The world of music mourned one of its more colourful and charismatic characters yesterday as the news broke that Malcolm McLaren had died. For those of us who were around during the time of the Sex Pistols, New York Dolls and those associated acts like the Clash, it came as a hell of a shock as the man seemed indestructible.

Innovate, dangerous to the establishment and completely and utterly charming are just some of the words I could use to describe this intelligent and outspoken man.

You may ask what is a man noted for his love of Progressive Rock and Heavy Rock/Metal doing eulogising over a someone who ushered in the era of Punk. Quite simply without Malcolm, Johnny Rotten, Rat Scabies et el, we (all of us) would not be the people that we are today. The era brought in the chance for change, even as an eight year old, I could sense that I wouldn’t have to conform to the stereotype I was born into. That I could become anything I wanted to be and not follow my father into the services if I didn’t want too.

O.K, There was some rubbish that was associated with the music but you only have to look at the fashion that was created by the bands, the realm of short back and sides was truly dead, in came vibrant and striking colours that stood out and made you an individual. You could still conform and get a job (you had too to afford the Vivienne Westwood designs that Malcolm had a hand in) but you could at last be your own person.

I could never go down the ripped clothes and huge hair route myself, I was quite happy listening to the music, interspersed between Genesis, Marillion, Pink Floyd and Iron Maiden you could catch me listening to tracks by the Damned, The Clash and a certain track called “Anarchy in the U.K”. This side love of Punk grew and now count Goldblade led by John Robb (another devotee of Malcolm) as one of the freshest and bounciest acts around.

So it with much sadness that we say goodbye to a leading light, a beacon in another wise dull, grey world. The sound of Buffalo Girls will never be the same again, the first act of rebellion will never have the same shock value and God save the Queen will not sound as cool.

So thank you Malcolm, as a nation we owe you a huge debt, as a music fan I owe you a large part of my life.

Ian D. Hall