Malcolm McLaren

by Ian Macleay

Always at the cutting edge from the Pistols to world music, here is the comprehensive account of a man who lived in the full glare of publicity yet remained one of music's greatest enigmas The story of Malcolm McLaren is the story of English in the last half century. Expelled from a string of art colleges in the 1960s, he fell in love with designer Vivienne Westwood and they became the Bonnie and Clyde of punk, turning the fashion world upside down with their boutique SEX and its eye-popping creations. It was also the birthplace of the Sex Pistols, and McLaren masterminded it discovering lead singer John Lydon, achieving a No. 1 single without any airplay, and outraging a nation with "God Save the Queen." After the Pistols imploded in a horror story of heroin, murder, and suicide, a beleaguered McLaren went into self-imposed exile in Paris as years of lawsuits commenced. The rift was never healed, and this book examines the complex relationship between McLaren and Lydon. Malcolm's own musical career was no less amazing—his 1983 album Duck Rock mixed African music with hip hop and was responsible for bringing the fusion to a wider audience, and his other collaborations included working with such diverse talents as guitar hero Jeff Beck and the legendary Francoise Hardy. In later years he even ran for mayor of London, funded by Alan McGee, Creation Records founder.

274 pages, Paperback

First published July 6, 2010

Reviews

[Baba · Rating 3 out of 5]

A comprehensive biography / documentary of the life and times for Malcolm McLaren, thus also looking at Vivienne Westwood, Sid Vicious & Nancy, Johnny Lydon, Adam Ant, Bow Wow Wow etc A pretty good look at the creation and fall and rise of the Sex Pistols takes up more than half the book. Didn't like McLaren before I read the book, still don't... good read though. 7 out of 12.

[Ian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a terrible book by any stretch of the imagination but just barely treading water above cash-in, quickie, unauthorized biography status. The first part of the book covering McLaren's early life seems better researched and more competently and comprehensively covered than his post-Pistols life and career which felt rushed and shortchanged. The book is still worth your time though, particularly for those who don't have much background knowledge or history on the Sex Pistols or the birth of the UK punk rock movement.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Biography of a controversial visionary. Writer puts words in Mclaren’s mouth and interjects with pretty needless jokes and asides. Some copy errors and mistakes such as comparing McLaren to JT Barnum, meaning PT Barnum. Fans of Punk or of British culture may enjoy.

[Gemma O'Brien · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn’t finish the book once comparisons of Vivienne and Malcolm to Cheryl and Ashley Cole were made. If you’ve read a few books on the punk era then you might find this an exasperating read. Shame.