his anti-authoritarian attitude, gutter punk fashion, and angry snarl. The Sex Pistols weren't the first punk band and Sid wasn't the most talented musician, but they embodied the style and anger that captured the imagination of a generation. Today, on Sid's birthday, let's send up a raucous "God Save The Queen" and remember that Sid Vicious did it all his way. Suggested Sites... Wikipedia: Sid Vicious - extensive user-created biography of Sid Vicious. God Save The Sex Pistols - fan site featuring photos and videos. The Filth and the Fury - A sex pistol's fanzine. Punk '77 - provides an overview and history of punk rock in the U.K. A History of Punk - punk rock and the politics of boredom.

Directory categories: Sid Vicious, The Sex Pistols, The Stooges, Punk and Hardcore, Punk Magazines

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