Sid Vicious was the bassist of Sex Pistols and one of the most controversial figures in the history of music. Vicious claimed this unofficial title by being unapologetically reckless and employing polarizing rhetoric both in his public comments and music. While all these things certainly made Vicious a memorably crude and contentious individual. The main thing people seemingly often associate with Vicious’ polarizing personality is the alleged murder of his girlfriend, Nancy Spungen.
Videos by American Songwriter
In October of 1978, Nancy Spungen was found dead in a Hotel Chelsea room from a single stab wound. Spungen reportedly was stabbed with a Jaguar K-11 knife, the same knife she’d bought for Vicious just the day before. Consequently, the police arrested Sid Vicious, charged him with second-degree murder, and then took him to jail. Vicious left jail after paying a $50,000 bail.
After the death of Spungen, Vicious confessed to the murder of Spungen, as he told authorities, “I stabbed her, but I never meant to kill her,” per the Independent. However, 30 minutes later, Vicious contradicted his confession, stating that he was incredibly intoxicated during the event and wasn’t sure exactly what transpired. That being said, legally speaking, it was unclear if Vicious, the case’s prime suspect, did, in fact, murder his girlfriend.
What Happened to Sid Vicious After October 1978…
Months after his initial release from jail, authorities sent Vicious to Rikers Island after he attacked the brother of Patti Smith with a broken beer bottle. While in Rikers, Vicious underwent drug detoxification to kick his crippiling h—n addiction. Spungen’s case was still ongoing while Vicious was at Rikers.
Hours after the State released Vicious from Rikers in February of 1979, the bassist had died from a h—n overdose. He was 21 years old, and given that the State of New York had lost its prime suspect, they closed the case following his death. To this day, Nancy Spungen’s death remains unsolved.
While Spungen’s death remains unsolved, there are a lot of indicators and theories pointing towards Vicious as the guilty culprit. Before the passing of Spungen, friends and family had recalled seeing Sid Vicious’ life spiralling out of control. After his death, his Mother reportedly found a note he’d written that stated, “We had a death pact, and I have to keep my half of the bargain. Please bury me next to my baby. Bury me in my leather jacket, jeans, and motorcycle boots. Goodbye,” per the Independent.
Other theories surrounding Spungen’s death involve robberies, drug deals gone bad, and even the American actor, Rockets Redglare. Regardless, no individual has received a conviction for Spungen’s death. Consequently, it remains one of the biggest mysteries in all of pop culture.
Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Leave a Reply
Only members can comment. Become a member. Already a member? Log in.