Sid Vicious: No One is Innocent [Paperback]

Alan Parker (Author), Malcolm McLaren (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 4, 2008

Never mind the other biographies: Sid Vicious is the definitive guide to the life and times of the Sex Pistols front man. As a veteran punk-rocker who lived briefly with Sid’s mother, author Alan Parker is intimately acquainted with the musical and cultural scene that Sid Vicious dominated during his short life. This account fills in the gaps of John Simon Ritchie’s life, from his art-school days to the death of girlfriend Nancy Spungeon to his drug overdose at 21. New and previously-unheard voices—including the headmistress of his parish school and his mother—help paint a fuller picture of this punk luminary. Those interviews, along with in-depth research in the New York City Police Department’s archives, lead to dramatic conclusions about who killed Nancy Spungeon and how Sid himself died.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"sheds new light on the myths that surround this man" BIG ISSUE IN THE NORTH "An informative and honest biography" SOUTH WALES ARGUS

About the Author

Alan Parker joined his first punk band in 1979, and lived for three months with Sid Vicious's mother. The punk co-ordinator for EMI and Sony UK, he knows virtually every major punk figure in the UK, and many in the USA, and is the author of several books on punk

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Orion (November 4, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0752893661
• ISBN-13: 978-0752893662
• Product Dimensions: 1 x 5.2 x 7.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #417,251 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't even bother to steal it, February 1, 2011

By 

subrosax - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sid Vicious: No One is Innocent (Paperback)

I had the misfortune of skimming this "book." I didn't buy it on purpose, it was one of those "buy this one, get these other two for a discount" things, and I really only wanted the Lydon book, but I'm a sucker for cheap books, so there you are. I don't think I've absolved myself though, because even having "No One is Innocent" in my home makes me feel dirty. As if anyone with an ounce of taste would own a book with such a ludicrous and cliched title.

Alan Parker has seen fit to write not one but THREE books about Sid Vicious. One wonders if he will ever get it right. Doubtful. But it seems he's made a fine living off the short life of a very sad, and probably mentally ill young man. If you can think of anything scummier, let me know. Sid probably did not kill Nancy, but I think if he'd met Alan Parker, he would have stabbed him with any implement at hand. Hopefully a stake through the heart, because Parker comes off as a vampire and a sad little fanboy. Nice work if you can get it.

As for the book, it's very poorly written, and one can't help but cry for the poor underpaid lackey that was no doubt hired to edit and make sense of this hot mess. It's full of quotes from better books, and the kind of sloppy paraphrasing I used to do on high school papers. There is pretty much nothing here that you couldn't find out with a proper internet search and as an added bonus, you'd be spared the tedious authorial voice of Alan Parker. It's true, I mainly skimmed it, but I am a fast reader, and skimming it is enough. There is no point in giving this turd more than an hour or so of your life, and trust me, you will want that hour or so back.

I wish I could recommend this book. I wish the subject matter had been in the hands of someone more thoughtful, and even better, someone who could write their way out of a wet paper sack with a dull pencil. It might be of interest to someone, but I just can't condone putting money in the pockets of someone who has spent years cashing in (or trying to) on the memory of a young man who died of sheer jackassery, and right in front of us all. Sid deserved better and so do we.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Sid deserves something better, November 25, 2011

By 

Jettpistols - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sid Vicious: No One is Innocent (Paperback)

I DID enjoy this book but there was some parts that really annoyed me. I don't like how the author puts John Lydon in a bad light all the time, blaming him for not helping his friend but seriously, what could he do? Sid's MOTHER was a heroin addict, Sid's GIRLFRIEND was a heroin addict. The author has also gone so far as to say that his tears over Sid were fake in The Filth And The Fury. How dare he and how disrespectful can a person be? John was there, he wasn't. I couldn't care less what your or anyone's personal opinion is about John or anyone for that matter. But when you are writing a biography, keep it neutral and factual. Speaking of facts, there's so many things that's just wrong. Quotes, dates and mixed up stories. Even the picture with Marky Ramone is wrong as there's missing one person from the picture (photoshop). + According to Roadent Parker never checks any of his sources. It also annoyed me how Parker proudly talked about his Sid tattoo, the one Anne, Sid's mother paid for. He later happily took the tattoo away and has now Nikki Sixx on his arm instead. I will admit that there was a couple of good parts in the book, but there's too many sloppy errors.

1 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sould be more Sid books, November 30, 2010

By 

Naomi - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sid Vicious: No One is Innocent (Paperback)

I go to the Gulgate libaray I made them buy this book becuase I didn't want to buy it Nice photos nice eveything. The only thing that killed John Simon Ricthie was Nancy people might agree with me, but thats how I feel. Could mentioned more about Sid's last lover, Michelle Robsion, Michelle found Sid dead and naked after their love makeing to me thats sounds romantic.
Explores Sid drug dealer Mom poor Sid being around that I am sure Sids mom loved him. IT said in the book that his mom, gave him to much herion " Because theres no way Sid could live behind bars. Sid Vicious is a dead sexaul icon up with James Dean and many orther star that went before their time

RIP my beloved John Simon Ricthie xxoo
Naomi Spencer