John Lydon wishes Sid Vicious hadn't been turned into a 'nasty, egotistical monster' by drugs

The singer appeared alongside Sid in punk band Sex Pistols - which imploded in 1978, a few months before the bass player died of a heroin overdose - and John wishes the notorious figure had learned to control himself better.

Speaking at the launch of his memoir, 'Mr Rotten's Scrapbook' at The Hospital Club, London, John said: 'Sid, I regret that he went and topped himself. I've seen too many people in this business carry on with that utter nonsense.

'The drugs turned him into a nasty, egotistical monster, easily persuaded and

dissuaded from common sense.

'Drugs are there, yeah, but learn how to use them recreationally and do not let them use you. I'm a classic example, of having been through every chemical known to man and to still be standing, walking, talking sense.'

The singer - who later went on to have success in the group PiL ' added one of his favourite memories of Sid was when he tried to emulate David Bowie's famous shock of red hair.

He explained: 'He was very impressed with David Bowie, he loved Bowie, he loved that hairdo, but he had no idea how to get it to stick up like that, so he used red paint and put himself upside down in a gas oven.'

'Mr Rotten's Scrapbook' is limited to 750 copies, and is available now from www.johnlydon.com

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