NEW YORK (Reuters) – Malcolm McLaren, the British former manager and the self-proclaimed mastermind behind iconic punk band the Sex Pistols, has died from cancer at a hospital in Switzerland, his girlfriend said. He was 64.

"He passed away at a hospital in Switzerland where he was being treated for cancer," said Young Kim.

McLaren, the ex-partner of designer Vivienne Westwood, had been suffering from cancer for some time.

The London-born impresario and promoter assembled the Sex Pistols and managed them in the mid-1970s, a period that produced the groundbreaking singles "Anarchy in the U.K." and "God Save the Queen."

Kim told Reuters McLaren had traveled to New York in February for the launch of an art book before returning to Switzerland to be treated at a clinic. He died of a rare form of cancer called mesothelioma.

"Malcolm McLaren was a man who changed the world and is a lasting influence," Kim said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100408/...m/us_mclaren_2

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Also managed New York Dolls and Bow Wow Wow. He was controversial, no doubt, but I'll be most thankful for his best solo album, "Duck Rock". GREAT material. RIP.

Wow, I didn't even know he was ill. The Pistols had some great tunes, but I think Adam and the Ants and Bow Wow Wow were really underrated bands---both those bands had some very interesting and creative musical ideas and approaches.

I met MM in the late 80's, when I was a dj for our tiny university radio station, and we hosted him as a speaker. I remember debating him a bit about "sincerity" in music, and I brought up Bob Dylan---he said "yes, Bob Dylan was very marketable for his time." In person I found him to be similar to what you'd expect given his history---friendly, intelligent, sociable, but a bit aloof and intentionally abrasive.

I'm of mixed minds on McLaren. He ruined the Dolls, but if he hadn't, drugs would have anyway. And he took far too much credit for "inventing" punk, but he did do a hell of a lot to spread the word in its early years. On the other hand, he did bring us the Pistols (and indirectly, therefore, PiL), and that's a damned fine thing. So rest in peace, Malcolm -- I'll raise a glass to you tonight.

Two different sides to his best album:

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Here's a couple of my favorites from his creations:

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My favorite tidbit about McLaren is that he originally wanted, and asked, Midge Ure (way pre-Ultravox) to be the lead singer of the Sex Pistols. Ure turned him down, so he went on to find John Lydon. It's fascinating to think how music history would have been different if Midge had accepted.

Anyway, sad to hear this news. Too young.

Sad news, indeed.

Malcolm - in his weird, wonderful way - was so formative in shaping my musical tastes that I'm really at a loss for words...

RIP and thank you!

This stuff is just insanely good. There's a reason the late 70's/early 80's will always hold such a special place in my heart. Bow Wow Wow had so many ridiculous songs. Of course, so did Adam and The Ants, even though after all this time I like Adam's solo album "Friend Or Foe" best. Reading some of the You Tube comments on Malcom's death makes me realize a bunch of people really did not like this guy, but from an American perspective he was always like a cartoon character to me. Fascinating individual.

Also responsible for one of the sexiest videos of all time.

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Like him or not, very influential in a lot of music that graces my collection. RIP Malcom, thanks for the music and memories.

I loved The Sex Pistols and Bow Wow Wow!

Yep. I certainly liked "Friend or Foe" as well as any of his stuff with the Ants. I read a review of either an Adam and the Ants or Bow Wow Wow compilation recently that I thought summed it up pretty well---they said something to the effect of "This is what rock music was like before all the fun got tattooed and pierced out of it."

Man, I'm sounding like Grandpa Simpson.

Even if he did steal the original Ants to make Bow Wow Wow, a lot of my favorite music had some influence from Malcolm McLaren, so thanks for that and RIP.

http://www.theonion.com/articles/mal...d-at-64,17240/