Malcolm McLaren, the former manager of the Sex Pistols
and impresario, has died. He was 64.
McLaren had had cancer for some time. His condition recently suddenly worsened and he died this morning in New York. His body is expected to be brought home to be buried in Highgate cemetery, north London.
I never knew Mr. McLaren of course, but I'd heard an interesting story about him from John Wicks, lead singer and songwriter (along with Will Birch) of the classic powerpop band of the late 70s and early 80s, The Records. I hope I can do the story justice. Here's the way I recall John telling it....
John saw this ad in NME looking for a lead singer. He phoned up the telephone number in the ad and this guy on the other line, a guy who owns this London S&M clothing boutique starts telling me about this band he's putting together. He was very specific in what he wanted. The way John tells it he would have auditioned if it weren't for Mr. McLaren's last stipulation...that he cut his hair. There is no way Wicks was cutting his hair for anyone! The conversation ended there. It was a few years later after the Sex Pistols became popular that John put two and two together and figured out that he had been on a phone interview with Mr. McLaren for the job John Lydon would later fill so very well. From this story its easy to see that McLaren was a man with a vision, a specific plan that he could see through according to his specification...one of the rare breed of entrepreneur who could succeed on his own terms. A very rare breed indeed.
That's my Malcolm McLaren story and I'm stickin' to it.
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