The UK paper The Independent reports that Malcolm McLaren, artist and conceptualist behind the punk rock explosion in the mid-1970s, has died of cancer this morning in New York.

From The Independent:

His spokesman Les Molloy told The Independent: “He had been suffering from cancer for some time, but recently had been full of health, which then rapidly deteroriated. He died in New York this morning. We are expecting his body to be brought back to London and buried in Highgate Cemetery.”

See LA Weekly film editor Karina Longworth's obituary (with clips) here.

Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.