Malcolm McLaren, the former manager of seventies punk band the Sex Pistols, has died aged 64.
His spokesman Les Malloy said he died in Switzerland after a long fight against cancer.
Mr Malloy said he had been "doing very well" when his condition suddenly worsened.
He paid tribute to his friend, telling Sky News: "Malcolm's iconic status is second to none.
"I think he was one of the ten most important figures in the world of music, art and fashion.
"Without him none of what we have had in the last 30 years, or now, would have been the same."
His son Malcolm and partner Yung Kim were with him when he passed away and were said to be in "shock" and "devastated".
Clash guitarist Mick Jones said: "I'm just in total shock, absolute shock about it all.
"Malcolm was an incredible talent, he was a massive influence on punk and it's a huge loss.
"I'm really very upset about it actually and it's not sunk in, I really can't say anymore than that."
Music journalist Jon Savage, who wrote England's Dreaming, the award-winning history of the Sex Pistols and punk, said: "Without Malcolm McLaren there would not have been any British punk.
"He's one of the rare individuals who had a huge impact on the cultural and social life of this nation."
Mr Savage said McLaren had an enormous influence on British culture through the King's Road shop he opened with Vivienne Westwood and also through the Sex Pistols.
"I hope he'll be remembered with fondness," he said.
"What he did with fashion and music was extraordinary. He was a revolutionary."
McLaren's body is expected to be returned to the UK for his funeral.
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/5/20100408/ten-sex-pistols-former-manager-mclaren-d-8a3eada.html
