Chris Salewicz

Features

Part 5: On the Other Hand… [1988–1989]

By Chris Salewicz

"Music's got shit, Thatcher became God, ninety percent of the papers are right-wing and brown-nosing." -- Joe Strummer to Carol Clerk in Melody Maker interview. [25 May 2007]

Part 4: Anger Was Cooler [1982-1984]

By Chris Salewicz

"(Joe) seemed this sad, lonely figure, confused with life, Hank Williams playing on his ghetto blaster in the background. I felt sorry for him." -- Mark Cooper, Record Mirror [24 May 2007]

Part 3: Red Hand of Fate [1979]

By Chris Salewicz

Johnny Greene and a roadie... found a rehearsal room... (it) was at the rear of a garage, the kind of premises you might see in American gangster films as heists are planned... Here, hunkered together with no visible means of financial support, the Clash would rigorously write and rehearse the new songs that would emerge as London Calling, which time would judge one of the finest rock 'n' roll albums ever made... [23 May 2007]

Part 2: Under Heavy Manners [1976-1977]

By Chris Salewicz

"... people like Joe Strummer... were like the punk intelligentsia, they were the thinkers... (Joe) knew all the cultural and literary references, all the revolutionary references, and he put it all into context... there's a lot more ideas (sic) in one of Joe's rhyming couplets than there are in some people's entire albums..." -- Don Williams [22 May 2007]

Part 1: Straight to Heaven [2002]

By Chris Salewicz

"...I learned that fame is an illusion and everything about it is just a joke. I'm far more dangerous now, because I don't care at all." -- Joe Strummer [21 May 2007]

Reviews

Redemption Song: The Ballad of Joe Strummer by Chris Salewicz

By Christopher Martin

Redemption Song is quite an achievement, as it is not only the definitive account of Strummer’s life as its title promises, but also adds an important perspective to the existing literature on the Clash. [17 October 2007]