Malcolm McLaren is dead!

[NickFitz]

I know football songs with more to offer than half their pish.

Citations or you're just trolling as usual.

Also, what about the other half?

[Gonzo]

Like him or hate him, he was special. What he did touched millions and changed this country.

I can't say that I cared much for the man. The Sex Pistols did not do anything for music that the New York Dolls had not done earlier and better. Everything was about image manipulation with him.

Having said that, he was responsible for getting things like this (NSFW) on the TV which remind us just how conformist life used to be in the seventies.

I think his legacy is that he was prepared to challenge conformity, even though it was for his own ends, all our lives have been richer as a result.

[Drewster]

I can't say that I cared much for the man. The Sex Pistols did not do anything for music that the New York Dolls had not done earlier and better. Everything was about image manipulation with him.

Having said that, he was responsible for getting things like this (NSFW) on the TV which remind us just how conformist life used to be in the seventies.

I think his legacy is that he was prepared to challenge conformity, even though it was for his own ends, all our lives have been richer as a result.

.....
.....
God save television - keep our programs pure!
God save William Grundy - and roll him in manure!
.....
.....
.....
and God save the worthless Queen!

[threaded]

I'm not being miserable, punk was just a very poor time for british music, people banging out 3 chords were somehow thought of as credible, and the clash were flipin the worst of the lot. I know football songs with more to offer than half their pish.

Hmm, not wishing to imply you know nothing of music, but as an occasional church organist, music teacher for theory, and earning a few coins as a composer*, I'd suggest you're lacking. With the 'three chords' you can cover all seven tones in the major scale.

HTH

Also, did you know that he worked on some fine classical music used for adverts on the TV.

*OK most of it is for Fruit Machines, but you wouldn't say no when you see what it can pay.

[HairyArsedBloke]

McLaren and his creations such as the Sex Pistols were supposed to be totally anti-establishment in the 1970's.

In 2010, his death gets him an obituary in the Times and on BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

Nice one.

[BlasterBates]

You can say what you like, those Sex Pistols records and most of the punk records are well produced, very professional, well sung as well. You'll be surprised how hard it is to perform those songs in the way they did.

These "simple" genres aren't that simple when you try to copy it.

I mean yes you can copy it, but it would probably sound awful.

Don't be fooled by the carefully crafted image.

The thing is when a "genre" makes money, then all the good musicians will pile into it and they'll spike their hair if they have to. Think of it as musical theatre, because that what it is. It was only the audience who were "punks", the guys on stage were just actors out there to make money.

[threaded]

You can say what you like, those Sex Pistols records and most of the punk records are well produced, very professional, well sung as well. You'll be surprised how hard it is to perform those songs in the way they did.

These "simple" genres aren't that simple when you try to copy it.

I mean yes you can copy it, but it would probably sound awful.

Also, in the arts accusations of primitivism or naïveté are often the result of the commenter's ethnocentrism.

[Bagpuss]

I think his legacy is that he was prepared to challenge conformity, even though it was for his own ends, all our lives have been richer as a result.

Nicely put, for that at least I doft my cap

[administrator]

Sad to hear this news last night. RIP.

[threaded]

I agree with the comment summing him up from this nice quote at the end of the obit. in The New Yorker

very witty, beautiful, and intellectual (with many references)—but entertaining.