A Trip Through The Mind of Malcolm McLaren

Posted over 2 years ago

Artist:

Malcolm McLaren
Album:

Fans
Track:
- PLAY
Carmen

“Malcolm McLaren” and “Sex Pistols” are welded together forever, but the supposed Svengali did a lot of interesting things after that. The most creative was probably making hip-hop opera in 1984, taking famous arias and (so to speak) modernising them. Check out “Carmen” on the album Fans for the real triumph, but “Madam Butterfly” is a very close second.

Two years before that was an even more bizarre idea: record a bunch of tracks in Soweto, South Africa, then take them to NYC and mix it up with the hip-hop community. The result: Double Dutch

In the early ‘80s hip-hop was the new punk and McLaren’s album was hugely influential in spreading the sound. This is the track that did it: Buffalo Girls.

If some of those beats and riffs sound familiar, it’s because it gave Herbie Hancock some ideas. He later credited McLaren with being the sole reason he came up with: Rockit.

Comments (11)

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Mike the Knife says "Madame Butterfly" - Malc-style - was a go-to track for me on the wheels of steel during my club DJ days. As was his "Buffalo Gals." I always had a sense that he was an exploitive jerk - and visionary.

Permalink posted 09/06/2007
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wassonii says Madness often yields brilliance and Madama B is certainly evidence. It's been a minute since I've heard either of these tracks, let alone gandered the vids. Thank you for the brain refresh!

Permalink posted 09/06/2007
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Dale says Referring to Mike's comment, I do hope that those two qualities don't necessarily need to exist in tandem.

Permalink posted 09/06/2007
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ivylander says Because "Duck Rock" was so fucking good, I hung in for "Fans" and "Waltz, Darling." After that, it became necessary to bail. Too many ideas - some great, some less so - chasing too little content. My original vinyl of "Duck Rock" was a DJ version, bought on the cheap at St. Marks Sounds, and it didn't have any of the World's Famous Supreme Team interstitial patter - I didn't even know any of that stuff was on the record until I bought a CD replacement. The DJ version was better. The songs were what made "Duck Rock," not the "concept."

Permalink posted 09/06/2007
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Spike says I like the link between rapper and square dance caller. McLaren's original idea, right? Thanks for presenting his evolution.

Permalink posted 09/06/2007
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Jonh Ingham says Mike - you got it right. Malcolm never understood why anyone else should get the money. What made the post- Pistols output so interesting was that it was his own efforts. Dale - Hope springs eternal! Actually, they seldom seem to exist in tandem - it's usually the jerk who we encounter. Ivy - I had that version too. And the 12" were really wonderful slices of dancefloor beats. Spike - His original idea.

Permalink posted 09/06/2007
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dachmo says It's true, I always think of MM together with the Pistols as well as the whole british punk scene of the late '70s. But I rarely think of him in relation to New York City, when in reality he wouldn't be who he is without NYC. All those british punks were eating up the fasion styles he brought back from NY's Lower East Side. The ripped jeans the safety pins the "F you" attitude were all supposedly inspired by what he saw going on around there. The store he owned with Vivienne Westwood back in London is considered the focal point for the British Punk scene and prior to their punk explosion they were constantly spinning "punk" albums that they brought back from trips to NYC. Until you posted this I forgot just how involved in NYC's early Hip-Hop scene he was. Buffalo Girls was a big breakdance song all over the boogie-down Bronx as was the Double Dutch song to a lesser extent. The Madame Butterfly song was also a huge NYC dance club song. Just hearing all three of these songs together reminds me so much of New York in the early '80s to the extent that I can practically smell and taste it. the smell would be early morning sidewalk piss and the taste would be cigarettes vodka cocaine and mary jane. Thanks Malcolm. Thanks Jonh.

Permalink posted 09/06/2007
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Bartleby says I've always been under the impression that Malcolm McLaren is a bit bloated as a sound maker. Your post allowed me to reconsider my judgement. I'll stand by my first impression of his "Paris" though - save your money, spend it on something else.

Permalink posted 09/06/2007
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Jonh Ingham says He seems to have lost the plot after Fans - assuming he was really that interested. That Voguing record was alright except for the nasal drone of McLaren's voice. And the waltz album - now that is flogging a dead horse. BTW, Jeff Beck acted as the music director on that. Dachmo - you reminded me! And the awful brightness of the sun after stumbling out of some club at 9AM.

Permalink posted 09/06/2007
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soulrocket says the one and only, the original british bad arse gangster.

Permalink posted 09/07/2007
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Misstee says I had just started studying opera when *Fans* came out...it showed me the bridge between what i was learning in school and listening to at home, and for that I will always be grateful to Mr. McLaren. Besides I SUCKED at double dutch.

Permalink posted 09/09/2007