It seems like years, when told I cried the night I heard Sid Vicious died. Born in nineteen fifty seven, fun and young a punk in heaven. The years that stopped at twenty one were full and loud, a crazy song of drugs and sex and frenzied shows with laughter, tears, the highs and lows.
Spiked and black, wild forest hair, you walked they stopped and turned to stare.
Gentle giant the friend of we who
copy those we'll never be.
Eyes of youth that stare you cold from photos yellow, torn and old.
That look, that smile, he stole my life, and married death a greedy wife.
She robbed your soul denied our dream. She haunts me now I wake and scream.
Body drenched by cold sweat,
I miss the man I never met.
-Neil D Thompson
Body drenched by cold sweat,
I miss the man I never met.
-Neil D Thompson
Never in my life have I been so touched by a poem. No Maya Angelou, Shakespeare, Jane Austen, or anyone else can compare. The power of these words are incredible, even if you don't even know who Vicious is. It is captivating and wonderful.
I feel gipped for not being born in that time. To be part of that scene would've been insanely cool. Hearing stories about it makes my eyes light up, and a bit green with envy. I've heard to much bad about it; the drugs, the violence, and the hatred seems scary and dangerous. However, I can't help but be curious and in awe. Granted, being a part of my generation offers new opportunities. As a lover of "older music" (ie Joy Division, Pistols, Smiths), I feel like I can connect with more people of other ages, appreciate music unlike my peers, and know how to really know what has inspired scenes and genres.
Sid died so young; it was a terrible tragedy, really. I'm currently reading a book about him, No One Is Innocent. It's a beautifully written work, and that is what's made me so passionate about Vicious. Today a substitute teacher in class said, "Vicious? Why'd you read about that dreg of society?" He read the inside cover of the book, and said, "Perhaps I judged too harshly, but no one really aspires to be like that. They were pretty gross, but the band was alright." I automatically knew that I had a better understanding of something that he couldn't comprehend. Maybe he was a junkie, and a rockstar, and dangerous and cool and maybe even seen as "arrogant". But he did something no "dreg of society" could ever do- he single-handedly revolutionised punk. Not only musically, but the image as well.
Furthermore, Sid didn't kill Nancy Spungen; it was Rockets Redglare.
Sid Vicious was an incredible man in every aspect.
I miss the man I never met.