Although I loved many punk bands, my favorite has to be a band that formed in London in 1976, The Clash. Their garage band / punk style was blended with many different musical styles that included Reggae, Dub, Ska, R&B and Rockabilly. Their most famous lineup consisted of Joe Strummer (lead & backing vocals / rhythm guitar), Mick Jones (lead guitar / lead & backing vocals), Paul Simonon (bass / vocals) and Nicky "Topper" Headon (drums). Terry Chimes (drums), Rob Harper (drums) and Keith Levene (guitar) also contributed throughout the early stages of the band's career. Vince White (guitar), Nick Sheppard (lead guitar / vocals) and Pete Howard (drums) contributed during the band's latter stages.
The grit of Strummer's voice was offset perfectly by the sweetness of Jones' vocal ability. In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked The Clash #28 on their 100 Greatest Artists Of All Time list. The year before this accomplishment, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame. Unfortunately, this occurred a year after the passing of Strummer. They also were known to get political within their music, which set British punk apart from its American counterparts. After purchasing the amazing double-record "London Calling," I was extremely satisfied with their next release, a triple-record "Sandinista!" I don't believe I ever saw an album that contained three records before! The title of this triple delight was a nod to the left-wing rebels that were responsible for overthrowing the Nicaraguan despot Anastasio Somoza Debayle.
Not to take away from my love for the rawness of their first album releases, "London Calling" took the band in a very eclectic direction. The diversity of the title track next to numbers like "Brand New Cadillac," "Rudie Can't Fail" and "Spanish Bombs" made this my favorite Clash LP (which is meant to include both records contained in the package). "Train In Vain," which is included as a secret track, is one of their more popular radio cuts. Of course, "Rock The Casbah" and "Should I Stay Or Should I Go" probably topped that song in popularity when they were released off the "Combat Rock" album. Regardless, their early stuff like "White Riot," "English Civil War" and "Clash City Rockers" will always remain punk classics.
In 1985, Mick Jones was responsible for introducing the world to his new group, Big Audio Dynamite (B.A.D.). Paul Simonon also performed with Havana 3am. Strummer also had another project for a little while known as Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros. Simonon and Jones have occasionally worked with the Gorillaz as well.
Joe Strummer is quoted in the booklet included with the "Clash On Broadway" boxset: "The first time we hit Berlin, after 'London Calling' came out, I was sitting at this café, talking to this 16-year-old skinhead. He was saying he was horrified, that he couldn't stand it, because his grandmother was grooving around to the 'London Calling' album in his flat."
