Vivienne Westwood: 'Malcolm McLaren Was A Special And Talent Person'

Dame Vivienne Westwood has described Malcolm McLaren, who died yesterday, as “a very charismatic, special and talented person".

McLaren passed away in Switzerland on Thursday following a battle with a rare form of cancer. He was 64.

The fashion designer, who dated the former Sex Pistols manager in the 1960s and 70s, said his death was “very sad”.

“When we were young and I fell in love with Malcolm, I thought he was beautiful and I still do,” she said in a statement.

“The thought of him dead is really something very sad. We hadn't been in touch for a long time."

Dame Vivienne and McLaren set up the influential London fashion store Let It Rock in 1971 and also had a son together. 

John Corre, who was with his father when he died, said he was “the original punk rocker and revolutionized the world”.

He added: "He's somebody I'm incredibly proud of. He's a real beacon of a man for people to look up to."

As the Sex Pistols manager, McLaren guided the punk rock pioneers to the top of the charts, and in doing so earned himself the nickname “the godfather of punk”.

It is understood that McLaren asked to be flown home to the UK to be buried in Highgate Cemetery, north London.

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