{The Clash}1976-1986, was the most accomplished band to com from the British
punk rock scene of the 70's. The group was formed by guitarist and singer{Joe Strummer}
(Bore Jan. 25, 1955), guitarist and singer{Mick Jones}(Born Jun. 26, 1955), bassist
{Paul Simmonon}(Born Dec. 15, 1955), and drummer{Terry Chimes}--replaced in 1977 by
{Topper Headon}(Born May 30, 1955).They first gained national recognition opening for
{The Sex Pistols,} the other major punk band. But unlike{The Pistols,}{The Clash}
had a striaghtforward earnstness to go with their punk anger. Their music was simple, loud, and abrasive.
In December 1979,{The Clash} released "London Calling," a a critically acclaimed
double album that found them expanding their music style from punk to a more eclectic
approach. The album spawned a single in a title song, which became the biggest U.K.
single during their existance, getting to #11, while the album hit #9 in the U.K.
and was their first real U.S. success at #27. "Train In Vain(Stand By Me)" from the
album was {The Clash}'s first U.S. single, reching #23.
"Sandinista!" a triple-LP set released in December 1980 took their eclecticism to new lengths.
The album got to a dissapointing #19 in the U.K. but was surprisingly strong #24 in the U.S.
{The Clash} again grazed the Top 40 in the U.K. with the album "The Magnificent Seven" in May 1981.
Their next, "Combat Rock"(1982), was a straightforward rock collection that was their
last album with the origanal personnel and their most popular. It hit #2 in the U.K.
and #7 in the U.S.(where it sold a million copies), and its singles "Should I Stay Or Should I Go?"
and "Rock The Casbah" were hits on both sides of the Atlantic. Meanwhile, {Headon}
left the band in early in July 1982, and {Jones} was fired by {Strummer} and {Simonon} in
September 1983. He formed {Big Audio Dynamite.} {Strummer} and {Simonon} reorganized
and added new members, releasing "Cut The Crap" in the fall 1985, but by the start of
1986, {The Clash} was no more.
~William Ruhlmann
-William Ruhlmann, All-Music Guide