With a busy week of blogging and covering every inch of the music world, I regret to admit that I'm a little late in acknowledging the passing of the late, great ex-manager of The Sex Pistols, Malcom McLaren, from cancer on April 8.
Granted, I did acknowledge it on my Twitter account but now would like to ask for a moment of silence to the man of wealth and taste who injected a whole lotta loudness into the already blaring world of rock 'n roll by bringing the seminal punk band to the forefront — and living their message long after they disbanded after releasing just one landmark LP.
McLaren was the essence of punk in every way that he lived his life to the end and his spirit undoubtedly lives on in all facets of rock. Every time you spin a Green Day album, see Avril Lavigne fasten a safety pin to her skirt or watch Travis Barker get another tattoo, there's a touch of McLaren's spirit in it.
In a statement, the Pistols' former singer Johnny Lydon (AKA Johnny Rotten) tells UsMagazine.com:
"For me, Malc was always entertaining, and I hope you remember that. Above all else he was an entertainer and I will miss him, and so should you."
Meanwhile, guitarist Steve Jones says the following:
"I was upset when I heard the news, as I've always had a soft spot for Malcolm. I knew him since I was 17 before the Pistols formed — I used to drive him around in Vivienne Westwood's car to the tailors in London in the days of the 'Let It Rock' clothing store. Malcolm was definitely the Brian Epstein of punk — without him it wouldn't have happened the way it did. I stayed friends with him throughout the years despite some of our differences. He came on [my radio show] 'Jonesy's Jukebox' a couple of years ago, and that's a good memory. But my fondest memory of Malcolm, and I loved the guy, was his birthday gift to me when I turned 21 — he got me a hooker and some heroin."
–By Ian Drew for UsMagazine.com. To read more of Ian's blog, click here and don't forget to follow him on Twitter.
