Son of Punk Icon Malcolm McLaren Burns Original Sex Pistols Record
Joe Corré, the son of Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren and fashion designer Vivienne Westwood, burnt his original acetate of the Sex Pistols’ classic single “Anarchy in the U.K.” on Tuesday evening after it failed to sell on eBay.
Corré, who is the co-founder of lingerie brand Agent Provocateur, made headlines in March when he announced his plans to torch his entire extensive lot of punk memorabilia, citing disgust with how punk has been appropriated by the commercial sector and the state.
Corré earmarked Nov. 26 as the date he planned to burn his $7 million collection, in order to coincide with the 40th anniversary of “Anarchy in the U.K.” However, he changed his mind, and decided to try listing items on eBay in order to raise money for charity instead.
The single was placed on eBay last week, and reached a high bid of nearly $78,000 by Nov. 17. Corré took it down for failing to reach the reserve price, which he’d set at a million British pounds (around $1,243,000 USD), and proceeded to light the disc up in flames.
“It might be culturally significant to certain punk hangers on and freeloaders, but not to me anymore,” he said in a statement. “The whole lot is going.”
Corré’s collection includes many items belonging to his father, as well as vintage clothing designed by his mother, fashion icon Vivienne Westwood.
