Malcolm McLaren, best known as the former manager of the Sex Pistols and music/fashion impresario, died yesterday aged 64.
Contrary to early reports that he was in New York, McLaren passed away in Switzerland yesterday morning at. His partner of 12 years, Young Kim, 37 and son Joe Corre were at his side.
He had been suffering from a rare form of cancer, mesothelioma, and was diagnosed in October last year but chose to keep his illness quiet, travelling to a clinic in Switzerland for treatment. It is understood he had been fairly active until February when the disease became more aggressive and his condition deteriorated rapidly in recent days.
Best known as the flamboyant manager of the Sex Pistols he was responsible for overseeing the band's early career and the now legendary boat trip on the Thames in the Queen's Jubilee week, May 1977 where they performed God Save The Queen and were subsequently boarded by the police, with McLaren being arrested. The whole event proving quite successful at getting them the publicity McLaren had planned for and propelling God Save The Queen to the second place spot in the Top 40 singles chart that week (prompting accusations by some of a fix to keep them off the top spot).
Relationships with the Sex Pistols soured somewhat in intervening years with McLaren being taken to court in a dispute about contract rights ownership which he lost, with John Lydon being awarded control in 1987.
Latterly to the Sex Pistols he also managed the New York Dolls and had a solo career of his own, releasing 16 studio albums in total. His 1983 album Duck Rock is credited as being one of the first albums to expose the sound of hip-hop to a mainstream audience in the UK. House of The Blue Danube is also noted for a rare fusion of avant-garde pop and classical/trance crossover on 1989's Waltz Darling album.
These records and his involvement with the early punk scene, the Pistols (and subsequent disputes), his unique way of marrying fashion with the music, through to management of Adam And The Ants and Bow Wow Wow give him one of the most colourful, eclectic, and at times, controversial careers in the last forty years of British music.
Originally born and raised in North London, his family body is expected to be flown home to be buried in Highgate cemetery.
The Sex Pistols get arrested in the Thames, May 1977 (vintage footage)
Malcolm McLaren - Buffalo Gals (from Duck Rock)
Malcolm McLaren and The Bootzilla Orchestra - House Of The Blue Danube
10:40 AM | 09/04/2010
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This is a very sad day for music, a brilliant manager has died before his time and will be sadly missed by all that he touched, whether it be physically or mentally. Rest in peace Malcolm x
Posted by Trace at 12:00 AM | 09/04/2010 | Report Abuse
Malcolm has to be remembered in Music history he brought with (Punk) the first TRUE youth cult into this country;the others were American and Carribbean.
He is also the Godfather of British HIPHOP an acknowledgement he was NEVER truly given in his lifetime.
I will NEVER for get his honesty in describing the pitfalls of the Music Industry in a way most Artistes and Mangement people hardly ever do.
GOD BLESS YOU MALCOLM.
YOU WILL BE REMEMBERED.
Posted by Roger H at 10:36 PM | 12/04/2010 | Report Abuse
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