| 12-29-02 One of my heros died the other day. In the midst of working, and getting ready for the holidays, I heard the news that Joe Strummer, singer/songwriter/guitarist of the Clash, had suffered a fatal heart attack the day before at his home in England. He was 50 years old. The news hit me like the time, half a lifetime ago, I learned that John Lennon was gone. Both deaths came so sudden, so unexpectedly that the mere news had the power to cause people to stop and take account of their own lives. At least it did for me. for in no small way, the music that Joe and John created helped direct my lifes' journey in the past and even now. Back in the spring of 1980, I was an average seventeen year old, wanting to find a girl to date, wanting to be done with school, wanting to grow up too soon, hating my job and feeling completely miserable. The music I listened to and bought was mainly popular top-forty type stuff (yes even some disco, ) I also bought some of the music magazines at the time and in issues of Creem, I heard about the Punk Rock craze that was happening in England over the last couple of years. I saw a story about punk on 20/20 and at the time, I didn't connect with it, it seemed so far removed from where I was at in my life. Anyway, I kept hearing about this one group called the Clash and how they became the main group of the Punk scene after the Sex Pistols crashed and burned. I saw a record review in Rolling Stone that gave the groups new album, London Calling four stars. I decide to check it out for myself. I went up to Buzzards Nest Records, paid the ten bucks for the two record set, took it home and started listening. The music was powerful from the first crashing guitar chords and the lyrics screamed to command my attention. I paid attention. Upon playing the last song on side four (the "hidden" track Train in Vain) I was physically (from jumping and air jamming to every song) and emotionally (from hearing words that made me question who I was) spent. I collasped on my bed, I then got up and put on side one again. The label on the record sleeve called the Clash "The only band that matters" I couldn't agree more. I had to go out and bought the other two records the Clash had released in the US. I played them all until the grooves were white. The Clash made a movie called Rude Boy. I made the trek to the old Raintree Cinema ( the only place in town that would show the film). I got in for the first showing and watched it five times through. (Thankfully, the usher didn't make me pay for each time). Seeing the Clash larger than life playing their (and now mine) songs just added to the romance. I drew and painted pictures, calanders of the band. I changed my nametag at work to say "Clash" At school, I wrote the track listings to all the band's albums on my desks. I was gone. The next album the Clash put out was called Sandinista! I bought the first import copy that came in the record shop. I spent the entire evening going through the three record set. Many of the songs were about the state of the world and how things needed changed. I was inspired yet again. Before the Clash, I wrote a few lyrics/poems about girls and love. Now I was writng my own songs about the world's struggles. The Clash rap song The Magnificent Seven was the basis of The American Way, a song I wrote about the state of the nation. The Clash sang "It's up to you not to heed the call up" I responded by not signing up for the Selective Service. The Clash quoted lyrics from someone named Phil Ochs. I didn't know who that was (I would find out later...that's another story). I got to see the Clash live in 1982 They did not disappoint. I saw them at the gymnasium auditorium at Kent State University. The album they released that year, Combat Rock, was their most popular record, with the hits Rock the Casbah and Should I Stay or Should I Go. being played on the radio. My favorite songs on the album were Know Your Rights, a powerful manifesto "WITH GUITAAAR!!!" and the Straight to Hell (both of them "Joe" songs). The Clash were popular without having to compromise themselves. The next year came news that Mick Jones left the group, but Joe and Paul still carried on, releasing a last album Cut the Crap, (a very underated work) They also toured again. I saw them at Vet's Memorial. They sang all the old songs, the songs I fell in love with. It took me back to my Summer of the Clash. As time went on, I followed my own path, got a little lost along the way, ended up finding my self again. I started to record the songs I've written past and present. Joe continued as well, releasing three solo albums and touring. I saw him again last year when he came through Columbus. I was up at the front of the stage singing right along with him. He looked a little older but as he started playing and singing I was once again transported to another time and place from long ago. I got to touch hands with him as he left the stage. I hung out behind the club with the other fans. I wanted to mention to Joe how much he and his music inspired me in my life's quest. I got to meet Mick Jones in 1992 and it was very inspiring to me. Now it was my chance to meet Joe. But, there was no sign of Joe. Someone said that he was taken to a radio station for an interview. The time was late and I went home figuring that I would catch him next time he come into town. I'd imagined that he would be playing for years to come...soldiering on. But life had other plans.. I look back and wonder why the Clash played such a large part in who I was. I bought other punk records, but none of the other groups compared to the Clash. Most of the other Punk groups like the Sex Pistols sang about destroying things, Anarchy in the UK and all that stuff. The Clash looked beyond that and sang about being responsible for other less fortunate than you and to have hope. the fact that they followed through on their beliefs made them all the the more attractive to me at that time. the Clash wanted to make the world a better place. Like John Lennon. They gave me hope. They saved my life. |
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| photo by Bob Gruen |
| by Brian Griffin |