McLaren... The Original Anarchist

Sex Pistols - Anarchy in the U.K.

Over the past several years, I have become much more interested in karma, fate, destiny and the energy in the universe. I've never been a religious person, but I can definitely say that I am spiritual. I have experienced some strange and unexpected situations lately, so it's possible that I put too much stock into little coincidences.

Malcolm McLaren with the Sex Pistols, circa 1976

Photo Credit: mirror.co.uk

In any case, I found it a little weird that I had mentioned the entrepreneurial leader of punk, Malcolm McLaren in my post on April 7. I also talked about him in my post about Sex Pistols front man, Johnny Rotten (aka John Lydon) back on January 31 (Johnny's birthday). When I heard of McLaren's passing yesterday, I got chills. I know that I am, but a little speck in this big universe, so it would be unbelievably egocentric to think I had something to do with it, but I did find it odd that I had just mentioned him the day before his passing.

 

Sex Pistols in the trash

As if that didn't freak me out enough, I had just featured Vivienne Westwood in my "Happy Birthday" section of this blog because Ms. Westwood turned 69 years old yesterday. As most of you know, McLaren and Westwood were an item in the late 60's through 70’s. Strange that he passed away on her birthday, no? The couple have a son together, Jospeh Corre, who happens to be the founder of my favorite lingerie line, Agent Provocateur.

McLaren & Westwood, circa 1977

In 1971, Malcolm McLaren and Vivienne Westwood opened a shop in London where they sold clothing that they designed for theatrical productions. McLaren met the band the New York Dolls (yep, Buster Poindexter!) in NYC in 1972 and upon returning to London, he started to create costumes for the group.

New York Dolls

Photo Credit: bbc.co.uk

By 1975, McLaren had renamed the shop SEX, selling a variety of S&M style apparel. Original Sex Pistols bassist, Glen Matlock (later replaced by Sid) worked at the shop and McLaren started to manage the band (called The Strand at the time). When McLaren was introduced to the eccentric John Lydon, he recruited him to be the lead singer of the band and renamed them the Sex Pistols. In 1977, their first single “God Save the Queen” was released. McLaren was arrested after he arranged for the Pistols to perform outside the Houses of Parliament.

Johnny Rotten

MaLaren managed other bands such as; Adam and the Ants, Bow Wow Wow and the New York Dolls. Apparently, McLaren was interested in managing the group the Red Hot Chili Peppers and approached lead singer Anthony Kiedis in 1985, but was unimpressed with them after a live set. He proposed to reinvent the band and Kiedis and his mates rejected the offer.

Adam & the Ants

Bow Wow Wow

McLaren also had a solo career in the 80’s and 90’s collaborating with Jeff Beck, Bootsy Collins and even Catherine Deneuve. Then in 2004, his song “About Her,” based on the Zombies hit “She’s Not There” was used by Quentin Tarantino in his cult film, Kill Bill Vol. 2. McLaren was accused of plagiarism for allegedly copying the work of a French musician, but was cleared of the charges.

McLaren circa 1975 in front of his shop in London

McLaren spent his later years living with his Korean American girlfriend Young Kim between Paris and New York. Malcolm McLaren died on April 8, 2010 at age 64 of mesothelioma in a clinic in Switzerland.

UPDATE 4.11.2010 :  The brilliant WendyB kindly sent me this post that she did back in October 2007.  It's chock-full of McLaren info.  She also mentions him here.  What can I say, great minds think alike!  Or, at least they like the same music!!  Thanks Wendy... you ROCK!

Creepy Cool

Radiohead - "CREEP"

Back in January, I posted about a fabulous pair of Rupert Sanderson pony skin, platform “creepers.” I wasn’t able to purchase these beauties because they were sold out. So, I have to settle for my less elegant, old school creepers.

wearing my white "creepers"

The Creepers -- rockabilly band from Australia

I only wear these babies every once in a while because they are the type of shoe you can’t wear every day – people remember them. With the exception of my singer/songwriter bud Jensen, none of my friends appreciate the rockabilly and punk rock vibe they suggest.

Stray Cats, Brian Setzer rocks out in his creepers

"creepy" Jerry Lee Lewis

Rockabilly music is a mixture of rock ‘n’ roll, country, R&B, swing and boogie woogie. The music style emerged in the early 1950’s making its mark with lots of bass, energy, pompadour hairdo’s, bolo ties (check out WendyB’s post on these!) and brothel creepers (as they are technically known).

The Clash - Mick Jones (second from left) in his black creepers

Sex Pistols (pre Sid) - Steve Jones in red creepers

In the 1970’s, Malcolm McLaren (who was Vivienne Westwood’s partner at the time) sold creepers at his shop in London and the shoe was popular among punk, new wave and ska bands. Typically, they were worn with stovepipe pants and white T’s, but some fans of rockabilly (known as Teddy Boys) also wore them with Edwardian style jackets.

jacket - Belstaff

tee - DSquared

jeans - Guess

shoes - T.U.K.

shades - Gianfranco Ferre

ring - Metal Pointus, Paris

Brothel creepers are a little hard to find today, but they are still sold as stores like the British Boot Company and Underground shoes U.K.

various creepers available on Polyvore

Johnny Be Good

John Lydon, otherwise known as Johnny Rotten the insolent front man for the Sex Pistols, turns 54 today. As a young delinquent, Lydon hung around Vivienne Westwood’s fetish shop called SEX where he met Malcolm McLaren who was working with the New York Doll’s at the time and looking to promote a new band. McLaren chose Lydon as the lead singer for the Sex Pistols because he was impressed with his ragged look. The name Rotten was given to him by band mate Steve Jones due to the fact that Johnny’s teeth were apparently – rotten.

Sid and Johnny looking stylish

In the late 70’s the Ramones went over to England to play at a gig with The Clash, the Sex Pistols and several other bands. Supposedly, Rotten was frightened of the Ramones and thought that lead singer Joey might beat him up! Have you seen Joey Ramone (not lately, of course)? Joey was freakishly skinny with a very sweet and passive demeanor. Johnny Rotten wasn’t so tough. Angry definitely, but not tough. He was genuinely concerned for his friend Sid (whose real name was also John) and his addiction to heroin. Johnny pleaded with Sid many times to stop and in the documentary The Filth and the Fury, Rotten is noticeably emotional when talking about his pal Sid.

Young Johnny.  I would totally wear this sweater today!

Rotten in a fabulous plaid blazer!

Obviously, the punk rock movement made a tremendous impact on fashion and the Sex Pistols were one of the leaders. The influence they had on fashion was completely unintentional. Bands like the Sex Pistols weren’t trying to make a fashion statement; on the contrary, they were with great effort making an anti-statement. Johnny and his mates didn’t use safety pins because it was cool; they actually used them to hold their threadbare clothing together since they couldn’t afford a new wardrobe. But, as with any performer, once they’ve established and a fan base, it’s inevitable that their followers soon imitate. After all, imitation is the highest form of flattery…

Johnny Rotten in the late 70's (left) / Rodarte men's 2009 (right)

Johnny on stage in a leather vest and leather cuff

me in menswear pinstripe vest (my own design), leather cuff and "swear rings" by WendyB

Today Johnny lives with his wife of 30 years, Nora, in Los Angeles.  He reunited with members from his band PiL which he joined after the Sex Pistols split in 1978.  They will be playing shows together in the upcoming months.