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Lot Essay
Sid Vicious was released on bail on 1st February, 1979. He died of a heroin overdose the following morning in a flat in Greenwich Village, New York, where he was staying with his mother.
Details
Sid Vicious/Anne Beverley
A collection of three handwritten letters from John Simon Ritchie's (Sid Vicious') mother, Anne Beverley, written in New York, following Sid's arrest for the murder of his girlfriend Nancy Spungeon, the affectionate letters, sent to Anne Beverley's partner in England between 26th October, 1978 - 19th January, 1979, offer a poignant insight into Sid's frame of mind during this turbulent period of his life, his mother's love for both her son and her partner, her fears for Sid, and the catalogue of events in the courtroom and at Riker's Island which imminently preceeded Sid's death from an overdose on the 2nd February, 1979; in the earliest two-page letter, written two weeks after Nancy's death [11th October, 1978] Sid's mother states:
- ...my heart is breaking for him. He is so terribly anguished over Nancy's death and so frightened of the murder charge & the possible consequences..., she also gives details of a suicide pact between Sid and Nancy: ...my greatest fear & worry right now is that he will try to take his life again [Sid attempted suicide on 22nd October, 1978] if he is let out, Nancy in her selfish way made him promise that if she died (and she was always boasting that she would die before she was 21) he would join her & that's all he thinks about...
- In her following one-page letter dated 9th November, 1978, she is full of optimism for her son ...Sid came out of Bellevue on Monday evening, really elated at getting out. He seems to be much better, not so depressed...I think he is going to be O.K...
- The final five-page letter, written on the 19th January, 1979, gives a detailed account of Sid's courtroom appearance on the 16th January, Anne's visits to Riker's Island to see Sid, McLaren's efforts with Virgin Records and Richard Branson to persuade them to put up bail again and Anne's own shortage of funds:
....Friday, another visiting day at Rikers Island. I hated having to tell Sid that he might have to stay for another week, but once I had explained it all and assured him that Malcolm was doing his best & that Richard Branson would agree to put up the bail again (afer all, if Sid is out he can make the L.P. for Virgin) Sid was quite philosophical about it.... She ends on an almost prophetically fearful note:
- ...Sid will definately not be out until about the 29th, so keep your fingers crossed...that all goes well...;
accompanied by two promotional Sex Pistols pin badges, one for God Save The Queen the other for Anarchy In The UK both of which had apparently belonged to Sid; and a book of matches from the Hotel George Washington, New York, City which his mother had given to Sid at some point in New York; and a document concerning the provenance (6)
A collection of three handwritten letters from John Simon Ritchie's (Sid Vicious') mother, Anne Beverley, written in New York, following Sid's arrest for the murder of his girlfriend Nancy Spungeon, the affectionate letters, sent to Anne Beverley's partner in England between 26th October, 1978 - 19th January, 1979, offer a poignant insight into Sid's frame of mind during this turbulent period of his life, his mother's love for both her son and her partner, her fears for Sid, and the catalogue of events in the courtroom and at Riker's Island which imminently preceeded Sid's death from an overdose on the 2nd February, 1979; in the earliest two-page letter, written two weeks after Nancy's death [11th October, 1978] Sid's mother states:
- ...my heart is breaking for him. He is so terribly anguished over Nancy's death and so frightened of the murder charge & the possible consequences..., she also gives details of a suicide pact between Sid and Nancy: ...my greatest fear & worry right now is that he will try to take his life again [Sid attempted suicide on 22nd October, 1978] if he is let out, Nancy in her selfish way made him promise that if she died (and she was always boasting that she would die before she was 21) he would join her & that's all he thinks about...
- In her following one-page letter dated 9th November, 1978, she is full of optimism for her son ...Sid came out of Bellevue on Monday evening, really elated at getting out. He seems to be much better, not so depressed...I think he is going to be O.K...
- The final five-page letter, written on the 19th January, 1979, gives a detailed account of Sid's courtroom appearance on the 16th January, Anne's visits to Riker's Island to see Sid, McLaren's efforts with Virgin Records and Richard Branson to persuade them to put up bail again and Anne's own shortage of funds:
....Friday, another visiting day at Rikers Island. I hated having to tell Sid that he might have to stay for another week, but once I had explained it all and assured him that Malcolm was doing his best & that Richard Branson would agree to put up the bail again (afer all, if Sid is out he can make the L.P. for Virgin) Sid was quite philosophical about it.... She ends on an almost prophetically fearful note:
- ...Sid will definately not be out until about the 29th, so keep your fingers crossed...that all goes well...;
accompanied by two promotional Sex Pistols pin badges, one for God Save The Queen the other for Anarchy In The UK both of which had apparently belonged to Sid; and a book of matches from the Hotel George Washington, New York, City which his mother had given to Sid at some point in New York; and a document concerning the provenance (6)
Literature
SAVAGE, Jon England's Dreaming Sex Pistols and Punk Rock, London: Faber and Faber, 1992
BURGESS, Paul and PARKER, Alan Satellite Sex Pistols, London: Abstract Sounds Publishing, 1999
BURGESS, Paul and PARKER, Alan Satellite Sex Pistols, London: Abstract Sounds Publishing, 1999
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