Lydon Expresses Regret Over Sid Vicious

Speaking on the eve of his reunion tour with Public Image Ltd [P.I.L.], frontman John Lydon has revealed his regret about allowing Sid Vicious into the ranks of the Sex Pistols. Vicious, real name John Ritchie, was a school friend of Lydon's who joined the then-notorious punk band after bassist and founder Glen Matlock was ousted from the band.

In an interview with the Independent, Lydon said: "Once you start on that heroin trail of self pity it's gone. I'm sorry, God, for the day I brought Sid into the band. He felt so isolated, poor old Sid, because he wasn't the sharpest knife on the block. The best aspect of his character, which was his humour, just vanished the day he joined the Pistols."

Vicious died of a heroin overdose in New York in 1979, several months after the fatal stabbing of his girlfriend, Nancy Spungeon.

Lydon also expressed disdain for bands that have failed to acknowledge the influence of Sex Pistols and P.I.L., and focused his ire on Oasis singer Liam Gallagher.

He said: "I'm still hearing records coming out that mimic our style, but they don't give us credit.

"I'm a bit annoyed, because I've never done anything in my life to be like somebody else. Oasis annoy me, you know? The voice annoys me. He could've come up with his own thing."