Post by nma on Nov 25, 2010 5:17:30 GMT -5
Hi! I am sorry that I never get to post here much, I have been really busy with work and school. But, seeing that a few of you started talking about Parker's "biography" about Sid, I thought I would share a rejected Amazon.com review of it that I wrote back in March of this year. I had a strong feeling they would not post it, I am not sure why, but, I just knew they wouldn't. Anyway, I saved it and I will post it here. I am probably rambling in it, and there are probably ghastly typos, but, I do address the most prominent issues I had with the book with regard to lies and exaggerations, and other shady twists and turns. Here it is:
******
Don't know why I was expecting more from this, March 1, 2010
By Nicole A. (Massachusetts, USA) - See all my reviews
I really went into reading this book with a completely open mind. I gave it the best chance I possibly could, but, I can not comprehend how or why someone who touts himself as Sid Vicious's official biographer simply can not get his facts straight. I'm not even getting into the typos, like everyone else does in the reviews I have read about this book elsewhere. I am talking about FACTS. I am going to list the most glaring inaccuracies I have found: First, Parker talks about how Jerry Nolan discusses in some interview that he turned ROTTEN on to heroin and felt guilty about it. Parker goes on to say something to the effect of "Nolan must've gotten Rotten confused with Vicious, as Rotten/Lydon has never gone on record in any form admitting to heroin use and is very anti drugs." Um, yes, he has, Mr. Parker. If you had read his book, which you seem to have stolen quite a few bits from, you'd see that he DOES admit to trying it once, and discusses it's pointlessness and how sickening it was for him. He also ridicules Nolan for the quote about being the one to shoot him up, saying it was not during that time or within that sort of company that he tried it in. I'm not going to get into a bashing of sorts to "protect" Lydon, but, I have read his book at least 15-20 times (along with every other Pistols/Sid related book I can get my hands on), and thoroughly at that, so, I am certain of what I have read. Perhaps Mr. Parker should, as well. Second blazing discrepancy: Parker weaves Steve Jones' Filth and The Fury quote about Lydon and McLaren not getting along, to which Steve says (something to the effect): ".... they're the same f*cking starsign, they were always butting heads." Parker goes on to dwell in this quote in his own words and says something like "Being that Steve noticed that they didn't get on both being Capricorns.." Mr. Parker, sir, PLEASE explain to me why and HOW you didn't research this if you had to include the actual astrological sign. Lydon was born 31 January 1956 and McLaren 22 January 1946. That makes them both Aquariuses. This may seem ridiculous, but, I see it as being even more ridiculous that since you felt the need to expound upon Steve's quote you were using and get into "specifics", that you couldn't ask Malcolm what sign he fell under, being that he was the author of your fore ward. Or at least, look it up yourself. Ridiculous. Thirdly, there is a discussion about Sid's interview in Hyde Park with Julien Temple (bits were used in the Filth and The Fury film). Parker decides to sling together actual quotes from the footage released in the film, and thinks he's fooling others by adding another set of quotes from a RADIO INTERVIEW and saying that "Sid looked into the camera and said.." ...There was this little tirade Sid went on on an interview he did with Lydon on KSAN in January of 1978 before the Winterland gig where he says: "When there are no more categorizations; when there are no more "n*ggers", when there are no more "whites", when there's just "people", you know, when there's no more "punks" when there's no more "dirt", that is when everything is gonna be OK." Parker LITERALLY says that Sid LOOKED INTO THE CAMERA AND SAID THIS TO JULIEN TEMPLE during the HYDE PARK INTERVIEW. This is NONSENSE. It is from the KSAN interview in the USA before the last gig at Winterland. If this is on video, I'd pay huge amounts of money to see it, believe me. What I think happened here, is Parker knows that a HUGE portion of the Hyde Park interview has never been released to the public, and, he feels he can get away with putting sort of lesser known quotes (such as ones from the KSAN interview) falsely portraying them to be part of this mysterious extra footage from Hyde Park we've never seen and he has. Well, sir, I could care less how much special access you receive to rare footage due to your connections, I KNOW that quote does NOT come from the Hyde Park interview, and, no, I have no way of seeing that interview until it is released uncut, and, that unfortunately may be NEVER, as we all know. Where you can find this interview footage he is using erroneously from KSAN, however, is on an album/interview disc called 'Some Product Carri On Sex Pistols" and you can find unedited versions of it on youtube. Look up "Sid Vicious Interview" and you will find it. John is there with him, and he tells him to shut up. How is that possibly part of the Hyde Park interview, Mr. Parker? That interview with Temple took place after the break up. Why would Johnny be talking as well? Why is an American woman interviewing them, if it is Julien Temple's Hyde Park interview?
Things like this are inexcusable. Please do not call such inaccuracies and lies a definitive biography. The above mentioned may seem like small potatoes, but, when you know your obvious facts, and you continue to see more and more of these twists and exaggerations, you can't help but feel contemptuous. This is a work of fiction on most accounts. I don't see this as being a mere mis-wording. I see it as a deliberate attempt to tell half truths and outright lies.
I'm sure you did know Sid's mother. To get a bit of a more vivid background concerning her and a tiny bit more information on the elusive Ritchie Sr. was interesting and I appreciate that part of your book. But, you shot yourself in the foot with this reader by not giving enough of a damn to get these other facts straight. I could care less what you or anyone's personal opinion is about John, or anyone else, positive or negative. Keep it neutral and factual if you are writing a biography. Also understand not everyone who is interested in Sid or the Pistols as a whole are a bunch of flea- sized- attention -span- having gullible kids who will just lap up anything some guy who knew Sid's mother writes. Some of us have extensive Pistols collections, probably not as large as yours, but, that just proves my point further. You should know better, point blank. I'm sort of thinking you don't care and absolutely underestimate the intelligence of anyone who would purchase and read your books. A wise man once told me "They don't think you're stupid, sweetheart. They're just stupid enough to think you're only as smart as they are." Indeed.
You ruined your last chance to really create a compelling book.
I did like your Who Killed Nancy documentary much more, but, after reading this, I can't help but look at it in a negative light, no matter how I try not to.
******
I just wanted to share this, as it was denied on amazon. Cowards, they are...or, Parker somehow has control of reviews on there and won't allow any negative ones (despite how honest they actually are).
Take good care, everyone!
=)
-Nicole
******
Don't know why I was expecting more from this, March 1, 2010
By Nicole A. (Massachusetts, USA) - See all my reviews
I really went into reading this book with a completely open mind. I gave it the best chance I possibly could, but, I can not comprehend how or why someone who touts himself as Sid Vicious's official biographer simply can not get his facts straight. I'm not even getting into the typos, like everyone else does in the reviews I have read about this book elsewhere. I am talking about FACTS. I am going to list the most glaring inaccuracies I have found: First, Parker talks about how Jerry Nolan discusses in some interview that he turned ROTTEN on to heroin and felt guilty about it. Parker goes on to say something to the effect of "Nolan must've gotten Rotten confused with Vicious, as Rotten/Lydon has never gone on record in any form admitting to heroin use and is very anti drugs." Um, yes, he has, Mr. Parker. If you had read his book, which you seem to have stolen quite a few bits from, you'd see that he DOES admit to trying it once, and discusses it's pointlessness and how sickening it was for him. He also ridicules Nolan for the quote about being the one to shoot him up, saying it was not during that time or within that sort of company that he tried it in. I'm not going to get into a bashing of sorts to "protect" Lydon, but, I have read his book at least 15-20 times (along with every other Pistols/Sid related book I can get my hands on), and thoroughly at that, so, I am certain of what I have read. Perhaps Mr. Parker should, as well. Second blazing discrepancy: Parker weaves Steve Jones' Filth and The Fury quote about Lydon and McLaren not getting along, to which Steve says (something to the effect): ".... they're the same f*cking starsign, they were always butting heads." Parker goes on to dwell in this quote in his own words and says something like "Being that Steve noticed that they didn't get on both being Capricorns.." Mr. Parker, sir, PLEASE explain to me why and HOW you didn't research this if you had to include the actual astrological sign. Lydon was born 31 January 1956 and McLaren 22 January 1946. That makes them both Aquariuses. This may seem ridiculous, but, I see it as being even more ridiculous that since you felt the need to expound upon Steve's quote you were using and get into "specifics", that you couldn't ask Malcolm what sign he fell under, being that he was the author of your fore ward. Or at least, look it up yourself. Ridiculous. Thirdly, there is a discussion about Sid's interview in Hyde Park with Julien Temple (bits were used in the Filth and The Fury film). Parker decides to sling together actual quotes from the footage released in the film, and thinks he's fooling others by adding another set of quotes from a RADIO INTERVIEW and saying that "Sid looked into the camera and said.." ...There was this little tirade Sid went on on an interview he did with Lydon on KSAN in January of 1978 before the Winterland gig where he says: "When there are no more categorizations; when there are no more "n*ggers", when there are no more "whites", when there's just "people", you know, when there's no more "punks" when there's no more "dirt", that is when everything is gonna be OK." Parker LITERALLY says that Sid LOOKED INTO THE CAMERA AND SAID THIS TO JULIEN TEMPLE during the HYDE PARK INTERVIEW. This is NONSENSE. It is from the KSAN interview in the USA before the last gig at Winterland. If this is on video, I'd pay huge amounts of money to see it, believe me. What I think happened here, is Parker knows that a HUGE portion of the Hyde Park interview has never been released to the public, and, he feels he can get away with putting sort of lesser known quotes (such as ones from the KSAN interview) falsely portraying them to be part of this mysterious extra footage from Hyde Park we've never seen and he has. Well, sir, I could care less how much special access you receive to rare footage due to your connections, I KNOW that quote does NOT come from the Hyde Park interview, and, no, I have no way of seeing that interview until it is released uncut, and, that unfortunately may be NEVER, as we all know. Where you can find this interview footage he is using erroneously from KSAN, however, is on an album/interview disc called 'Some Product Carri On Sex Pistols" and you can find unedited versions of it on youtube. Look up "Sid Vicious Interview" and you will find it. John is there with him, and he tells him to shut up. How is that possibly part of the Hyde Park interview, Mr. Parker? That interview with Temple took place after the break up. Why would Johnny be talking as well? Why is an American woman interviewing them, if it is Julien Temple's Hyde Park interview?
Things like this are inexcusable. Please do not call such inaccuracies and lies a definitive biography. The above mentioned may seem like small potatoes, but, when you know your obvious facts, and you continue to see more and more of these twists and exaggerations, you can't help but feel contemptuous. This is a work of fiction on most accounts. I don't see this as being a mere mis-wording. I see it as a deliberate attempt to tell half truths and outright lies.
I'm sure you did know Sid's mother. To get a bit of a more vivid background concerning her and a tiny bit more information on the elusive Ritchie Sr. was interesting and I appreciate that part of your book. But, you shot yourself in the foot with this reader by not giving enough of a damn to get these other facts straight. I could care less what you or anyone's personal opinion is about John, or anyone else, positive or negative. Keep it neutral and factual if you are writing a biography. Also understand not everyone who is interested in Sid or the Pistols as a whole are a bunch of flea- sized- attention -span- having gullible kids who will just lap up anything some guy who knew Sid's mother writes. Some of us have extensive Pistols collections, probably not as large as yours, but, that just proves my point further. You should know better, point blank. I'm sort of thinking you don't care and absolutely underestimate the intelligence of anyone who would purchase and read your books. A wise man once told me "They don't think you're stupid, sweetheart. They're just stupid enough to think you're only as smart as they are." Indeed.
You ruined your last chance to really create a compelling book.
I did like your Who Killed Nancy documentary much more, but, after reading this, I can't help but look at it in a negative light, no matter how I try not to.
******
I just wanted to share this, as it was denied on amazon. Cowards, they are...or, Parker somehow has control of reviews on there and won't allow any negative ones (despite how honest they actually are).
Take good care, everyone!
=)
-Nicole