Malcolm McLaren, the man who created the Sex Pistols, has died from cancer at the age of 64.
McLaren was a true music personality and identity in the London area in the 70s.He started his career in fashion, opening the famed Let It Rock clothing store in London with partner Vivienne Westwood in 1971. It was the clothing store to the stars. McLaren dressed The New York Dolls in their red leather costumes and then Neon Boys, featuring Tom Verlaine.
Let it Rock was renamed ‘Too Fast To Live Too Young To Die” in 1972 and then in 1975 it was renamed ‘SEX’ and specialised in S&M clothing.
In 1975, McLaren commercialised punk with the invention of the Sex Pistols out of a band called The Strand. McLaren discovered John Lydon and engaged him as lead singer of the band and changing his name to Johnny Rotten.
Although there was really only one studio album “Never Mind The Bullocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols” McLaren created international headlines with the band. The album was released in October 1977 and by January 1978 they had split up after a 12 days on a US tour.
The band were best known for the controversial anti-monarchy hit ‘God Save The Queen’, released during Queen Elizabeth II’s Silver Jubilee in May 1977.
McLaren started his own recording career after that and had his own international hit with the ‘Duck Rock’ album in 1983 and the hit song ‘Buffalo Gals’. Eminem gave a nod to the song in his 2002 hit ‘Without Me’.
McLaren died in New York. His body will be flown back to England for burial at Highgate Cemetery. Other famous people buried at the cemetery include German philosopher Karl Marx, The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy author Douglas Adams and Adam Worth, the real inspiration for the Sherlock Holmes nemesis Professor Moriarty.
