Joe Strummer

For other people named John Mellor, see John Mellor (disambiguation).

Joe Strummer

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 mother, a crofter's daughter and one of nine children born and raised in the Scottish Highlands, was a nurse. His father was a British foreign-service diplomat who had been born in Lucknow, India. The family spent much time moving from place to place, and Strummer spent his childhood in a variety of countries. At the age of 9, Strummer and his older brother David, 10, began boarding at the City of London Freemen's School in Surrey. Strummer rarely saw his parents during this time. 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" a year and a half before 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 boarding 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. During this time, Strummer shared a flat in the north London suburb of Palmers Green with friends Clive Timperley and Tymon Dogg.

Memorial to Strummer on 7th Street at Avenue A, New York City.

In 1973 Strummer moved to Newport, Wales to attend the Newport College of Art, but soon dropped out. While there, he joined up with some friends to form 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 Maida Hill). 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 insisted that his friends call him by that name. The name "Strummer" apparently refers to his role as rhythm guitarist, 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 somewhat 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 group liked the song "Keys to Your Heart", and picked it as their first single.

Marriages

In the early 1970s Strummer, after being offered £100, married Pamela Moolman, a South African citizen, so she could obtain British citizenship. Joe bought his signature Telecaster, later to be painted black, with that money. He had two daughters with Gaby Salter but they did not marry. He was with Gaby from 1979 until 1993. 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 the Sex Pistols opened for The 101'ers at a venue called "The Nashville Rooms" in London, and Strummer was impressed by them. 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 lead singer. Strummer agreed to join just as the group was breaking up, but he 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 July 4, 1976, opening for the Sex Pistols at The Black Swan (a.k.a. The Mucky Duck , now known as the Boardwalk Sheffield, England) . On January 25, 1977 the band signed with CBS Records and was now a three-piece after Levene was fired from the band and Chimes quit. Drummer Topper Headon later became 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. 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 countless subsequent rock bands. Even hip-hop revolutionaries Public Enemy cite the Clash as a major influence.

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 1983, 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 Clash.

The wilderness years 1985-1999

A year later, Strummer worked on several songs for the film Sid and Nancy, including 'Love Kills' and 'Dum Dum Club'. Strummer would also later work with Mick Jones and his band Big Audio Dynamite, contributing to the band's second album by co-writing most of the songs. 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 Aki Kaurismäki's 1990 film I hired a contract killer as a guitarist in a pub, singing two songs (burning lights, afro-Cuban be-bop). 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 also did the soundtrack to the movie permanent record with this band. 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. On April 16 1994, Strummer joined Czech-American band Dirty Pictures on stage in Prague at “Rock for Refugees”, a benefit concert for people left displaced by the war in Yugoslavia. Backed up by the Pictures, Strummer played a blistering set of Clash songs that he said he had not played in more than ten years. Although the set appeared impromptu, Joe and the band had spent the days leading up to the event rehearsing and “hanging out” in Prague. After these self-described "wilderness years," Strummer 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. In 1997 while in New York City, he had worked with noted producer and engineers Lee Perry & Marty Munsch[1] on a significant ammount of remixed Clash and 101'ers reissue dub material.

Also during this time, Strummer was in dispute 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.

Also during the nineties Strummer was a DJ on the BBC World Service with his half-hour programme London Calling.

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 Antony 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 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 15, 2002, Strummer and The Mescaleros played a benefit show for striking fire fighters in London, at the Acton Town Hall. Mick Jones was in the crowd, and surprisingly, joined the band on stage during the Clash's classic "Bankrobber." An encore followed with Jones playing guitar and singing on "White Riot" and "London's Burning". This performance marked the first time since 1983 that Strummer and Jones 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 U2's Bono 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.

Death

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. It was later revealed that his estate on death was worth just under £1 million pounds, and that he had left all money to his wife Lucinda.

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). Unfortunately, Strummer didn't get a chance to record vocal tracks to a number of songs including Dakar Meantime, played live a few times prior his death.

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.

In addition to his music, Strummer was instrumental in setting up Future Forests (recently rechristened 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 "Rebel's 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 Tait in a ceremony at Bristol Temple Meads railway station. Also, on July 22 2005 Tait 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.[2]

Throughout his career, Strummer was noted for his devotion to fans. 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. With the Mescaleros, he continued to play some Clash songs for his fans.

A documentary by Dick Rude titled Let's Rock Again! was released in 2006. The film, completed after Joe's death, chronicles life on tour in the United States with the Mescaleros to support Global a Go-Go.

New Orleans-based rockers Cowboy Mouth released a song called "Joe Strummer" on their latest album 'Voodoo Shoppe'. The song tells the story of a man who had to break up with his girlfriend because "...she didn't know who/Joe Strummer was." The popular track is a tongue-in-cheek salute to Strummer and the Clash that recieved significant radio play in 2006.

Photos

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Joe Strummer: The Future is Unwritten

Joe Strummer: The Future is Unwritten is a documentary about Joe Strummer. It's comprised of archive footage of him spanning his life, and interviews with friends, family, and other celebrities. It debuted at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival.

Solo discography

For recordings made with the Clash please see The Clash discography

With The 101ers

Albums

Year	Album	Additional information
1981	Elgin Avenue Breakdown	Compilation album with material recorded from 1974 to 1976.

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.
1998	Chef Aid: The South Park Album	Features "It's A Rockin' World", performed by Strummer, Flea, Nick Hexum, Tom Morello, DJ Bonebrake, and Benmont Tench.
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 posthumously.

Selected filmography

Year	Title	Role	Other notes
2007	Joe Strummer: The Future is Unwritten	Himself, footage
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

In fiction

• The Bedroom Secrets of the Master Chefs by Irvine Welsh, has a fictional Joe Strummer being implicated in a paternity scandal.

Sound samples

• Download sample of Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros performing Bob Marley's "Redemption Song"
• View video The video of the Joe Strummer And The Mescaleros version of Redemption Song from the album Streetcore. A tribute to Joe by his friends.

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 0-9519216-0-6
• "Clash star Joe Strummer dies". CNN. link - last accessed on January 31st 2007.
• Matula, Theodore. "Joe Strummer, 1952-2002." Popular Music and Society. Dec 2003. Vol. 26, Iss. 4; p. 523-525.

See also

• The 101'ers
• The Clash
• The Mescaleros
• Let's Rock Again!
• Strummer's Law
• Seref The Türk

External links

• Official website
• The Joe Strummer Foundation for New Music
• The Joe Strummer Resource

• Review of The Future is Unwritten doc.