http://www.wordmagazine.co.uk/content/malcolm-mcclaren-has-died

Malcolm McLaren was the Arthur Daley of pop, and although the world's Arthur Daleys may briefly amuse us, and we may even come to feel some affection for them, they hardly help change the world - they're far too busy helping themselves.

Whenever there is a minute's silence at a football ground, there is a breed of supporter who spends the time not paying their respects to the deceased, but looking around for anyone not observing the silence in order to feel indignant and superior.

This is the blogging equaivalent of that.

Wag is an interesting description of someone who would behave like that during a live broadcast minute's silence

I could think of some better description

As it happens I much prefer the minute's applause at football matches. It means you can choose not to join in without drawing attention to yourself

Interesting guy no doubt. But he hardly changed the world, or if he did not for very long.

Last night I heard one journo give an off the cuff obit stating that McClaren was responsible for the biggest change in popular music ever in this country.

Probably true for those born between 1955 and 1960 but hardly true in any historical sense.

The old farts seem to be alive and well still. In the last month I've seen Jethro Tull and The Who and tomorrow night it's Bad Company.

PS I do see newer people as well - Elie Goulding next week.

at some of the mean spirited comments up above, especially the 'indignant and superior' one. The hoary old lines concerning punk never changing things are often rolled out by those whose cultural leanings are measured out by how many times they've seen Jethro Tull, which says everything really.
I dunno, it's like punk never happened....

Surprising and saddening. His 1994 album Paris would have been worth citing in the Three unsung albums that you return to..... post [http://www.wordmagazine.co.uk/content/three-unsung-albums-you-return]. It anticipated our current thirst for all things Gainsbourgian, and was a fine fit for the provocateur's talents.

Amidst all the Situationalist pranks, fashionista iconoclasm and downright shifty hyperbole, one thing shouldn't be forgotten: dear old Malcy added greatly to the gaiety of the nation. McLaren helped change pop music - possibly forever albeit not always in a good way, true - and if that miffs some pipe-smoking Jethro Tull-loving dullard then it's surely worthy of a place in the cultural pantheon.
As dear old John Lydon, once an arch-nemesis, pout it: 'I will miss him, and so should you.'

ps Punk did happen. I was at Messingham Village Hall when it occured.....

pps The culture wars between those of us, erm, forged in the white light/white heat of punk, and those of a more Perfumed Garden persuasion are probably worthy of a thread in themselves....

I never went to Tiffs sadly, but I always thought Baths Hall was for the March Violets of punk. The Johnny and Joanna-Come-latelys who heard a noo wave 45 in Leggott's common room and thought it had a good beat. Mind you, I saw an ace Pogues gig there once. (Baths Hall, not Leggott common room.) And I've missed out the Crosby too - mebbe that was the Vortex....

are difficult to find but an interesting one is to Charlie Gillett from Elvis Costello on his website.He talks glowingly about Gillett introducing him to some fantastic music but also talks about their later disputes over Gilletts asserted right to air music that Costello maintained he owned. It is an honest tribute and somewhat surprising too.
On the subject of Mclaren, musically I think he was a peripheral character at best although I concede he has a place in the history of the punk movement as opposed to punk music.