Bernard Rhodes
| Bernie Rhodes | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Bernard Rhodes |
| Born | UK |
| Occupations | Record producer, manager, songwriter |
| Years active | 1975–present |
| Associated acts | The Clash Subway Sect The Specials JoBoxers |
| Website | link |
Bernard Rhodes is the former manager of English punk rock band The Clash.[1][2][3][4] He previously worked with Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren and once claimed to have "invented punk".[n 1]
Contents |
[edit] Management
[Rhodes]'s had a load of influence — especially at the start. He put the group together. And he also put us on the right track — mainly about song content.
Rhodes claims he was responsible for spotting John Lydon (aka Johnny Rotten) in the Kings Road and recommended that he audition as singer for the Sex Pistols in McLaren and Westwood's shop SEX.
After his offer to co-manage the Sex Pistols was rejected, Rhodes was instrumental in The Clash's formation in 1976. His acceptance from CBS Records of an overly onerous and poorly financed record contract on behalf of the group caused tensions, and he was replaced in 1978 by the journalist and Release founder Caroline Coon. In turn Coon was replaced by management company Blackhill and, in 1981, Rhodes was brought back in and managed The Clash until their break-up in 1986, having been instrumental in manipulating the departure of principal songwriter and musical overseer Mick Jones.[1][2][3][4]
Rhodes also managed Subway Sect, Dexys Midnight Runners and The Specials in 1979, shortly after these bands formed.
[edit] Cut the Crap
According to guitarist Vince White, the working title of the Clash's last studio album, released in 1985, was Out of Control; the title was changed to Cut the Crap by Rhodes shortly before its release without consulting the band. Rhodes also produced the record, using the alias of Jose Unidos (presumably to suggest Joe Strummer was the producer). He is credited, together with Joe Strummer, for co-writing all the tracks of that album.[1][2][3]
[edit] Clash Culture incident
On 2 May 2007 Rhodes caused controversy at an event called "Clash Culture", which took place at Central St Martins College of Art and Design in London, when he said "If you want to sort out crime in London, sort out the niggers in Peckham".[6][n 2] In the July 2007 issue of Mojo magazine, Rhodes said he had been taken out of context.
[edit] Notes
- ^ In a television interview, Joe Strummer of The Clash said, after drawing the camera to Rhodes sleeping against a wall, "He invented punk...it was obviously too much for him", referring ironically to a statement of Rhodes himself. The scene and the statement are featured in the documentary Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten.
- ^ Many in the audience, which included ex-Sex Pistol Glen Matlock and former Clash roadie Sebastian Conran, feigned outrage when Rhodes said: "If you want to sort out crime in London, sort out the niggers in Peckham".[6]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Gilbert 2005.
- ^ a b c Topping 2004.
- ^ a b c Gray 2005.
- ^ a b Westway 2001.
- ^ Coon 1977.
- ^ a b UNLIMITED 2007.
[edit] Sources
- Books
- Coon, Caroline (1977). 1988: The New Wave Punk Rock Explosion. London: Hawthorn. ISBN 0801561299. OCLC 79262599. http://homepage.mac.com/blackmarketclash/Bands/Clash/Clash%20gigography/1976%20DATES.html. Retrieved 2011-09-19.
- Gilbert, Pat (2005) [2004]. Passion Is a Fashion: The Real Story of The Clash (4th edition ed.). London: Aurum Press. ISBN 1845131134. OCLC 61177239.
- Gray, Marcus (2005) [1995]. The Clash: Return of the Last Gang in Town (5th revised edition ed.). London: Helter Skelter. ISBN 1905139101. OCLC 60668626.
- Topping, Keith (2004) [2003]. The Complete Clash (2nd ed. ed.). Richmond: Reynolds & Hearn. ISBN 1903111706. OCLC 63129186.
- Films and documentaries
- Letts Don; Rick Elgood, Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, Topper Headon, Terry Chimes, The Clash (2001). The Clash: Westway to the World (DVD). New York, NY: Sony Music Entertainment; Dorismo; Uptown Films. ISBN 0-7389-0082-6. OCLC 49798077.
- Web
- "UNLIMITED / CMU Daily 04.05.07". CMU Daily - on the inside. CMU Music Network. 2007-05-04. http://www.cmumusicnetwork.co.uk/daily/070504.html. Retrieved 2007-12-04.
[edit] Further reading
- Salewicz, Chris (2006). Redemption Song: The Ballad of Joe Strummer. New York: Macmillan. ISBN 9780571211784. OCLC 76794852. http://books.google.com/books?id=I_fV3Oqn6o0C.
[edit] External links
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