R.I.P. Malcolm McLaren 1946-2010
This is a list of 10 songs by artists either associated with McLaren during his career or in one case, by McLaren himself. Admittedly, I’m not too familiar with his solo work, so mostly this list will consist of the works of others.
New York Dolls – “Trash”
I know that Malcolm didn’t manage the Dolls until their ill-fated final days in 1975 when they wore Soviet-inspired red clothing and the like, but he did design stagewear for them in 1972, a year before their classic first, self-titled studio album was released.
Neon Boys – “Love Comes in Spurts”
Before RICHARD HELL & THE VOIDOIDS recorded their incredible version of this track for their debut Blank Generation in 1977, Hell was in this band from 1972 to 1974 with other future TELEVISION members TOM VERLAINE and BILLY FICCA. It wasn’t released until 1980, though, when it showed up as a B-side of Richard Hell’s solo singles.
They are on this list because McLaren unsuccessfully tried to manage them after he saw them. Instead, he borrowed Hell’s ripped clothes and safety pins along with spiky hair look for clothes in his boutique (then renamed “SEX”) and thus successfully started marketing what would be known as the standard punk “look”.
The Sex Pistols – Never Mind the Bollocks (Virgin/Warner Brothers)
This record’s presence on this list should require no explanation.
Elvis Costello – “Radio Radio”
When The Sex Pistols appearance on Saturday Night Live was canceled, Elvis Costello filled in and this was the same night (December 12, 1977) when he famously stopped THE ATTRACTIONS in the middle of “Less than Zero” to launch into the then-unreleased diatribe “Radio Radio”. This inspired stunt ignited controversy and Costello was banned from performing on SNL for a dozen years after this incident. However, it whetted the appetite of fans for new material and after its release as a UK single “Radio Radio” was added to the U.S. version of his next album, This Year’s Model.
During this performance, drummer PETE THOMAS wore a shirt that said “Thanks Malc”. Costello, backed by THE BEASTIE BOYS, reprised the “Radio Radio” performance, complete with MIKE D on drums wearing the same shirt, during the 25th anniversary Saturday Night Live show in 1999.
Public Image Limited – “Public Image”
This song, PiL’s incredible debut single, was widely interpreted as a diatribe against McLaren at the time of its release.
Bow Wow Wow – “I Want Candy”
This record’s presence on this list should require no explanation.
Malcolm McLaren – “Buffalo Gals”
This record’s presence on this list should require no explanation.
Malcolm McLaren – “About Her”
This song, based on THE ZOMBIES‘ “She’s Not There”, appeared on the soundtrack to the movie Kill Bill Part 2.
The Sex Pistols – The Great Rock and Roll Swindle (Virgin)
McLaren sang on several songs on this soundtrack, “God Save the Queen” (Symphony) and “You Need Hands”.
The Sex Pistols – Spunk (Blank Records)
McLaren is widely assumed to have distributed this bootleg of demo recordings that comprise an alternate version of their debut album.
