This isn't right.Īs a University Ents promoter in the late 80s, I dreamed of booking a reformed Clash. I grew up in the early 80's as a teenager The Clash was one of the only sincere bands that spoke to my generation. Not only was Strummer a brilliant observer of society but he represented responsibilty and integrity as well as the credo of headlong, heartfelt artistic expression. Geez! How? Why? A 50 year-old man and a parent! As a parent myself I am exteremely saddened by this news. Second meeting, November 2001, you kissed my toddler son outside the Ed Sullivan Theater, and graciously posed for the coolest photo with little William, and signed a Clash songbook to my daughter with the words, "Thanks for getting on it so early!" Bless you, Joe. Met you twice, first after a gig with the Pogues in NYC, you wanted to go bowling after the gig, but we ended up drinking and talking at a blues bar and I went directly from that bleary encounter to my gig teaching high school, smelling like the bar and looking like a rocker but completely buzzed. I had the honour of knowing him and talking for several hours over many subjects while we travelled a little, this was 10 years ago. No other generation has had such a fellow to entertain and direct them. The Clash were more powerful and influential than the music business that they emerged from. Joe Strummer was an accomplished musician who will be sadly missed. The Clash and the Stranglers were the best British punk bands of the 1970s and 80s. If anything good has come from this awful tragedy it's that he is now receiving the acknowledgements and respect that he deserved all along. Joe Strummer, while no longer a living legend was, is and forever will be remembered as one of the great poets and humanitarians of the latter part of the 20th Century. I am shocked, but I am optimistic that one day another Joe Strummer will come along and open our eyes once again. Thanks to you for gracing this place with all that you gave it.
They played some old Clash numbers including "London Calling," and I thought, "Boy, I 'missed the boat' on not seeing this band!" Having become a little wiser in my later years, I saw Joe with the Pogues at London in the early 90s. I guess he's not the type to "Rest in Peace" - his battle will go on up there in Heaven.Īs a teen in the late 70's and 80's I was influenced more by mainstream rock then the punk movement. Joe had the fire burning inside of him, and the fire was infectious - he got you to believe that Rock n' Roll can change the world, and gave us the courage to stand up and fight. I'm now 37 and their music sounds better than ever. I was 13 in 1978 and the Clash woke me up the real world. Joe Strummer was a rare commodity in the fleeting world of popular music and he led a truly great band who made a huge impact and a huge difference to all who paid the price of admission. What fan doesn't fantasize about playing guitar when listening to London Calling? They made me want to get a Mohawk, an old black leather jacket, and move to London. However, Joe Strummer was at best very average.Īh, The Clash. He will be missed greatly.Įvery death is sad. They were one of the very few bands to combine radical politics with pure Rock 'n Roll energy in a way that made The Clash and Joe Strummer seem like they were inventing a whole new kind of folk music. His is the first passing of a public figure that made me cry. I have no doubt that Strummer's lyrics and music have made me a better person. I was fortunate to see him on the Earthquake Weather tour and with the Pogues. He will live on eternally in our hearts and minds.Īs a future rabbi, Joe Strummer's lyrics will continue to be a source of inspiration for social action. The world has lost a great talent but generations will continue to be inspired by the music and words of Joe Strummer. "White youth - black youth - better find another solution - why not phone up Robin Hood and ask him for some wealth distribution?" Like everybody else, I'm gutted.
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They had a sincere anti-racism that defined the issue, and helped build RAR as described above to wipe National Front and their cohorts off the political map. Politically - my favourite story is of Bob Marley listening to the Clash's version of Police and Thieves and then penning Punky-Reggae Party. I'm glad I had the privilege of seeing them in Leeds in 1982. Great as Clash records were they were just fantastic as a live band. This Christmas is a very sad one! Hope you're gone straight to Heaven! So long.