The Life & Times of Malcolm McLaren: The Biography

Review I couldn't put this book down. Malcolm inspired us to make art out of our boredom and anger. He set us free ― Bobby G (Primal Scream) Exhaustive . . . compelling -- Sean O'Hagan ― Observer Excellent . . . With this book, Gorman convincingly moves away from the ossified image of McLaren as a great rock'n'roll swindler, a morally bankrupt punk Mephistopheles, and closer towards his art-school roots, his love of ideas. Tiresome, unpleasant, even cruel - he was, this book underlines, never boring -- Victoria Segal ― Sunday Times The Life and Times of Malcolm McLaren should be required reading in art schools (and on film and creative writing courses too): it is a reminder that revolutions don't arise from icy perfection, only from a habit of getting things wrong ― Times Literary Supplement Exhaustive, definitive . . . epic -- Will Hodgkinson ― The Times McLaren finally gets the sensitively balanced biography he deserves . . . Gorman serves him well, with frequently jaw-dropping forensic eloquence ― Classic Rock An inspirationally detailed new biography -- Andrew Perry ― Q magazine A mesmerising journey, from youthful idealism to shape-shifting, hit-and-miss adulthood -- Paul Tierney ― The i An incredible new biography of this provocative figure, perfectly encapsulating McLaren's ability to identify emerging trends and position or inveigle himself in at exactly the right moment -- Edwin Heathcote ― Financial Times Gobsmacker of a biography -- Helen Brown ― Telegraph Sex Pistols Svengali colourfully - and substantially - brought to life -- Andrew Perry ― Mojo Fascinating new insights into the public achievements and private life of this cultural icon and architect of punk . . . [Gorman] is such a consummate narrator that you are gripped throughout the entire book . . . an intriguing and insightful read ― Louder Than War A far reaching psychological unravelling of one of the most fascinating British men of his era . . . Gorman's biography is a gorgeous work, filled with the kind of startling details fiction wouldn't dare invent . . . It is a book of great substance, depth and acuity, drawn with a sympathetic yet never overly reverential eye to the most brilliant pop cultural curator of them all -- Paul Flynn ― Love magazine Gorman has an encyclopaedic knowledge of how music has intersected with style and design over the last 50 years . . . Gorman's book becomes most thrilling when it explores McLaren's less familiar post-punk work -- Mark C. O'Flaherty ― Civilian Global Gorman dissects McLaren's subsequent adventures in hip-hop, detourned classical music and cinema in great detail -- Andrew Perry ― Uncut Fascinating new tome -- Ysenda Maxtone Graham ― Daily Mail A rounded portrait of this oft-misunderstood eccentric . . . without a hint of hagiography, the book mounts a strong case for McLaren's significance and enduring influence -- Paul Whitelaw ― Big Issue Neither hagiography nor hatchet job, the book is curious, rigorous and . . . rarely dull -- Fiona Sturges ― Guardian A magnum opus on the often overlooked and much-maligned maverick . . . a hectic and inspiring tale where the only constant is that of style -- Ben Reardon ― Vogue Fascinating and detailed . . . a brave biography of an extraordinary, quasi-shamanistic maverick ― Morning Star McLaren gets the exhaustively forensic, sensitively balanced biography he's long deserved . . . vivid and thorough account . . . fascinating, everything recounted with nonjudgmental eloquence and impeccable research. A major work ― Record Collector Thorough and engaging -- Alan Clayson ― Ugly Things magazine Excellent and compelling -- Gary Lucas ― Please Kill Me Compulsively readable ― Bad Feeling Beautifully written . . . history will judge Paul Gorman's biography of McLaren to be one of the very best ― The Crack Insanely detailed . . . fascinating ― London Review of Books Product Description 'I couldn't put this book down. Malcolm inspired us to make art ou