A Tribute To THE CLASH.


"We have to fight the entire super band system. Groups like the Stones are revolting. They have nothing to offer the kids anymore..."
John Lydon aka Johnny Rotten.

London 1975. Brixton boy Mick Jones and Tony James put together London SS, a controversially titled band with absolutely no Nazi sympthpathies whatsoever. The band played early Stones and Mott The Hoople covers and the line-up also included Brian James (later of The Damned). The band eventually split after never even performing a gig, with Tony going onto form Chelsea and then Generation X. Despite never having been on a public platform, the band had been under the influence of Bernie Rhodes who was part of the McLaren punk camp. Before the band had split Jones had met Paul Simonon and The Clash were on the way. Jones and Simomon went through various line-ups and names before The Clash was to become a reality.

Joe Strummer had left art college and headed to Wales. Whilst there he began his musical career. He came across a band without a drum kit and having one himself he got them to agree to let him be lead vocal in exchange for the kit. The band was called Flaming Youth, but Strummer soon angled for The Vultures. Strummer eventually split both the band and Wales and headed back to London. In 1974 he formed The 101'ers. The band had cult status on the London scene, an R&B inspired outfit that included Dick Dudanski (later with PIL) and Clive Timperley (later with The Passions). The band had even released a single, Keys To Your Heart (on Chiswick). Despite his achievements Strummer wasn't content with his lot.

The Clash While at the dole office Strummer ran into Jones, Simonon and Glen Matlock from The Sex Pistols. They liked the look of Joe and soon afterwards The Pistols supported The 101'ers, Joe had liked the sound of what was going on and broke up his band. By summer 1976 Strummer was in The Clash line-up, a line-up that also saw Terry Chimes and Keith Levine (later of PIL), and they played their first gig in Sheffield in June that year. In winter 1976 the band where in London and so broke that they heated the remains of a flour and water paste, that they had been using to put up posters for a gig, on their one bar electric fire and ate it. By now The Pistols had signed to a major and The Clash soon followed with a £100 000 deal with CBS. The fanzine Sniffin' Glue declared that "Punk died the day The Clash signed to CBS". Despite now playing major league, the band didn't lose sight of their principles. They had been responsible for the rapid growth of punk into a national scene. They would mix with the crowd after a gig and would have their hotel room full with fans crashin' on the floor. In late 1976 the band played support on The Pistols Anarchy tour. However, many of the gigs on the tour were non-starters. The Pistols were, by then, nationally notorious and the self righteous put on the pressure in various areas up and down the nation.

The Clash It wasn't until 1977 that things were to look completely up for the band. Terry Chimes had played drums on tour and on the band's debut album The Clash, but now wanted to leave the band. Auditions were held and all possible replacements rejected. The last person to audition was Nicky "Topper" Headon. Headon was no stranger, both he and Terry Chimes had previously auditioned for Jone's London SS. So, in spring '77 The Clash was complete. The Clash album was to sell 100 000 copies in the UK, entering the charts at no.12. The single White Riot was released from the album and became a punk anthem. Columbia Records, CBS parent company, refused to release the album in the US due to the poor sound quality. The band threatened to withold from further recording unless the album was released in the states. The beginning of a wonderful relationship.

In early '78 Joe bacame victim to hepatitis as a result of that sad punk stereotype spitting at the band, one of a number of silly stereotypes that the more pathetic element followed (note Kenny Everett's sad sid snot punk character). The gob on this occasion had landed in Joe's mouth and he had ended up in hospital.

For the second album CBS decided that the best way to appeal to the American market would be to bring in Blue Oyster Cult's producer Sandy Pearlman. Despite differnces, the brilliant (White Man At) Hammersmith Palais was released during this period. After some time the second album Give 'Em Enough Rope was released, it was meant to have taken just over a month to record. However, the band wanted to release something they were sure of and it took slightly longer. It was released to critical acclaim. '78 also saw the band play at the Anti Nazi League carnival in April that year. The carnival had been organized by Rock Against Racism to highlight the need to halt the threatening spread of the extreme right.

Topper and Paul had been fined for shooting at pigeons. The pair had been shooting at the birds, in true Dastardly and Mutley fashion, when someone on a passing train thought that they had been the target. On the scene arrived armed police and an helicopter. The Glasgow Apollo gig occured around this time. The band were the last act to play the infamous venue and Joe was said to have cried after the gig as a result of the thugs on the door beatin' the shit out of anything that moved. Despite the band's appeal for no violence, the inbred doormen ignored the plea.

Despite his early connections with the band Bernie Rhodes was becoming a problem. He wanted to ditch Mick in favour of former Pistols man Steve Jones. Rhodes had also arranged dates that the band couldn't honour as they were mixing the second album in the US at the time. The band were taking the flak for his cock-ups and something had to give. The aptly titled "Sort It Out" tour was to be Rhodes last as head honcho.

In the background to all this the band had been co-operating on a semi documentary film account of their exploits. It was originally to be called Rudi Can't Fail, and starred Ray Gange who was a mate of Joe's, but ended up as Rude Boy. Gange was reported to have beaten up the film's directors on completion of the project and headed off into the sunset (California to be exact). The film was to eventually be opposed by the band, especially Rhodes replacement Blackhill (a management team set up to manage an early Pink Floyd). This opposition was apparently due to the band coming over as too political on screen, in reality what a shame if fans would have been denied the chance to view this slice of late '70's life. It was eventually released in spring 1980.

1979 Saw the band tour the US. The Cost Of Living EP had been released on election day 1979 and the album London Calling was released at the close of the year. This double album was another piece of Clash perfection. On this album Paul Simonon had wrote and sung Guns Of Brixton. The album also included political comment, with tracks like Spanish Bombs and Working For The Clampdown. The track Train In Vain was released in the US and became the band's first top30 hit there.

1980 brought mixed fortunes for the band. In the spring of that year the band played a gig in Hamburg, Germany, when all hell broke loose. In the incident Joe had smacked a member of the mob with his guitar, was arrested and released after it had been established that he wasn't pissed. The band were, however, pissed off by this element at their gigs. Yet again, the result of a plastic punk attitude. The gig in Hamburg had consisted of many punks, the scene was still quite strong in parts of Germany. The summer saw the release of heavily reggae influenced Bank Robber. The track had been produced by reggae icon Mickey Dread, Dread appeared himself on the b side with Rockers Galore.

The Clash Later that year Joe became a victim of the notorious SPG squad which had been set up to enforce the Tory SUS laws, if they didn't like the look of you or were just simply bored you were stopped and given the third. The close of the year saw the band part company with Blackhill and the release of their fourth album, Sandinista. The single The Call Up, also on the album, featured the address of the American Immobilise Against The Draft and the CND organisations on the sleeve. The triple album's title had been inspired by the Sandinista movement that had put an end to the Somosa regime in Nicaragua. Again the band's principles shone through, the title wasn't going to be popular. This especially in the US as the government there had backed Somosa. The album was slanted and was viewed, by some, to be not of usual Clash standard. Although, as in regards to sales, the money spent on vinyl in December 1980 was probably affected by the murder of John Lennon in New York. None the less, Sandinista probably made the Xmas list along with Adidas Forest Hills with many that year. The band were now experimenting with up and coming American dance culture, especially Hip Hop. Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five were to later play support for the band and they recorded with Futura 2000, providing backing for The Escapades Of Futura 2000 (which was released a little later). Black Market Clash, a 10 inch nine track LP, had also been released in the US that year. It featured tracks that had only previously been available as imports in the US.

1981 saw Bernie Rhodes return to the helm and, on a sadder note, Topper was given a conditional discharge for a year for possession of heroin and coke. Joe ran the London Marathon and more tours beckoned, the US included for which they took to the stage to the tune of For A Few Dollars More. Memorable concerts were also played in London and Paris. A reviewer for the NME described both London Calling and Sandinista as piffle, probably another art school junkie who wished that '76 could have lasted forever. It was to be 1982 before the band were to release another album.

The Clash Combat Rock was originally to have been titled Rat Patrol From Fort Bragg. The album recieved mixed reviews, although it pleased both Sounds and NME. The album included a track called Ghetto Defendant which featured celebrated 50s beat poet Allen Ginsberg reciting within it. The album entered the charts at no.2 and was to become a best seller. Prior to the album being released Joe had disappeared off the scene. The mystery came to an end when Joe was found in Paris in May '82 and persuaded to play a festival in Holland. It was also in '82 when Topper sadly split from the band. The reason given, at the time, was differences within the group. However, Topper's drug problem was soon attributed to his departure and he was to do an 18 month stretch as a result of his drug habit some 5 years later. Another US tour loomed, including a series of dates supporting The Who, and domestic gigs cancelled as a result of Joe's absence were rescheduled for their return. As a result of Topper's departure Terry Chimes soon returned. The British tour was to see the venues played turned into mock clubs, to be known as The Casbah Club in reference to the band's Rock The Casbah. It was also intended that if the England squad reached the final of the '82 World Cup that the game be shown live as support for the Brixton Fair Deal gig, the final coinciding with the gig. Needless to say, England didn't make it.

The Clash Terry Chimes left the band once again and was to be replaced later by Pete Howard. 1983 gave another blow to Clash fans, as Mick Jones was dropped from the band. The official statement given by Joe and Paul stated that Mick had drifted from the original idea of the group. Mick insisted that he had not drifted and would continue with any future project giving the same dedication that he had given The Clash since early days. By early '84 a new line-up was announced. Joining Joe, Paul and Pete Howard would be guitarists Vince White and former Cortinas man Nick Sheppard. An album and tour were scheduled. The Strummer/Rhodes penned Cut The Crap was released, although after poor sales the writing was on the wall. It felt as though the clash was no longer The Clash. In early 1986 the band had already began to ponder the situation and soon called it a day.

The former members were to be involved in many projects. Most notably, Mick Jones and Big Audio Dynamite. B.A.D saw him team up with old mate and punk icon Don Letts. Joe had Havana 3am and has toured in recent years. Ironically, the band hit the no.1 spot in 1991 when Should I Stay Or Should I Go was re-released as a result of being chosen as one of the many retro tunes for Levis ads. The band decided against any reunion as a result of the success. If there's one thing that will always stick in my mind about the band it would be their constant refusal to appear on pop favourite Top Of The Pops, this probably contributed to them never having a top10 hit throughout their years together. Principles that hit their own pocket and made the legend that was THE CLASH.