Sid Vicious

British punk musician born in London (10 May 1957 - 2 February 1979). He was born John Simon Ritchie, but later adopted his stepfather's surname, Beverley. A pre-Sex Pistols John Lydon nicknamed him "Sid Vicious," after Lydon's pet hamster named Sid.

In 1976, he began his musical career as part London's burgeoning punk scene, playing drums for The Vicious White Kids.

He moved to New York City, and in September 1978 he performed his final gigs at Nancy Spungen (2). Ten days later, he tried to kill himself and was sent to Bellevue Hospital. On 2 February 1979, while out on bail, Vicious officially died of "acute intravenous narcotism," also known as a drug overdose.