| THE TRUTH IS ONLY KNOWN BY GUTTERSNIPES! December 22nd 2002 "No More hero's anymore" appropriate as I grown up since the age when I was first aware of music on the classics from the 77 UK punk era. My old man even liked The Clash so I was aware of the albums London Calling and Sandinista when they were first out and I was 6 years old at the time. It was only later in life that the Clash would have such an impact on me. Strummer's death did touch me somehow, as I said it was my old man who I first heard the Clash through. In 1983 he died at the age of 36 from a heart attack, so Strummers death brought something personal to me. You could say I was sad the day he died two weeks ago- OK 50 isn't as young as 36 but it is still considered a young age. I am sure his family is really grieving his death and I really feel for them above anyone else. The man definitely had a real gift for song writing with his collaborations with Mick Jones, I never really got into much after London Calling but those first 3 albums are some of the best records ever made. I expect if we had had time for a rehearsal we would have done a Clash cover in honor of Joe strummer at the December 28th Lord Cecil gig. As it is we dedicated "Emperors new Clothes" in honor of his memory. Our Drummer Trev wrote this song a few years ago when he was in Bug Central, it is having a dig at all these old punk bands reforming and cashing in on what they've done before. Something Strummer never did, how many can you say that about; the stranglers, the damned and even the pistols making come back after come back doing pathetic versions of their punk classics. There are things I really respect about Strummer, in 88 I think it was Strummer did the Class War bash the rich tour. Before he died he did a benefit gig for our fucking essential fire brigade who need to be shown every bit of solidarity when they walk out on strike. Strummer & The Clash have been dissed by other bands who I respect such as Rudimenty Peni in "Rotten to the Core" and Crass "White Punks on hope", but I ask where the fuck did the politics come from in punk rock. Ok the pistols did have some well valid statements that needed to be said in "Anarchy in the UK" and "god save the queen" but these records don't excite me as much as the clash still do. The Clash albums are so timeless to me, one of the greatest fucking statements has to be "White Riot", which Strummer and Jones wrote as a result of being at the Notting Hill Carnival in 76 which erupted into a riot, leading them to think this is great that black people fight back against police repression why the fuck don't white people do it. So they wrote a song about it, has to be the all time song about riots really. White Riot is a fucking incitement to riot mate; it's one we should be playing at full volume to the old bill every time. I'm a big fan of "Give `em enough rope" the under rated second album, which I had been playing shit loads just before Strummers death, I thought at first when a mate sent me a message that Strummer is dead it must be a wind up. This albums a good example of musical progression, it is more produced than the first album which is probably why it weren't well received and heaven forbid has piano on it, funny coz one of my favorite Clash songs is "Julie's been Working for the Drug Squad". I like a song with a story and this one brings home how you think you know people in your crowd and they turn out to really stitch you up. A big fan of "all the young punks" too, probably as a result of one of the best rock movies of all time, The Clash docudrama (best way I can think to describe it) "Rude Boy". When Strummer `s is laying down the vocals on this track you can see his frustration and I know that feeling- Rude Boy comes complete with the Clash fucking up in the Studio and even on stage, which being in a band you appreciate seeing the legends did it too. London Calling, I even remember this album at the age of 5 or 6 and what a classic, my favorite I have to say. Obviously the track London calling a big fucking wake up to the dangers statement in my eyes. I totally love the politics behind "Spanish Bombs" and as for "Guns of Brixton". To me The Clash are one of the very few acts ever that brilliantly pulled off a touch of White Reggae, there's a few other exceptions but there's no doubt The Clash are one of the few bands who did fucking wicked white reggae. The good thing about The clash is they were never all about playing a full set of white dub, which frankly can be very boring, they had total variation, one minute fast punk, then a bit of reggae then a sing-a-long pop punk classic. The Clash were the first totally political punk rock band in the world and there's no doubt they inspired generation after generation of punk bands, the clash have also an influence so wide it reaches outside the punk ghetto. I used the Stranglers quote at the beginning coz I certainly don't believe in hero worship, but as a song writer I value a lot of music and lyrics and there's no doubt that the Clash have had a big influence on me. We've even had our songs described as Clash influenced especially "Fuck Off M.O.D". Never met Strummer but I respect what he did fucking one of the best song writers ever- Joe Strummer rest In Peace Jake - Active Slaughter |
| Joe Strummer - The Clash |
