Sid Vicious got a bad rap. He ruined the Sex Pistols, he stole their 'integrity' he became 'the face' of the band and for what? For bleeding and dying.
I'm kidding but that's what some say, I personally thought he was one hip dude. Vicious was a perfect psychological hot mess for the punk rock world and that's evident in this little happy ditty 'Belsen Was a Gas'. Really, the world needs more tunes about gas chambers and I'm disappointed there aren't more.
Until now, you've only heard a couple bootleg live versions and that infamous Ronnie Biggs studio cut. But in honor of the 35th Anniversary release- we get a new improv steeped closet recording that sounds almost psychedelic. Freakin Lydon, hes such a pip. The song is raw and actually the hollow sound of this recording make it feel more, oh I don't know.. chamber-y.
Soundman John ‘Boogie’ Tiberi recorded the track a cheesy Denmark Street rehearsal room when Johnny Rotten, decided to work on the lyrics with Vicious.
He remembers: “I wired up Denmark Street to put it down on a four-track. It really shouldn't have to be said, but that’s Sid on bass. It was very clumsy, no monitors, and sound insulation was non-existent.
“When I played it to producer Chris Thomas, he probably thought I was barmy and couldn't understand the reverb vocal – but that’s the way John wanted it. I thought it was good as a kind of sketch idea.”
Lydon later said of the song: “It was a very nasty, silly little thing that should have ended up on the cutting room floor.”
Producers of the box set say: “The controversial subject matter and dark humour of the song was designed to upset and provok, and is certainly an interesting footnote to the Sex Pistols’ finite catalogue of songs.”