What band mate called Sid Vicious a waste of space?

Johnny Rotten called his Sex Pistols bandmate Sid Vicious a "waste of space." Rotten, whose real name is John Lydon, made the remark while reflecting on the band's chaotic final period.

Sid Vicious joined the Sex Pistols in early 1977, replacing original bassist Glen Matlock. His image, stage presence, and confrontational style became closely associated with punk rock, but his drug addiction and limited musical ability created serious tension within the group. Vicious often struggled to perform, and other musicians sometimes played bass parts for recordings and live appearances.

The Sex Pistols' only major American tour ended at San Francisco's Winterland Ballroom on January 14, 1978. After the concert, Rotten famously asked the audience whether they had ever felt cheated, then left the band. In later comments about that breakdown, he described Vicious as being completely out of his mind and a waste of space.

The insult is often remembered because it captures the bitterness surrounding the band's collapse. It also reflects Rotten's longstanding criticism of the way Malcolm McLaren and the media turned Sid Vicious into a punk icon.