About Malcolm McLaren
Malcolm
McLaren was the infamous manager for the punk band 'The Sex Pistols'
during their rise to fame in the 1970's but is often forgotten as a
fashion designer - a career which he conducted alongside his girlfriend
at the time, Vivienne Westwood.
McLaren died in 2010 at the age of 64 from a long battle with mesothelioma - a type of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos fibres. His family now believe that McLaren was exposed to asbestos when he demolished the ceiling in his fashion boutique 'SEX' which was based at 430 King's Road, London between 1974 and 1976.
McLaren died in 2010 at the age of 64 from a long battle with mesothelioma - a type of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos fibres. His family now believe that McLaren was exposed to asbestos when he demolished the ceiling in his fashion boutique 'SEX' which was based at 430 King's Road, London between 1974 and 1976.
Vivienne Westwood and SEX
In
1976 McLaren opened a fashion boutique 'SEX' alongside he girlfriend at
the time, Vivienne Westwood. It was during the decoration of the shop
that McLaren's family now believe he was exposed to asbestos which would
ultimately be the cause of his demise.
During decoration of the shop, McLaren had decided that he wanted the interior to appear as if a bomb had exploded inside. To achieve the desire look, Malcolm McLaren took to demolishing the ceilings of the shop. Unbeknown to McLaren, the ceiling was very likely to have been constructed by a mix of asbestos insulating board, asbestos concrete or Artex. It is also possible that the ceiling contained asbestos flock. All of these materials contain friable asbestos which is extremely hazardous to health.
It was, of course, impossible for McLaren to have known at the time that he was exposing himself to the deadly material. No one new in the 70's just how dangerous the material is it was still considered at that time to be a cheap and effective product for building. We now know that asbestos is extremely hazardous and, as such, removal of these asbestos products would now be carried out by a licensed Asbestos Removal Company under controlled conditions.
During decoration of the shop, McLaren had decided that he wanted the interior to appear as if a bomb had exploded inside. To achieve the desire look, Malcolm McLaren took to demolishing the ceilings of the shop. Unbeknown to McLaren, the ceiling was very likely to have been constructed by a mix of asbestos insulating board, asbestos concrete or Artex. It is also possible that the ceiling contained asbestos flock. All of these materials contain friable asbestos which is extremely hazardous to health.
It was, of course, impossible for McLaren to have known at the time that he was exposing himself to the deadly material. No one new in the 70's just how dangerous the material is it was still considered at that time to be a cheap and effective product for building. We now know that asbestos is extremely hazardous and, as such, removal of these asbestos products would now be carried out by a licensed Asbestos Removal Company under controlled conditions.
Diagnosis of mesothelioma
In
2008 whilst undergoing a routine chest scan doctors noticed small dots
on x-rays which were believed to have been benign initially. However,
after more tests it was soon discovered that the dots were in fact
pleural plaques (areas of fibrous thickening on the lining of the lungs
or diaphragm) caused by asbestos fibres trapped in the lungs. In 2009,
McLaren was eventually diagnosed as suffering from mesothelioma and he
died in April 2010 from the disease.
But as we'll discover, his family were anything but satisfied with his diagnosis and consequent treatment and feel that doctors could have done more to help him.
But as we'll discover, his family were anything but satisfied with his diagnosis and consequent treatment and feel that doctors could have done more to help him.
Family upset over UK doctor's diagnosis
According to journalist Emily Dugan who interviewed McLaren's partner Young Kim shortly after his death, the family were less than satisfied with the way that doctors in the UK deal with the diagnoses.
"Malcolm was freaked out." she said. "He called me up from the doctor's office and said, 'Young, I have lung cancer, I have lung cancer', but the doctor said, 'Oh no, he's perfectly fine, he just has these spots, they're completely benign, you don't have to worry about it'."
But just months later McLaren's lung's began to fill with liquid and the severity of his illness soon became apparent and he was consequently diagnosed with mesothelioma, an incurable cancer of the lungs.
"Malcolm was very angry about it. He was angry at me for having not pushed the doctor further. He really blamed me for not believing him" said Kim.
Malcolm McLaren lived out his final says in a hospital in Switzerland. He was buried in Highgate Cemetery.
"Malcolm was freaked out." she said. "He called me up from the doctor's office and said, 'Young, I have lung cancer, I have lung cancer', but the doctor said, 'Oh no, he's perfectly fine, he just has these spots, they're completely benign, you don't have to worry about it'."
But just months later McLaren's lung's began to fill with liquid and the severity of his illness soon became apparent and he was consequently diagnosed with mesothelioma, an incurable cancer of the lungs.
"Malcolm was very angry about it. He was angry at me for having not pushed the doctor further. He really blamed me for not believing him" said Kim.
Malcolm McLaren trivia
- In May 1977, McLaren deliberately had himself arrested to increase his notoriety by joining the Sex Pistols on a boat on the Thames as they played 'God Save the Queen' outside the Houses of Parliament
- During his time as manager of the Sex Pistols, McLaren was often accused of refusing to pay the band when they asked him for money
- Joe Corre – the multi-millionaire founder of popular lingerie chain Agent Provocateur - is McLaren's son who he fathered with the famous fashion designer Dame Vivienne Westwood
Malcolm McLaren lived out his final says in a hospital in Switzerland. He was buried in Highgate Cemetery.
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