Punk legend, Sex Pistols manager, and "master of the publicity stunt", Malcolm McLaren, died yesterday of cancer in a Swiss hospital.
McLaren's agent Les Molloy last night said: "It's a sad day. He'd been suffering cancer for some time, but recently had been full of health, which then rapidly deteriorated. We are expecting his body to be brought back to London and buried in Highgate Cemetery... He had a healthy approach to everything. He was so witty and wise. He wasn't slowing down - we were planning things for this year. He was due to judge a talent contest at the O2 in June and to work on some shows for Radio 2."
Before he began working with the Sex Pistols, McLaren ran a fetish clothing shop with his then girlfriend, designer Vivienne Westwood. Later in his career he also managed New York Dolls in their hey day, and went on to launch his own solo career. He released his first solo album, 'Duck Rock' in 1983, an album described as "a groundbreaking record", by producer Paul Epworth, who added, "It is better to be a flamboyant failure than a benign success... a fitting testament to someone who changed British pop at least twice?"
The 64-year-old's partner, Young Kim, and his son with Vivienne Westwood, Joseph Corre, were by his bedside as he passed. Vivienne said: "When we were young and I fell in love with Malcolm, I thought he was beautiful - and I still do. I thought he is a very charismatic, special and talented person. The thought of him dead is very sad. We hadn't been in touch for a long time."
Since his death, tributes have been pouring in from stars across the music world. Boy George commented, "Punk will never die! Malcolm was a rogue, we had our dramas but he was a huge part of my life!" Meanwhile P Diddy lamented that "music lost an icon".
We'll leave the last word to John Lydon: "For me Malc was always entertaining, and I hope you remember that. Above all else he was an entertainer. I'll miss him and so should you."
