The Clash

The Clash at first tucked in snugly behind punk's loudest noise, the Sex Pistols (whom they supported on ‘the Anarchy tour’), and later became a much more consistent and intriguing force. Guitarist Mick Jones (b. 26 June 1953, London, England) had formed London SS in 1975, whose members at one time included bassist Paul Simonon (b. 15 December 1956, London, England) and drummer Nicky 'Topper' Headon (b. 30 May 1955, Bromley, Kent, England). Joe Strummer (b. John Graham Mellor, 21 August 1952, Ankara, Turkey) had spent the mid-'70s fronting a pub-rock group called the 101ers, playing early rock ‘n’ roll style numbers such as Keys To Your Heart. The early line-up of the Clash was completed by guitarist Keith Levene but he left early in 1976 with another original member, drummer Terry Chimes, whose services were called upon intermittently during the following years. They signed to CBS Records and during three weekends they recorded THE CLASH in London with sound engineer, Mickey Foote, taking on the producer's role. In 1977 Rolling Stone magazine called it the ‘definitive punk album’ and elsewhere it was recognized that they had brilliantly distilled the anger, depression and energy of mid-'70s England. More importantly, they had infused the message and sloganeering with strong tunes and pop hooks, as on I'm So Bored With The USA and Career Opportunities. The album reached number 12 in the UK charts and garnered almost universal praise. CBS was keen to infiltrate the American market and Blue Oyster Cult's founder/lyricist Sandy Pearlman was brought in to produce GIVE 'EM ENOUGH ROPE. The label's manipulative approach failed and it had very poor sales in the USA but in the UK it reached number 2, despite pertinent claims that its more rounded edges amounted to a sell out of the band's earlier much flaunted punk ethics. They increasingly embraced reggae elements, seemingly a natural progression of their anti-racist stance, and had a minor UK hit with (White Man) In Hammersmith Palais in July 1978 and followed it up with the frothy punk-pop of Tommy Gun—their first Top 20 hit.
Their debut album was finally released in the USA as a double set including tracks from their singles and it sold healthily before LONDON CALLING, produced by the volatile Guy Stevens, marked a return to almost top form. They played to packed houses across the USA early in 1980 and were cover stars on many prestigious rock magazines. Typically, their next move was over-ambitious and the triple set SANDINISTA! was leaden and too sprawling after the acute concentration of earlier records. It scraped into the UK Top 20 and sales were disappointing despite CBS making it available at a special cut-price. The experienced rock producer, Glyn Johns, was brought in to instigate a tightening-up and COMBAT ROCK was as snappy as anticipated. It was recorded with Terry Chimes on drums after Headon had abruptly left the group. Chimes was later replaced by Pete Howard. Rock The Casbah, a jaunty, humorous song written by Headon, became a Top 10 hit in the USA and reached number 30 in the UK, aided by a sardonic video. During 1982, they toured the USA supporting the Who at their stadium concerts. Many observers were critical of a band that had once ridiculed superstar status, for becoming part of the same legend. A simmering tension between Jones and Strummer eventually led to bitterness and Jones left in 1983 after Strummer accused him of becoming lazy and he told the press: ‘He wasn't with us any more’. Strummer later apologised for lambasting Jones and admitted he was mainly to blame for the break-up of a successful songwriting partnership: ‘I stabbed him in the back’ was his own honest account of proceedings. The Clash struggled without Jones's input although the toothless CUT THE CRAP reached number 16 in the the UK charts in 1985. Mick Jones formed Big Audio Dynamite with another product of the '70s London scene, Don Letts, and for several years became a relevant force merging dance with powerful, spikey pop choruses. Strummer finally disbanded the Clash in 1986 and after a brief tour with Latino Rockabilly War and a period playing rhythm guitar with the Pogues, he turned almost full time to acting and production. He supervised the soundtrack to the film, Sid And Nancy, about the former Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious and his girlfriend Nancy Spungen. In 1988, the Clash's most furious but tuneful songs were gathered together on the excellent compilation, THE STORY OF THE CLASH. They made a dramatic and unexpected return to the charts in 1991 when Should I Stay Or Should I Go?, originally a UK number 17 hit in October 1982, was re-released by CBS after the song appeared in a Levi's jeans television advertisement. Incredibly, the song reached number 1, thereby prompting more reissues of Clash material and fuelling widespread rumours of a band reunion.