Malcolm McLaren on DeBaser: reviews, quotes and essential works

Malcolm McLaren

Musician

Forfans of punk history, early hip hop, 80s pop culture, and production-head crate-diggers.
1 Reviews 4 Definitions 2 Charts

The Profile

British impresario, artist, and musician. Managed the Sex Pistols and helped shape punk fashion with Vivienne Westwood. Later released genre-melding records such as Duck Rock, working with producer Trevor Horn and future Art of Noise members; known for the hit single Buffalo Gals. Died in 2010.

Manager of the Sex Pistols; partner and collaborator of designer Vivienne Westwood; released Duck Rock (1983) featuring Buffalo Gals; collaborated with Trevor Horn and future Art of Noise members; Duck Rock cover art by Keith Haring; British; active from the 1970s until 2010; died in 2010.

A single review explores Duck Rock as McLaren’s clever, genre-busting collage of world music and early hip hop. It highlights the iconic Buffalo Gals, radio-show flow, South African choirs and Latin rhythms. The piece frames McLaren as a provocative trendsetter linked to punk iconography, the Sex Pistols, and Art of Noise’s future crew. Keith Haring’s cover seals its 80s identity.

Notable Quotes

❝ Malcolm McLaren was a trendsetter (today we’d say influencer) who placed an often exaggerated signature on almost all the most significant musical movements of that era.