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Joe Strummer

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Joe Strummer
File:Joe Strummer.jpg
Joe Strummer with his signature black Telecaster.
Background information
Years active1973–2002


John Graham Mellor (August 21, 1952 – December 22, 2002) better known as Joe Strummer, was the co-founder, lyricist, rhythm guitarist and lead singer of the English punk rock band The Clash, and later The Mescaleros.

The early years 1952-1976

Joe Strummer was born as John Mellor in Ankara, Turkey on August 21, 1952. His father was a British foreign-service diplomat and spent much of his time moving from place to place, which meant that Strummer spent his childhood in a variety of different countries. At the age of 10, Strummer and his older brother David began boarding at the City of London Freemen's School, in Surrey. During this time Strummer rarely saw his parents. He developed a love of rock music, listening to records by The Beatles and The Beach Boys, as well as American folk-singer Woody Guthrie (Strummer would even go by the name "Woody" for a few years, until changing his name to "Joe Strummer" around the same time that the Clash was formed). Strummer was never very close to his brother David, but nonetheless David's suicide significantly changed Joe's outlook on life. After finishing his time in private school, in 1970 Strummer moved on to London's Central School of Art & Design, where he briefly flirted with the idea of becoming a professional cartoonist. Allegedly, he was expelled from the school for using LSD. During this time, Strummer shared a flat in the north London suburb of Palmers Green with friends Clive Timperley and Tymon Dogg.

In 1973 Strummer moved to Newport, Wales to attend the Newport College Of Art, but he soon dropped out. While there he joined up with some friends who were forming a band called The Vultures. For the next year he was the band's part-time singer and rhythm guitarist. During this time Strummer also worked as a gravedigger. In 1974 the band fell apart and he moved back to London where he met up again with Tymon Dogg. He busked on the streets for a while and then decided to form another band with his West London roommates. The band was called The 101'ers, named for the address of their squat (101 Walterton Road, in Westminster). The band played many gigs in London pubs playing covers of popular American R&B and blues songs. In 1975 he changed his name from "Woody" Mellor to Joe Strummer, and even insisted that his friends call him by that name. The name "Strummer" obviously refers to his role as guitarist, but in a rather self-deprecating way. Though left-handed, he was taught to play right-handed by his friend Tymon Dogg. This hampered his abilities (which were lackluster to begin with) and confined him to strumming chords. Strummer was the lead singer of the 101'ers and began to write original songs for the group. The first song he ever wrote was inspired by his girlfriend at the time, Slits drummer Palmolive. The song, "Keys to Your Heart" was liked by the group and was picked as their first single.

Marriages

Strummer married three times. In the early 1970's Strummer married Pamela Moolman, a South African citizen, so she could obtain British citizenship. After they divorced he married Gaby Salter by whom he had two daughters. This marriage also ended in divorce and in 1995 he married Lucinda Tait. This final marriage lasted until Strummer's death.

The Clash 1976-1985

On April 3, 1976, a then-unknown band called Sex Pistols opened for The 101'ers at a venue called "The Nashville Rooms" in London, and at this show Strummer saw the future of music. He saw that the music that the Sex Pistols were performing was dangerous and exciting and realized that The 101'ers were going nowhere. Sometime after this show, Strummer was approached by Bernie Rhodes and Mick Jones. Jones was from the band London SS and wanted Strummer to join as the band's lead singer. Strummer agreed to join just as the group was breaking up, but he decided to stick around and formed a new band with Jones, bassist Paul Simonon, drummer Terry Chimes and guitarist Keith Levene. The band was named The Clash by Simonon and made their debut on August 29, 1976, opening for Sex Pistols in Sheffield, England. On January 25, 1977 the band signed with CBS Records and was now a three-piece after Levene was booted from the band and Chimes quit. Drummer Topper Headon would later become the band's full-time drummer.

The Clash was the most musically diverse and overtly political of the original English punk bands. Their songs tackled social decay, unemployment, racism, police brutality, political and social repression, militarism and, occasionally, sex. It was all heroically idealistic, but The Clash were deadly serious about everything they did. Strummer was involved with the Anti-Nazi League and Rock Against Racism campaigns. He later also gave his support to the Rock Against the Rich series of concerts organised by the anarchist organisation Class War. The Clash's London Calling album was voted best album of the 1980s by Rolling Stone magazine (although it was released in late 1979 in the UK it was released in 1980 in the USA). The Clash's influence can be clearly felt in the bands U2, No Doubt, Billy Idol and Generation X, Manic Street Preachers, Rancid, Green Day, Rage Against The Machine, Nirvana, The Libertines, Red Hot Chili Peppers (especially John Frusciante and Flea). Even hip-hop revolutionaries Public Enemy cite the Clash as a major influence. The Clash are also almost certainly responsible for the explosion of garage bands in the 1980s and 1990s.

During his time with The Clash, Strummer, along with his bandmates, became notorious for getting in trouble with the law. On June 10, 1977, he and Topper were arrested for spray-painting "The Clash" on a wall in a hotel, and in the early 80s he was arrested for hitting a violent member of the audience with his guitar during a show in Hamburg, Germany. Before the album "Combat Rock" was released in 1982, Strummer disappeared in what was supposed to be a publicity stunt created by the band's manager, Bernie Rhodes. During this time band members began to argue a lot, and with tensions high, the group began to fall apart. In September 1982, Strummer issued the infamous "Clash Communique", and fired Mick Jones. Topper Headon had earlier been kicked out of the band because of his heroin addiction, which now left the band with only two of its original members. Strummer decided to carry on and added new members. "The Clash Mark Two" released the album "Cut The Crap" in 1985. The album was panned by fans and critics alike and Strummer disbanded the band. In November 1985, Strummer went to Jones and asked him to help him reform the band, which Jones refused to do.

The wilderness years 1985-1999

A year later, Strummer joined up with Jones again and worked on a few songs for the film Sid and Nancy. Strummer would also later work with Jones and his band Big Audio Dynamite, contributing to the band's second album. In 1987 he starred in the film Walker, directed by Alex Cox, as a character named "Faucet" and wrote and performed on the film's soundtrack. He would star in another Cox film that same year called Straight to Hell, as the character Simms. In 1989 Strummer would act in a small role in Jim Jarmusch's film Mystery Train, as a man called Elvis with a drunken temper. He also made a brief appearance in the 1990 film I hired a contract killer as a guitarist in a pub, singing two songs written by members of The Pogues. These were released as a promotional 7" single limited to a few hundred copies, credited to "Joe Strummer & the Astro Physicians". During this time Strummer continued to act, write and produce soundtracks for various films, most notably the soundtrack for Grosse_Pointe_Blank.

In 1989 Strummer began producing solo records with a band called The Latino Rockabilly War. The album Earthquake Weather was a critical and commercial flop, and resulted in the loss of his contract with Sony Records. He then kept a low profile for nearly a decade, but in 1991, he replaced Shane MacGowan as singer of The Pogues for a tour after MacGowan's departure from the band. Strummer also produced the Pogues album Hell's Ditch. After these self-described "wilderness years," he began working with other bands; he played piano on the 1995 UK hit of The Levellers, "Just the One" and appeared on the Black Grape single "England's Irie" in 1996.

Also during this time, Strummer was in a Mexican standoff with The Clash's record label, Sony Records. The disagreement lasted nearly eight years and ended with the label agreeing to let him record solo records on his own with another label. If The Clash were to reunite though, they would have to record for Sony.

The Mescaleros and legacy 1999-2002

Strummer and The Mescaleros.

Finally, in the mid-to-late 1990s, Strummer gathered top-flight musicians into a backing band he called The Mescaleros. Strummer and the band signed with Mercury Records, and issued their first album in 1999, which was co-written with Anthony Genn, called Rock Art and the X-Ray Style. A tour of England and North America soon followed; sets included several Clash fan favourites. In 2001 the band signed with Californian punk label Hellcat Records and then released their second album, "Global A Go-Go". The album was supported with a 21-date tour of North America, Britain, and Ireland. Once again, these concerts featured Clash material ("London Calling", "Rudie Can't Fail," "White Man in Hammersmith Palais"), as well as classic covers of reggae and ska hits ("The Harder They Come", "A Message To You, Rudy") and the band regularly closed the show with a nod to the late Joey Ramone by playing The Ramones' "Blitzkrieg Bop".

On November 16, 2002, Strummer and The Mescaleros played a benefit show for striking fire fighters in London. Mick Jones was in the crowd, and surprisingly, joined the band on stage during the Clash's classic "Bankrobber." Jones had been in attendance at the gig, and when the band started to play "Bankrobber", he is said to have shouted "I gotta get up there!". An encore followed with Jones playing guitar and singing on "White Riot" and "London Calling." This performance marked the first time since 1983 that Strummer and Mick had performed together on stage. Jones later remarked that it was totally unplanned and that he felt compelled to join Strummer on stage.

Strummer's final gig was at Liverpool Academy on November 22, 2002. Shortly before his death Strummer and Bono of U2 co-wrote a song, "46664", for Nelson Mandela as part of a campaign against AIDS in Africa. Strummer had been scheduled to play at Mandela's SOS fundraising concert in February 2003 on Robben Island.

Strummer died on December 22, 2002 in his home at Broomfield in Somerset, the victim of an undiagnosed congenital heart defect. His untimely death at age 50 shocked and saddened a generation of fans to whom he had been an inspirational figure. According to Clash band members Paul Simonon and Mick Jones, at the time of Strummer's death, the band (including Topper Headon) was considering reuniting for a world tour.

At the time of his death, Strummer was working on another album, which was released posthumously in October 2003 under the title Streetcore. The songs "Coma Girl" and "Arms Aloft" from this album bear comparison with the Clash's best work, while the cover of Bobby Charles' "Before I Grow Too Old" (renamed "Silver and Gold") is a poignant closer. The album also features a tribute to American music icon Johnny Cash ("Long Shadow"), which was actually written for Cash to sing and recorded in Rick Rubin's garage, as well as a remembrance of the September 11, 2001 attacks ("Ramshackle Day Parade"), and a cover of Bob Marley's classic "Redemption Song", which Strummer had also recorded in a duet with Cash. (The Cash/Strummer duet version appears on the 2003 box set Unearthed).

At the Grammy Awards in February 2003, "London Calling" was performed by Elvis Costello, Bruce Springsteen, Steven van Zandt, Dave Grohl, Pete Thomas, and Tony Kanal in tribute to Strummer. In March 2003, The Clash were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

File:47828.jpg
Lucinda Mellor and the locomotive Joe Strummer.

In addition to his music, Strummer was instrumental in setting up Future Forests (recently rechistened the Carbon Neutral Company), an organisation dedicated to planting trees in various parts of the world in order to combat global warming. Strummer was the first artist to make the recording, pressing and distribution of his records carbon neutral through the planting of trees. Many other artists such as Foo Fighters, Coldplay and Pink Floyd have followed suit and fans can visit the Carbon Neutral Company website to buy trees to be planted in their favourite artist's forest (Strummer's being christened "Rebels Wood", a specially selected section in Orbost, on the Isle of Skye.) In his remembrance, Strummer's friends and family have established the Strummerville Foundation for the promotion of new music. The Belfast punk rock group Stiff Little Fingers also recorded a tribute song "Strummerville" on their album, Guitar and Drum. On February 12, 2005 the Class 47 locomotive 47828 was named "Joe Strummer". The nameplates were unveiled by his widow Lucinda in a ceremony at Bristol Temple Meads railway station. Also, on July 22, 2005 Lucinda unveiled a plaque on the house in Pentonville, Newport where Strummer lived from 1973 to 1974 and where his first foray into recorded music, "Crummy Bum Blues" was recorded.[1]

Throughout his career, his fans have remarked at the devotion he gave back to the fans themselves. It has been said that Strummer never left a venue until everyone who had waited around got an autograph and talked with him personally, a process which often lasted for hours. He continued to play Clash songs, despite the grievances of some Mescaleros, simply for his fans.

A documentary by Dick Rude titled Let's Rock Again! is set for a DVD release on June 27th, 2006. The film, completed after Joe's death, chronicles life on tour with the Mescaleros.

Solo discography

For recordings made with the Clash please see The Clash discography

Solo recordings

Albums

Year Album Additional information
1987 Walker Soundtrack for the film Walker, scored by Strummer.
1987 Straight To Hell Original Soundtrack Soundtrack for the film Straight to Hell, featuring 2 songs by Strummer.
1993 When Pigs Fly Soundtrack Unreleased soundtrack for the film When Pigs Fly, scored by Strummer.
2003 Unearthed (guest appearance) A duet of "Redemption Song" with Johnny Cash.
2004 Black Magic (guest appearance) Strummer performed the song "Over The Border" with Jimmy Cliff.

With The Latino Rockabilly War

Albums

Year Album Additional information
1988 Permanent Record Original Soundtrack Features songs by Strummer and The Latino Rockabilly War.
1989 Earthquake Weather Strummer's only full-length studio album with The Latino Rockabilly War.

With The Mescaleros

Albums

Year Album Additional information
1999 Rock Art and the X-Ray Style Strummer's first album with The Mescaleros.
2001 Global A Go-Go Peaked at #23 on Billboard's Top Independent Albums chart in the US.
2003 Streetcore Strummer's last album released after his death.

Selected filmography

Year Title Role Other notes
1997 Docteur Chance Vince Taylor
1989 Mystery Train Johnny aka Elvis
1988 Candy Mountain Mario
1987 Walker Faucet Uncredited
1987 Straight to Hell Simms
1983 The King of Comedy Street Scum
1980 Rude Boy Semi-Documentary Subject

Sound samples

References

  • Gilbert, Pat. Passion is a Fashion: The Real Story of The Clash, 2004. DA CAPO Press. ISBN 0-306-81434-X (pbk.)
  • Gray, Marcus. Last Gang in Town: The Story and Myth of The Clash, Henry Holt and Co., 1995.
  • Yewdall, John Leonard. Joe Strummer with the 101'ers and the Clash, 1974-1976, 1992. Image Direct. ISBN 0-951-92160-6
  • "Clash star Joe Strummer dies". CNN. link - last accessed on January 15, 2006.
  • Matula, Theodore. "Joe Strummer, 1952-2002." Popular Music and Society. Dec 2003. Vol. 26, Iss. 4; p. 523-525.

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Joe Strummer.
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