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Sid Vicious could actually play bass...kinda.

Despite all his childish bravado and on stage posturing, it must have been pretty daunting for him underneath it all. After all he'd only been playing about 10 months in total at this point. Talk about 'thrown in at the deep end'. Mind you it ain't very complex music.
 
Sid was ok at best. Drugs were the priority in his life, bass playing was definitely way down on the list.

There's an ancient interview with Dee Dee Ramone from some music rag (International Musician, perhaps?) where he talks about how Sid Vicious used to call him up all the time and play the Wouldn't It Be Cool If We Formed A Band Together? fantasy game.

Dee Dee kept trying to blow him off, but Sid would persist, and often ask "If we were in a band together, would you still want to play bass?" Whenever Dee Dee would reply "Yes" Sid would say "That's good, 'cuz I wanna play guitar."
 
Sid was never really a true "bass player" the band needed a bassist because glen Matlock quit and they needed a bassist quick and Sid stepped up but didn't know how to play but he got a bass and took a whole load of speed and listen to a ramones record on repeat and learned the basics of the instrument. But in the studio he rarely played. Normally in live performances he would have to turn down to the point where there was no bass at all. But hey he was the most punk out of any of them.

I can't understand how "punk" got so popular. What is the appeal of being a whiny, ****** person with little to no talent? It sounds like that's what being punk is all about.
 
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I can't understand how "punk" got so popular. What is the appeal of being a whiny, ****** person with little to no talent? It sounds like that's what being punk is all about.

Rebellion against the establisment. Taking back fate in their own hands. Spirit of the times. Hard times back then and youth felt ****** over by the previous generations.

If you're into The Police, you'll read stories of how they'd hide their chops in order to get gigs.
 
I's SP fan but its sad to me that during the time they were around (my teens) My friends and I thought of them as a joke band. We used to hear about them and read about them in Cream magazine and they were made out to be like a stupid pop boy band.

maybe it was us but we kind of dissed them although secretly I loved them. We worshiped Sabbath, Kiss, BOC, Aerosmith...that was rock to us.

Thanks for this link. I will listen to it all with earbuds when I can. I love the history and mystery of the SP.
 
"kill someone, kill yourself". Gripping.

Great comedy around here. I love it when you guys go into your "all music is great no matter how bad it is mode".

Now, stop it.

Ha I'd go see the Sex Pistols any day over Grand Funk Railroad. There isn't any other four musicians in the world that could make it sound like the Sex Pistols. But I'd bet John Ritchie could play the bass line for "some kind of wonderful" haha. Sex Pistols WERE great.
 
Yeah, Sid was not that great, but could play a little when not strung out.

That was the main issue. During the American tour they pretty much kept him clean and his playing sounded better for it (which is why he carved "gimme a fix" into his chest. Slight touch of withdrawal there..)

According to John Lydon, after the sound check before the actual show, Sid disappeared for a bit with Malcom McClaren and came back stoned.

Which helped lead to the implosion after the show..
 
When you watch the vid, the bass keeps playing while Sid flourishes his hand away from the strings. Embarrassing.
Check this out, around 18:17: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooIz_Di2w3g

Ridiculous. He slams a note, holds it, flails his arm, and then starts playing again, with no other bass notes sounding in the interim.

Haters gonna hate.
 
Great comedy around here. I love it when you guys go into your "all music is great no matter how bad it is mode".

Now, stop it.

Not bad for a Grand Funk Railroad fan. :D


GFR are typically lampooned as being such a basic and brainless act that Homer Simpson likes them. "Ah, but Mel Schacker was a brilliant and innovative bassist" I hear you clamor.... instantly activating "all music is great no matter how bad it is mode".