"...hit it, pause it, record it and play..."

A sad goodbye to Malcolm McLaren; one of the reasons why music has been so much fun for the last 30 odd years. His influence is truly immense. Not only did he 'svengali' the Sex Pistols and ignite the entire UK punk scene after his stint managing the New York Dolls - and subsequent opening of his shop 'Sex' - but he also had a major role in bringing such various genres as Hip-hop, Rap, the 'Burundi Beat', Opera/Waltz House, World Music, BA Arias, Musicals (nearly) and even Voguing (way before Madonna followed suit) to mass attention. The oft used phrase 'Musical Magpie' is still the most appropriate.

A blatant self-publicist, possibly a charlatan, maybe an egomaniac and probably a habitual liar - but most definitely one of the most important people in the history of popular music. And most poignantly to us bloggers in this digital age, wasn't he also spearheading the boombox/Walkman era when we were told that 'home-taping is killing the music industry'? Sound familiar?

Oh - and Duck Rock is still one of the most amazing albums ever made.

Here is 1998s Buffalo Gals go Back to School - which seems to me a fitting tribute as he gets to blab on about himself in between original tracks and hip-hop covers.

1. Buffalo Gals (1)
2. World Famous Supreme Team Show Whbi (1)
3. Bow Wow Wow Show
4. Off The Top
5. Psalms
6. Hey DJ (1)
7. Buffalo Girls (2)
8. Do You Like Scratchin' (1)
9. Zulu Nation Party
10. Bring It Back
11. Buffalo Gals (3)
12. 42nd Street
13. D'you Like Scratchin' (2)
14. World Famous Supreme Team Show Whbi (2)
15. Hey DJ (2)
16. She's Looking Like A Hobo
17. Class Is In Session
18. Shout Outs
19. Building/Adding On
20. World Famous
21. It Was A New York Phenomenon

Goodbye you old swindler