Main content

Malcolm McLaren's Duck Rock: In His Own Words

Another chance to hear Malcolm McLaren telling the extraordinary story of the creation of his groundbreaking album Duck Rock.

Another chance to hear the impresario and former Sex Pistols manager telling the extraordinary story the creation of his groundbreaking 1983 album, Duck Rock.

Malcolm McLaren's influential first album was released in 1983, and was a unique blend of hip-hop and ethnic music. It did much to introduce hip-hop, world music and sampling technology to the UK.

Tired of managing groups, Malcolm felt the urge to become a performer himself. With producer Trevor Horn and engineer Gary Langan he then embarked on a bizarre, adventure-packed tour of the world recording with local musicians and collecting material.

First stop was New York, where he recorded with Cubans and Dominicans and stumbled on rappers and DJs the World's Famous Supreme Team, as well as all-girl skipping troupes. Next were the mountains around Kingsport, Tennessee, where he met hillbilly square dance band The Hilltoppers. Later McLaren and his team travelled to Africa and spent time in Soweto and Kwazulu land, recording with local musicians and singers.

"It was just like Livingstone and Stanley - out in the wilderness recording this mad stuff, with no hope of re-couping money or understanding what has this got to do with Top of the Pops?"

Somehow on their return to the UK, with the help of new sampling technology, Trevor Horn was able to combine all these elements into the hit single Buffalo Gals. This was the first that many in the UK had heard of hip-hop and the rich mix of music and fashion was a revelation.

The album followed in 1983 and seemed to inspire many, including Quincy Jones, Herbie Hancock and Paul Simon. The sampling and piratical mix-and-match techniques pioneered on Duck Rock continue to influence music to this day.

26 days left to listen

1 hour

Music Played

  • Malcolm McLaren & The World鈥檚 Famous Supreme Team

    Buffalo Gals

    • Duck Rock.
    • VIRGIN.
    • MMCD-1.
  • Sex Pistols

    Anarchy In The U.K.

    • Never Mind The Bollocks....
    • Virgin.
    • V-2086.
  • Malcolm McLaren

    Double Dutch

    • Duck Rock.
    • CHARISMA.
    • MMCD-1.
  • Sex Pistols

    The Great Rock 'N' Roll Swindle

    • The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle.
    • WARNER BROS.
    • CDVD-2510.
  • Sex Pistols

    L' Anarchie Pour Le U.K.

    • The Great Rock and Roll Swindle.
    • Virgin.
    • CDVDX-2510.
  • Bow Wow Wow

    C30, C60, C90, Go!

    • The Best of Bow Wow Wow.
    • RCA.
    • CD-66943.
  • Genesis

    Follow You Follow Me

    • And Then There Were Three......
    • CHARISMA.
    • CDSCD-4010.
  • Buggles

    Video Killed The Radio Star

    • The Age Of Plastic.
    • ISLAND.
    • IMCD-261.
  • Dollar

    Videotheque

    • Dollar The Platinum Collection.
    • WARNERPLATINUM.
    • 2564-63592-2.
  • Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force

    Planet Rock

    • Rough Trade: 30 Years Of Rough Trade.
    • V2.
    • VVR-1040752.
  • Malcolm McLaren

    Merengue

    • Duck Rock.
    • COLUMBIA/LEGACY.
    • 508068-2.
  • Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force

    Planet Rock

    • Rough Trade: 30 Years Of Rough Trade.
    • V2.
    • VVR-1040752.
  • Malcolm McLaren

    Do You Like Scratching?

    • Buffalo Gals: Back To Skool.
    • Virgin.
    • CDV 2822.
  • Malcolm McLaren

    Double Dutch

    • Duck Rock.
    • CHARISMA.
    • MMCD-1.
  • Malcolm McLaren

    Duck For The Oyster

    • Duck Rock.
    • COLUMBIA/LEGACY.
    • 508068-2.
  • Malcolm McLaren & The World鈥檚 Famous Supreme Team

    Buffalo Gals

    • Duck Rock.
    • COLUMBIA/LEGACY.
    • 508068-2.
  • Malcolm McLaren

    Obatala

    • Duck Rock.
    • COLUMBIA/LEGACY.
    • 508068-2.
  • Malcolm McLaren

    Punk It Up

    • Duck Rock.
    • COLUMBIA/LEGACY.
    • 508068-2.
  • Malcolm McLaren & The World鈥檚 Famous Supreme Team

    Buffalo Gals

    • Duck Rock.
    • COLUMBIA/LEGACY.
    • 508068-2.
  • Malcolm McLaren

    Do You Like Scratching?

    • Buffalo Gals: Back To Skool.
    • Virgin.
    • CDV 2822.
  • Franz Ferdinand & Malcolm McLaren

    Franz Buffalo

    • Mashed.
    • EMI TV.
    • VTCD 858.
  • Bob Dylan

    Positively 4th Street

    • Columbia.
  • Malcolm McLaren

    Madame Butterfly (Un Bel Di Vedremo)

    • Fans.
    • Pid.
    • 3.
  • Le Tigre

    After Dark

    • Universal.
  • Thievery Corporation

    Lebanese Blonde

    • MIRROR CONSPIRACY.
    • 4AD.
  • Electric Six

    Danger! High Voltage!

    • XL.
  • Beastie Boys

    An Open Letter To NYC

    • Parlophone.
  • The Roots

    Make My

    • Undun.
    • Def Jam.
    • 3.

Broadcasts

  • Mon 4 Apr 2011 22:00
  • Sun 11 Dec 2011 03:00
  • Tue 24 Mar 2015 01:00
  • Fri 23 Sep 2016 01:00
  • Tue 15 Aug 2017 01:00
  • Fri 26 Oct 2018 01:00
  • Sun 1 Nov 2020 03:00
  • Wed 8 Feb 2023 01:00
  • Thursday 02:00