The Clash (music group)

The Clash was an English punk rock band formed in 1976 by guitarists Joe Strummer and Mick Jones. For most of the band's career, the members consisted of Strummer and Jones on guitars and vocals along with Paul Simonon on bass and Nicky "Topper" Headon on drums. The Clash was one of the original bands to emerge during the 1970s punk scene, beginning on the British punk circuit before moving on to international fame. The group's early recordings had a primarily straightforward punk rock sound before they began introducing elements of reggae and rockabilly. Their third album, London Calling, earned them global praise that skyrocketed them to legendary status. The Clash disbanded in 1986. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003.

Early Career

Strummer and Jones came from very different backgrounds. Strummer was the son of an affluent family and spent most of his life in boarding school before dropping out in his teens. Jones grew up in the working class neighborhood of Brixton in London, England. Strummer's first band was called the 101ers, which mainly performed in London pubs. Childhood friends Jones and Simonon played as the London SS, which featured Terry Chimes on drums. Strummer and Jones first met while standing in a dole (unemployment) line. Shortly after the meeting, Strummer and 101ers guitarist Keith Levene left the group and joined Jones, Simonon, and Chimes in a new group named the Clash.

The Clash gave their debut performance opening for the Sex Pistols in 1976. Levene left the band shortly before they set out on the Sex Pistol's U.K. tour. As they developed their sound, the group took on a political tone. Their lyrics often featured protests against police brutality and racism. Their political beliefs resonated in their sound, as they began incorporating Jamaican reggae beats in honor of Britain's oppressed Jamaicans. Their single "Police and Thieves," a cover of a Junior Murvin song, earned them attention from record companies. In early 1977, CBS records signed the Clash for a reported $200,000 advance.

The Clash's self-titled debut album was released in the spring of 1977. Chimes departed shortly after recording ended, replaced by Headon. The Clash was critically and commercially successful throughout the United Kingdom, reaching number 12 on the Billboard album chart. CBS's American division did not release the album in the United States, claiming the material was unfit for radio broadcast. The Clash then set out on a national tour throughout England. The final concert of the tour at London's Rainbow Theatre featured a riotous audience that ripped the seats out of the venue floor.

Punk Rock Lifestyle

Strummer and Jones found themselves involved in a series of minor transgressions in the late 1970s. The two served jail time for small offenses ranging from vandalism to stealing a pillowcase. Simonon and Headon also got themselves into trouble, getting arrested for shooting racing pigeons with an air gun. While earning a reputation as a band of mischief-makers, the group also took part in a number of social activist efforts. They headlined the Rock Against Racism tour in the summer of 1978 before beginning work on their second album. Give 'Em Enough Rope was released in November 1978. Though a huge hit in the United Kingdom, the Clash once again failed to reach American markets. The album peaked at number two in Britain but peaked only at number 128 on the U.S. charts.

Despite low sales in the United States, the Clash embarked on their first American tour in February 1979. They released a four song EP shortly afterward titled The Cost of Living, which featured the song "I Fought the Law." The song received extensive mainstream radio play, which persuaded CBS's American offices to reconsider releasing The Clash in the United States. After the album's American release that summer, The Clash went gold. The group began its second US tour in the fall of 1979 before starting work on their third album.

London Calling hit stores as a double album in late 1979. The record featured a range of musical styles, from rockabilly to reggae to rhythm and blues (R&B). The album debuted at number nine on the U.K. charts and reached 27 on the US charts in 1980. London Calling became the Clash's breakthrough album and was followed by a wildly successful international tour.

Later Career

The Clash experienced some internal tension following the success of London Calling. They began recording their next album after touring ended, resulting in the December 1980 release of Sandinista! The album received mixed reviews and was more popular in the United States than the United Kingdom. The band spent most of 1981 touring before beginning work on their fifth album. After recording sessions ended, Headon left the group due to heavy drug use. Chimes came in to replace Headon just as the band released Combat Rock in May 1982. The album became the group's bestselling record, debuting at number 2 on the U.K. charts. The single "Rock the Casbah" became a top ten hit. The Clash opened for the Who on their farewell tour that fall. Despite their commercial success, they were booed off the stage of every show.

Although they were at the height of their fame by 1983, conflict among members plagued the group. Chimes was fired in the spring and was replaced by Pete Howard. Jones was then fired in September due to creative differences, being replaced by guitarists Vince White and Nick Sheppard. The band continued to tour, taking their new lineup across the United States and United Kingdom throughout 1984. The group released the album Cut the Crap in late 1984 to poor sales and mainly negative reviews. Two years later, Strummer and Simonon decided to disband the Clash. The members pursued a number of other musical efforts in the years following, with rumors of a reunion constantly stirring. The band planned to reunite in 2003 for their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, but Strummer died from a congenital heart defect on December 22, 2002, squashing any reunion plans. Over the next decade, the remaining members stayed active in the music community, performing and producing a number of modern artists' records. In 2013, the group began releasing several remastered albums as well as never-before-released archived material. Keith Levine died in November 2022, a month before the twentieth anniversary of Strummer's death.

Bibliography

"The Clash—Album." Clash Official Web Site, www.theclash.com. Accessed 27 Nov. 2024.

"The Clash Biography." AllMusic, 2024, www.allmusic.com/artist/the-clash-mn0000075747. Accessed 27 Nov. 2024.

"The Clash." Rock and Roll Hall of Fame,rockhall.com/inductees/clash/. Accessed 27 Nov. 2024.

"The Clash." Billboard,www.billboard.com/artist/the-clash/. Accessed 27 Nov. 2024.