Please note: This thread isn't about whether or not you like the Pistols, Sid Vicious or punk music in general. I'm just trying to clear up a common misconception.
Today marks the 41st anniversary of Sid's death. Because of this, a lot of people are remembering him on Facebook and in other places with the mandatory mention heard a million times - that he couldn't play the bass at all.
Quite the contrary: he actually could, and there are a few pieces of evidence attesting to that.
Here's 20 minutes of Sid Vicious in Stockholm in 1977 - plugged in, playing the bass, audible and doing exactly what he's supposed to.
Of course he ain't Jaco or Wooten, or even his more melodic and capable predecessor Glen Matlock. He's playing root notes, having fun and I'd say he's doing a good job.
I'll post three more clips at the end of this post. The first two are of the Pistols live where you can hear Sid playing. The third is the sound check for the infamous final show in San Francisco. You can hear Sid playing some simple Ramones lines and Johnny Rotten at one point asks the sound guys to turn Sid down.
I'd say it's about time to start clearing up the misconception about his inability to play and other things like Sid being unplugged on purpose. Whether you like him or not, he was after all a fellow bass player with a very tragic story. Things would have certainly been different for him if heroin hadn't set in, and there are many people who consider the Pistols among their influences for picking up an instrument and starting to play. I know I'm one of them - there was a time when my teenage self wouldn't stop playing "Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols" and "Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables" by the Dead Kennedys back to back on a continuous loop for days on end.
RIP Sid. No future!
Today marks the 41st anniversary of Sid's death. Because of this, a lot of people are remembering him on Facebook and in other places with the mandatory mention heard a million times - that he couldn't play the bass at all.
Quite the contrary: he actually could, and there are a few pieces of evidence attesting to that.
Here's 20 minutes of Sid Vicious in Stockholm in 1977 - plugged in, playing the bass, audible and doing exactly what he's supposed to.
Of course he ain't Jaco or Wooten, or even his more melodic and capable predecessor Glen Matlock. He's playing root notes, having fun and I'd say he's doing a good job.
I'll post three more clips at the end of this post. The first two are of the Pistols live where you can hear Sid playing. The third is the sound check for the infamous final show in San Francisco. You can hear Sid playing some simple Ramones lines and Johnny Rotten at one point asks the sound guys to turn Sid down.
I'd say it's about time to start clearing up the misconception about his inability to play and other things like Sid being unplugged on purpose. Whether you like him or not, he was after all a fellow bass player with a very tragic story. Things would have certainly been different for him if heroin hadn't set in, and there are many people who consider the Pistols among their influences for picking up an instrument and starting to play. I know I'm one of them - there was a time when my teenage self wouldn't stop playing "Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols" and "Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables" by the Dead Kennedys back to back on a continuous loop for days on end.
RIP Sid. No future!
