Nancy Spungen

Nancy Laura Spungen (February 27, 1958 - October 12, 1978) was the girlfriend of Sex Pistols' bassist Sid Vicious. Spungen has been the subject of controversy among music historians and fans of the Sex Pistols.

Related Topics:
February 27 - 1958 - October 12 - 1978 - Sex Pistols - Sid Vicious

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Nancy was from a middle class Jewish family in the Huntingdon Valley area of Lower Moreland Township, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia. Her mother owned a local health food store. Nancy was highly hyperactive and had trouble during her teens. By age eleven she was receiving intense psychotherapy. She tried killing herself numerous times and suffered severe depression.

Related Topics:
Middle class - Jew - Lower Moreland Township, Pennsylvania - Philadelphia - Health food - Hyperactive - Psychotherapy - Killing herself - Depression

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Spungen left home at age 19 and became a groupie, following bands such as Aerosmith, The New York Dolls and The Ramones. She then worked as a stripper in New York City, which sometimes involved prostitution. She reportedly moved to London with the express purpose of winning over Jerry Nolan of the New York Dolls and The Heartbreakers but found The Sex Pistols instead and met bassist Sid Vicious through Johnny Rotten. They quickly moved in together.

Related Topics:
Groupie - Aerosmith - The New York Dolls - The Ramones - Prostitution - London - Jerry Nolan - New York Dolls - The Heartbreakers - The Sex Pistols - Bassist - Sid Vicious - Johnny Rotten

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

During a rocky 21-month relationship Spungen and Vicious abused heroin and other drugs. Vicious was already a poly-substance abuser before he met her, but Spungen introduced him to heroin, the drug that would eventually kill him. The tabloids dubbed her "Nauseating Nancy" for her frequent, public displays of drug-fueled verbal abuse and violence. Sid's emotional dependence on her interfered with the Sex Pistols' performances and contributed to the band's breakup during their US tour. Spungen and Vicious moved to the famous Hotel Chelsea in New York City where Vicious tried with little success to continue his musical career.

Related Topics:
Heroin - Tabloids - Hotel Chelsea - New York City

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Following increased drug abuse and reports of domestic violence the end came on October 12, 1978 when Spungen was found sprawled on the bathroom floor in a black bra and panties, having bled to death from a stomach wound later traced to Vicious' knife. Sid was immediately arrested for murder. While out on bail he made several remarks which amounted to a confession and on February 2, 1979 Sid Vicious died of a heroin overdose which has sometimes been described as suicide. It is likely the details of her death will never be known.

Related Topics:
Drug abuse - Domestic violence - October 12 - 1978 - February 2 - 1979 - Overdose

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Spungen's mother Deborah wrote a book in which she referred to Nancy's medical records and revealed her daughter suffered from paranoid schizophrenia, which is now widely cited as the reason for her reported anti-social behaviour and apparent inability to empathise with others. Some observers believe Nancy also had borderline personality disorder.

Related Topics:
Paranoid schizophrenia - Borderline personality disorder

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Spungen's and Vicious' romance was the subject of an off-Broadway play and the 1986 Alex Cox film Sid and Nancy.

Related Topics:
Broadway - 1986 - Alex Cox - Sid and Nancy

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~