Punk Icon Mclaren Dead At 64

The punk icon died in New York on Thursday morning (08Apr10), his agent has confirmed.

MCLaren began his career in the London fashion scene in 1971 when he opened a clothing store called Let It Rock with his then-partner, designer Vivienne Westwood.

He became involved in the British music scene in the 1970s after setting up his own record label and he went on to manage glam rock legends the New York Dolls following a trip to New York to negotiate a deal to supply the band with stage outfits.

He cemented his place in rock history when he helped form the Sex Pistols with punks who frequented his Kings Road boutique in London and opted to manage them.

MCLaren used his notorious publicity, marketing and fashion skills to turn the band, made up of Glen Matlock, Paul Cook, Steve Jones and John Lydon - aka Johnny Rotten - into overnight sensations in punk-era Britain.

The group performed its God Save the Queen hit on a barge during the week of the Queen's Silver Jubilee in 1977 and grabbed headline news. The publicity stunt was all MCLaren's.

The single shot to the top of the U.K. charts and the legacy of the Sex Pistols had begun.

But the group's success was doomed to be short - after releasing the iconic Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols, the band embarked on a tour of the U.S. and split as Lydon's relationship with MCLaren soured.

The pair fought for years over the Sex Pistols' copyright and royalties. The rift was never healed.

MCLaren also made a name for himself as a performer in his own right, and released four solo albums between 1983 and 1998. His song About Her was featured in Quentin Tarantino's movie Kill Bill Vol. 2 and his work has since been sampled by a host of contemporary artists, including Mariah Carey, Eminem and Amerie.

His solo hits included Buffalo Gals, Double Dutch and Madame Butterfly.

He was also an author, film producer and reality TV star.

MCLaren is survived by his son with Westwood, Joseph Cure, who co-founded lingerie shop Agent Provocateur.

Ironically, his death comes the morning after Lydon launched his U.S. comeback with Public Image Limited on late-night TV show Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Lydon will be buried in London's Highgate Cemetery.