Malcolm McLaren: The Sex Pistols, the Anarchy, the Art, the Genius

The story of Malcolm McLaren is the story of England in the last half century. Expelled from a string of art colleges, he met and fell in love with designer Vivienne Westwood. They became the Bonnie and Clyde of punk as they set out to turn the fashion world upside down with their Kings Road boutique SEX and its eye-popping creations. It was also the birthplace of the Sex Pistols and in 26 short months blew the music business apart. McLaren masterminded it all: discovering lead singer John Lydon, achieving a No 1 single without airplay and outraging a nation with 'God Save the Queen'. The Pistols imploded in a horror story of heroin, murder and suicide. A beleaguered Malcolm 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 the two which was the hub of the group. 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 in the UK. 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 - former Oasis supremo.