Joe Strummer

Last night I started to read the next book in my rather large stack of books. A brightly coloured pink one. You might think a girlie book but no it is a book about; Strummer, Jones, Simonon and Headon. If you are not sure who they are, then where have you been? They are a great band from the punk era of the mid to late 1970s, The Clash. It’s funny because 21st August would’ve been Joe Strummer’s 59th birthday and until I started this book I had no idea!

So how fitting that I do a blog about them to celebrate the music that hit the charts with an all mighty bang in the seventies. The two songs that I personally remember are the reissued songs ‘Rock the Casbah’ and ‘should I stay or should I go’. They were reissued when I was a teenager and I’ve been a bit of a fan ever since.

They were a fresh band and to me they are better than the Sex Pistols. The Clash are a great punk band and should have the crown for THE BEST British punk band. During their career they played Liverpool’s famous Eric’s club on Mathew Street. They also refused to ever appear on Top Of The Pops, and without them, bands like the Manic Street Preachers would not exist.

The Clash were influenced by the 1960s and bands like the Rolling Stones and the Beatles. They were also influenced by Reggae music. I think it is a perfect time to revisit some of their music..

"I called myself Joe Strummer because I can only play all six strings at once, or none at all".