Rolling Stone is an American music, politics, and popular culture magazine founded in 1967. This copy is dated November 30, 1978, Issue No. 279, priced $1.00 US / 60p UK, and features Sid Vicious as the lead cover subject.

The main cover story “Sid Vicious – The Punk Murder Case” by Michael Segell examines the death of Nancy Spungen and the legal and cultural fallout surrounding the Sex Pistols bassist during the final months of his life. The cover image shows Vicious posed with two women in leopard‑print styling, reflecting the era’s collision of punk notoriety, tabloid fascination, and late‑1970s decadence.

Additional major cover features include:

Van Morrison – The Rolling Stone Interview by Jonathan Cott

Keith Richards – Guilty but Free

Marijuana Martyrs – Four Victims of the System

Exposed – The Secret Life of Steve Martin

The leopard‑border frame and bold typography mark a visually distinctive late‑1970s Rolling Stone design, combining sensational subject matter with long‑form investigative journalism and cultural commentary.

This issue is especially notable for collectors due to its direct association with Sid Vicious’s final year and its documentation of punk rock’s most infamous moment entering mainstream media.

Condition:

Cover present with heavy age toning, edge wear, creasing, staple rust bleed, and handling marks consistent with age. Spine stress visible. Bagged for protection. Small handwritten price sticker present.

Format: Standard magazine

Publication: Rolling Stone

Issue Date: November 30, 1978

Cover Feature: Sid Vicious

Country: United States