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The founder and boss of lingerie brand Agent Provocateur has been left devastated' after discovering the dead body of his best friend who had committed suicide.
Joe Corré, 41, whose high end underwear brand is a favourite with celebrities, found Luca Mainardi, 48, hanged at his Islington flat last Thursday.
A source close to Mr Corré, the son of fashion designer Vivienne Westwood and ex Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren said: “It was a nightmare for him to stumble across the suicide of his closest friend. Naturally he is devastated.”
Mr Corré, who turned down an MBE in 2007 in protest against the Iraq war, played in an electro band Dirty Stop Out with his Italian-born friend and former Clash guitarist Mick Jones.
Photographs also emerged today of keyboard player Luca - nicknamed Filthy Luca' - posing with a noose around his neck in a recent promotional photoshoot.
The source added: “Joe and Luca spent a lot of their free time hanging out and making music. Luca smoked a lot of cannabis and was very moody.”
The night before Mr Mainardi died, the band were said to be recording material for a new album in the studio beneath his flat. Scotland Yard described the death as non suspicious'.
An Agent Provocateur spokesman said Mr Corré was unavailable for comment.
Agent Provocateur was formed in 1994. The brand is popular with celebrities including Victoria Beckham, whilst Kate Moss and Kylie Minogue are amongst the stars who have promoted its products in high profile ad campaigns.
