Died On This Date (April 8, 2010) Malcolm McLaren / Managed The Sex Pistols & New York Dolls

Malcolm McLaren
January 22, 1946 – April 8, 2010

Malcolm McLaren was a trendsetting English fashion store proprietor who became internationally famous as the manager of the New York Dolls and Sex Pistols.   During the early ’70s, McLaren opened a clothing store on London’s trendy King’s Road.  In no time, it became a favorite destination for the area’s young rock crowd.  While making buying trips to New York, he met up with the New York Dolls and soon began creating their stage costumes.  He eventually took over management duties.  By the middle of the decade, McLaren was managing the Sex Pistols, initially due to their sense of outrageous fashion rather than their musical abilities.  The partnership would quickly evolve into what many credit as being the flash point of punk rock.  After the band’s disintegration, McLaren worked with Adam Ant and Bow Wow Wow.  He also had a moderately successful recording career of his own.  His “Buffalo Gals” and “Double Dutch” were hits in the UK and US.  McLaren continued to stay in the public eye, at least in the UK, well into the 2000s with various projects.  Malcolm McLaren died of cancer on April 8, 2010.  He was 64.

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Duck Rock - Malcolm McLaren

Died On This Date (April 8, 1997) Laura Nyro / Critically Acclaimed Singer-Songwriter

Laura Nyro
October 18, 1947 – April 8, 1997

Laura Nyro was not only a well-respected performer, she penned numerous classic songs that became major hits for others. In just a matter of two years, she wrote such hits as “Wedding Bell Blues” (the 5th Dimension), “And When I Die” (Blood, Sweat & Tears), “Eli’s Coming” (Three Dog Night), and “Stoney End” (Barbra Streisand) among others. Nyro spent her career feeling uncomfortable about the celebrity part of pop music so she kept a low profile and retired a couple of times. Nyro passed away from ovarian cancer on April 8, 1997 at the age of 49.

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Eli and the Thirteenth Confession - Laura Nyro

Died On This Date (April 8, 2009) Tam Paton / Controversial Manager of Bay City Rollers

Thomas “Tam” Paton
August 10, 1938 – April 8, 2009

patonScotland born Tam Paton was the manager and main mouthpiece for 70s pop sensations, the Bay City Rollers.   Paton helped develop a squeaky clean image for the band by claiming for instance, that the guys preferred milk over alcohol.  “Rollermania” exploded around the world thanks to such hits as “Saturday Night” and “Shang-a-lang.”  The band fired Paton in 1979 afterwhich he went on to earn millions in real estate.   In 2003, Rollers guitarist Pat McGlynn announced that Paton, who was openly gay, raped him while on tour in 1977.  The allegations though never doubted were never proven true.   Paton was convicted of sex and drug related offenses in later years.  He died as a result of an apparent heart attack on April 8, 2009.

Died On This Date (April 8, 1991) Per Yngve Ohlin aka Dead / Mayhem

Dead (Born Per Yngve Ohlin)
January 16, 1969 – April 8, 1991

deadKnown to fans as Dead, Per Yngve Ohlin was the lead singer for Norwegian black metal band, Mayhem.  Formed in 1983, the band went on to become one of the most influential Norwegian bands of the black metal scene.   The band was as controversial as it was popular, due in part, to their violent stage show and stabbing death of guitarist, Eronymous.   For added effect, Ohlin painted himself to look like a corpse during their shows.  In 1990, band mates began to notice a difference in Ohlin’s personality.  He rarely left his bedroom and was reportedly becoming more and more depressed which no doubt led to infighting within the band, particularly with Aarseth.  On April 8, 1991, Ohlin’s body was found.  He had slit his wrists and shot himself in the head with a shotgun.

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De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas - Mayhem

Died On This Date (April 8, 2010) Teddy Scholten / Dutch Singer Popular in ’50s & ’60s

Teddy Scholten
May 11, 1926 – April 8, 2010

Teddy Scholten was a Dutch singer who was popular throughout the Netherlands during the ’50s and ’60s.  In 1959, Scholten won the Eurovision Song Conest with “Een Beetje,” which significantly boosted her career.  She went on to appear on many popular Netherlands television shows throughout the ’60s.  Throughout her career, Scholten released several albums, mostly made up of childrens songs.    Teddy Scholten passed away on April 8, 2010.  She was 83.