The Clash

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Features

The Innovators

By PopMatters Staff

Sometimes changing the course of modern music can be surprisingly easy. Though their names may not be laced in the stars right next to Sinatra and Dylan, these mavericks will always be remembered for breaking boundaries, stretching the definitions of genres, and rewriting what the very notion of a "pop song" is. [30 July 2008]

“Once You Saw Them Live, You Were Hooked Forever”: An Interview With Don Letts

By Ron Hart

With the 30th Anniversary release of the seminal Clash documentary Revolution Rock, director Don Letts reflects on the sheer power of seeing the Only Band That Mattered in a live setting, the possibility of a Big Audio Dynamite reissue, and his unabashed love... for Curb Your Enthusiasm. [15 July 2008]

Here’s the News, and All of It Is Good: An Interview with Mick Jones

By Michael Franco

The ex-Clash artist returns with a new outlook and a new means of spreading his music, but the rebelliousness remains. Jones talks to PopMatters about his new project Carbon/Silicon. [3 December 2007]

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]

This is the Radio’s Clash - The Singles Box Set

By Bill Gibron

Audacious, angry and all-encompassing, the music of The Clash transcended categorization to represent the best of British punk. But they were much more than some simple, three chord thrash, as a new box set focusing exclusively on their 45rpm single output proves. [1 December 2006]

“Stay Free”: R.I.P. Joe Strummer

By Jordan Kessler

Filled with life, Joe Strummer and the Clash showed us just how much vitality and hope rock could convey. [27 December 2002]

The Most Effective Weapon

By Matt Cibula

Not all that useful, ultimately, to talk about the importance of Joe Strummer in my life, because that only applies to me and my junior high and high school friends. I've actually done this before, written about how the Clash politicized us, made us care about US foreign intervention and issues of culture and class (funny how close "class" and "clash" always were), introduced us to dub and re-framed rockabilly so it sounded cool instead of corny -- but somehow none of that means much of anything right now.

Less Rotten than reasonable: Joe Strummer and my punk Damascus

By Simon Warner

Although I saw Joe Strummer in action many times, I only met him once and, embarrassingly, confused him with someone else. In early autumn 1976, as term at Sheffield University unfolded, news of the arrival of the most talked about gig of the year filtered through the underground grapevine. The Anarchy in the UK tour, bringing the nascent fury of British punk to the nation, wended its uncertain way through the country, uncertain, because where-ever the entourage set up camp, there was imminent danger of the local council denying the potential hell-raisers a performing licence.

Why The Clash Still Matter

By John L. Micek

As famous as he got, Joe Strummer never forgot what it was like to be on the other side of the stage. He never forgot what it was like to love a band with all your heart and soul. He never forgot about the transcendent power that all the best bands are capable of, and of the tremendous responsibility that comes with that kind of power.

Stay Free: A Tribute to Joe Strummer

By Marshall Bowden

The music of Joe Strummer and the Clash were an integral part of the soundtrack of my high school and college years. Strummer's death represents the disappearance of an important and substantial part of my musical past as well as the loss of one of rock music's truly poetic voices.

Reviews

The Clash: Live at Shea Stadium

By Michael Keefe

This rousing and rocking complete live show from 1982 finally affords Clash fans the full concert experience. [10 October 2008]

The Clash: Live Revolution Rock [DVD]

By Zeth Lundy

Fiery yet flawed, this 22-song collection of live Clash clips is a visual feast of gritted teeth, sopping hair, and snarled lips. [15 April 2008]

In Memoriam: Joe Strummer

By Jody Beth Rosen

Mere months before he left us to rock that grand casbah in the clouds, Joe Strummer remained a vital rock 'n' roll warrior. [22 March 2007]

The Clash: London Calling: 25th Anniversary Legacy Edition

By Adrien Begrand

In a genre regarded by many as being confrontational more than anything else, the Clash were the one band who seemed to be always open to new ideas.

[8 October 2004]

The Clash: London Calling

By Sal Ciolfi

But if you take away all the labels and tiny classifications we impose, all you’re left with is the music on London Calling, a lasting testament and tonic to everything that can seem hopeless.

[10 March 2004]

The Clash: The Essential Clash DVD

By Thomas Patterson

It’s been 25 years since The Clash spat out their first stuttering chords, and London is a very different town to the one they set out to shake up and tear apart. Thank God, then, that their city and their legacy as the best British band since the Beatles has been captured so vividly on The Essential Clash DVD.

[26 August 2003]

The Clash: The Essential Clash

By Charlotte Robinson

Where Essential fails, though—and it fails spectacularly on this count—is in the mix.

[22 April 2003]

The Clash: From Here to Eternity

By Mark Reiter

If newfound clarity and intensity aren’t enough for ya, buy it for the absolutely chilling version of “Straight to Hell.” Which isn’t just the Clash’s finest hour—it’s one of rock’s most haunting moments.

[26 October 1999]