Malcolm McLaren, the British self-proclaimed mastermind behind the iconic Sex Pistols punk band and an eclectic musician in his own right, died on Thursday from cancer in Switzerland, his girlfriend said. He was 64.

The London-born impresario and promoter, who was also the former partner of fashion designer Vivienne Westwood, died of a rare form of cancer called mesothelioma.

"He passed away at a hospital in Switzerland where he was being treated for cancer," longtime girlfriend Young Kim told Reuters.

McLaren was best known as manager of the Sex Pistols, one of several bands who propelled the 1970s punk revolution. Their anti-establishment single "God Save the Queen" stormed the charts at the time of Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee in 1977.

The next year, the Sex Pistols toured the United States but split acrimoniously with lead singer John Lydon, whose stage name was Johnny Rotten, blaming the erratic behaviour of bass guitarist Sid Vicious as well as McLaren's mismanagement.

"For me, Malc was always entertaining, and I hope you remember that. Above all else, he was an entertainer, and I will miss him, and so should you," Rotten said in a statement.

McLaren opened a London clothes shop with Westwood, his then partner, in 1971, making theatrical and sometimes outrageous fashion worn by such bands as the New York Dolls, who he later managed for a brief time.

McLaren's son with Westwood, Joseph Corre, co-founded the lingerie brand Agent Provocateur.

"I thought he is a very charismatic, special and talented person," Westwood said in a statement. "The thought of him dead is really something very sad. We hadn't been in touch for a long time."

'LASTING INFLUENCE'

In the 1980s, McLaren released his own albums, drawing on such influences as African music and hip-hop.

As a solo artist, he released the 1983 album "Duck Rock," including the single "Buffalo Gals" that proved to be influential in spreading hip-hop to Britain. He made more albums, pulling together such sounds as disco and electronic music.

Kim, who was with McLaren and his son when he died, said McLaren had travelled to New York in February for the launch of an art book before returning to Switzerland for ongoing cancer treatment at a clinic.

"Malcolm McLaren was a man who changed the world and is a lasting influence," Kim said. "Without him the world would be a very different place culturally in art, music and fashion."

Les Molloy, McLaren's spokesman in Britain, said he was devastated by the news. "It came as an enormous shock," he said.

Molloy said he had spoken to McLaren in the last few weeks about his plans for the future and he had seemed "perfectly fine" despite his the cancer.

Asked about conflicting reports of McLaren's whereabouts when he died, Molloy said he was not sure of the details and had only assumed that McLaren was in New York.

He said he expected McLaren's body would be returned to Britain to be buried but could not be certain.