Heart of a Punk Soul of a Rasta

RIP MM

Outside the confines of his personal nearest and dearest Malcolm McLaren is not going to be fondly remembered, whatever the sycophants may pretend at the moment. His part in the early castration of the Pistols and in the death of misguided Sid etc are things that have rightly or wrongly been laid firmly at his door and are things not easy to forgive. But like Bernie Rhodes of the Clash and about 99% of band managers before and since Malcolm McLaren wasn't there to be love then or to be fondly remembered now.

He was fundamentally wrong for the role he chose and like all the other dysfunctional derelicts, dreamers, schemers, scribblers and dickheads of the time, he was exactly right for what was required. McLaren & the Pistols kicked a hole in the pipe and let the shit flood out, and for that alone he must, however begrudgingly, be saluted.

Now if you bought you NME in April, the one with McLaren on the front above the title "The Man who Managed a Revolution" don't be duped into thinking the NME was part of that revolution back in the day kids. Association by manipulation only for the NME. This is what they thought of the Pistols first release - some things never change eh - The NME, they couldn't hit a barn door with a banjo: