Malcolm McLaren, Sex Pistols manager, dead at 64

NEW YORK - Malcolm McLaren, the English performer, designer and one-time manager of the Sex Pistols, died in New York at age 64, US media reports said Thursday.

The cause of death was not known.

McClaren was among the first to recognize and successfully market the emerging punk music scene of the late 1970s. With his one-time partner, fashion designer Vivienne Westwood, he operated the fashion store Let it Rock in London.

He came to the punk rock scene through managing the London band, The Strand, which then evolved into the Sex Pistols. He was also involved with the New York Dolls.

McLaren also cut some of his own records, including Double Dutch, which made it into the hit lists in 1983.

He ran for mayor of London several years ago, but withdrew his candidacy.