Go to Arts & Leisure Headlines

Sid & Nancy Museum Opens

MUDCAT FALLS -- American folklore has it that New York City's fabled Chelsea Hotel is haunted by the ghosts of Mark Twain, Janis Joplin and other celebrities who once graced its now dilapidated rooms. But of all those famous wandering souls none could tell a more spine-tingling tale than the tortured spirits of Nancy Spungen and her lover, Sid Vicious. And now the paraphernalia of those tormented voices will be preserved for the ages in a new Mudcat Falls museum.

"I dunno. They're pretty cool and I got all this stuff, and stuff," mumbles Chester McFuddlespud, Owner, Manager and Curator, as he leads a tour of the museum archiving artifacts from the life and times of the legendary Sex Pistol's infamous bass player and his purportedly schizophrenic girl friend. "He was cool and all, you know. And I got all this stuff."

In the background, 'Anarchy in the UK' pounds out its insistent theme and a tape loop of Bill Grundy's Today Program interview with the incendiary punk-rock group repeatedly spews forth what the London Daily Mail called "some of the dirtiest language ever heard on television."

McFuddlespud has turned his parent's two-car garage into the main exhibit hall filled in an attic-like motif with authentically blood splattered T-shirts, concert tickets, guitar straps, dog collars, raincoats and much, much more, collected primarily during the Sex Pistol's 1978 tour of the United States. The tour ended in Texas when band leader Johnny Rotten quit. Later that year, in the early morning hours of October 12, in room 100 of the Chelsea Hotel, Sid ended his tempestuous 21-month relationship with Nancy by stabbing her to death with a hunting knife. Four months later, in agony without her, he ended his own tortured life at 21 years of age as a result of a drug overdose. Although distinguished by an utter lack of musical talent, together the couple's lust for fame took them to the forefront of rock's avant-garde, two dog-collared nihilists who brought their twisted, Gothic romance to its ill-fated end.

The forty-three year old entrepreneur hopes to add to his collection and eventually move out of his parents garage, but that will have to wait until traffic builds among the museum exhibits.

"I dunno, it's been a little slow, so far. Three people have come so far, but one guy was lost and asking for directions to some Bar-B-Q joint," admitted the young archivist. "A couple of neighbors have said something about zoning ordinances or something, but I don't understand what they're talking about."

"We're really hoping that this is finally Chester's thing in life," said Mother McFuddlespud. "It's kind of noisy with that so-called music, but not so's Pa would notice when he using his power tools in the garage."

Admission is $7.50 for adults, $4.50 for children under twelve years of age. Gift shop items are available from the trunk of McFuddlespud's Ford Tempo. Museum hours are irregular and visitors are advised to call ahead.

©2002 MFTHPPPGT




www.mudcatfalls.com



Go to Arts & Leisure Headlines