Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren dies

Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren has died of mesothelioma, a form of cancer linked to exposure of asbestos, at the age of 64.

McLaren came to prominence during the punk rock movement of the 1970s, managing a boutique with then girlfriend Vivienne Westwood and managing the New York Dolls and the Sex Pistols:

The band was fronted by John Lydon, whose repugnant appearance and Irish background inclined Mr. McLaren (as he stated in the documentary “The Great Rock ‘n’ Roll Swindle”) to saddle him with the pejorative stage name Johnny Rotten. With Steve Jones (guitar), Paul Cook (drums) and Sid Vicious (a bassist who replaced an original member, Glen Matlock), the Sex Pistols terrified traditional music sensibilities with songs like “Anarchy in the U.K.” and “God Save the Queen.”

Westwood spoke to British press about her former partner’s death:

‘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 really something very sad. We hadn’t been in touch for a long time. (Sons) Ben and Joe were with him when he died.’

McLaren is survived by son Joe Corre and longtime partner Young Kim.