Sid Vicious: Rock 'n' Roll Star (Paperback)

~ Malcolm Butt (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

No one embodied the Sex Pistols raw, anarchic excesses like bassist Sid Vicious. Told from an insider’s perspective, Sid Vicious: Rock 'n' Roll Star covers the brief life of punk’s original poster boy including everything from Vicious’s lowly beginning as the only child of a drug-addicted parent to his obsession with violence and the notorious death of girlfriend Nancy Spungen. New material and numerous photographs capture the extremes of this charismatic rebel who crashed and burned at 21.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Plexus Publishing; 3rd edition (October 12, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0859653730
• ISBN-13: 978-0859653732
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #438,381 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific little book!, May 2, 2000

By	William Errickson, Jr. "Will Errickson" (Raleigh, NC United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Sid Vicious: Rock 'n' Roll Star (Paperback)

How much more can be said about Sid Vicious, the Sex Pistols, and 70s punk in general? Well, it helps if you've got stories nobody's heard before, and "Sid Vicious: Rock'n'Roll Star" (God, I hope there's some irony intended in that subtitle) has them. I won't reveal them here, but I will say I've been a punk fan for a long time (I'm not telling!) and I learned a lot here--lots of little details really make Sid come alive in a new way. Sure, he was nasty and brutish, and his life was short, but he's still entertaining. There are also fantastic pictures, again, many which I was unfamiliar with. There's a funny one of him in the hospital after the break-up of the Pistols, and lots of good ones before he ever joined the band.

This book covers his whole life--his childhood with his drug-friendly mother, his teen years as an art student (but then, name me one British rock star that DIDN'T go to art school!)--and the hellish descent his life took after January 14, 1978. It's all here--great writing (the bibliography includes "England's Dreaming" and "12 Days on the Road"), hilarious and chilling anecdotes, unparalleled photos, and good research. However, it did leave out a really cool fact--that Sid got his trademark padlock necklace from Chrissie Hynde. But it does reveal that the one Gary Oldman wore in "Sid & Nancy" was, in fact, that very one.

This slim book doesn't look like much at first glance, but appearances deceive. Avoid at all costs, however, the much more hyped "El Sid" by David Dalton--a wretched, exploitative, cheap and poorly written work with no photos and imaginary diary entries from Sid. CRRRAAPPP!

PS: "Sid Vicious: Rock'n'Roll Star" would make an EXCELLENT gift for that bratty 14-year-old nephew of yours who thinks Rancid and Green Day and Blink 182 are "punk rock"--show him the guy who walked it like he talked it, and paid the highest price for it.

"Regrets... I've had a few... But then again, too few to mention......"

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars On the sensational, controversial Sex Pistols leader, March 17, 2006

By	D. Donovan, Editor/Sr. Reviewer "California B... (California, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Sid Vicious: Rock 'n' Roll Star (Paperback)

Malcolm Butt's SID VICIOUS: ROCK N ROLL STAR is an important read for any who are familiar with Sid Vicious and know about his sensational, controversial background. Unlike other reports and surveys, Malcolm Butt's account comes from an insider's standpoint and reveals Vicious' childhood, his introduction to the Pistols, and his declines in a world of mental illness and heroin. A strong background knowledge of the punk scene in general, not just the Sex Pistols and Sid Vicious in particular, lends a well-rounded touch to the biography of Sid's 21 years of life. Add candid black and white photos of the group and its leader and insights into Sid's mental state and you have an authoritative coverage which is required reading for any who would understand the roots and sentiments of punk rock.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars wonderful,yet short biography, June 24, 2004

By	"irememberhalloween" (texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sid Vicious: Rock 'n' Roll Star (Paperback)

A great biography...the only reason I rated it a 4 was because the author was sometimes wary on details.When you read about Sid,you realize he wasn't as "cool" as everyone thinks he is.He was just like anybody else,a regular human being.People put him on this high pedestal thinking "Wow,he's so cool.I want to wear leather jackets just like him!" well maybe not exactly like that,but you get the point.It shows he was just like most people...insecure at times,and liked to have fun.I read this all in one day...I couldn't put it down.