Hong Kong's #1 Radio DJ and his thoughts on Joe Strummer

This week's featured CD!

Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros
"Rock Art and the X-Ray Style"

There's been a clutch of ageing popstars who have wheeled themselves out of retirement recently.Think of Blondie, Culture Club, Madness, Big Country & the list goes on. Is it to refresh the musical pool with their talent, or just to top up dwindling personal finances? Has the inspiration disappeared with the passing years, or is it still burning with a fire? Here it's definitely a case of the latter. Maybe not the inferno of old, but the talent, creativity and love of making records again, burns brighter than any current boy band.

Joe Strummer was born John Mellors in Turkey in 1952 when his father was a British diplomat there. But he also lived early years in Cyprus, Mexico and Germany before schooling in the UK. He passed through a few bands in the early 70's, before forming the 101ers in 1974. They played a series of pub concerts in London, about the time that Strummer saw the Sex Pistols live at a gig; a band that both changed his life, and probably the history of rock.

Along with Paul Simonen, Mick Jones, and latterly Topper Headon, they formed the Clash. Their first self titled album came out in 1977 ('White Riot', 'London's Burning') followed by "Give 'Em Enough Rope" the following year, and the excellent "London Calling" in 1979. This was their heyday. "Sandinista" was out in 1980, and the more pop based "Combat Rock" ('Should I Stay or Should I Go', 'Rock the Casbah') two years afterwards. But that was about it for the band that had almost run out of steam, or perhaps anger. "Cut the Crap" was their final offering in 1985, and a shadow of their former selves. Strummer probably realised that, and promptly split up the band. But the subsequent years were fairly quiet. He did release a soundtrack "Walker" in 1988, and a solo album proper "Earthquake Weather" the next year. He joined the Pogues on some live dates, helped Mick Jones with a second album for Big Audio Dynamite, and even had a foray into acting.

However now the man is back with his music. Combining his wealth of talent with Anthony Genn (formerly with Pulp and Elastica) they are the Mescaleros. There are other musicians to add to the combo, but with Genn producing, and Strummer coming up with most of the songs, these are the key players. So maybe there's no 'London's Burning' or 'Rock the Casbah' here, but still an awesome selection of pure class. Armed with his six string, Strummer don't get no better. The single 'Tony Adams' (thankfully nothing to do with the soccer player) is part reggae, part rock, total gem. Likewise 'Techno D-Day' is not like it's title, but fine lolloping pop. From 'Willesden to Cricklewood' is delicate and sensitive. 'X-Ray Style' could have come from Cuba. It's the mix of all these textures that works so perfectly. Combine this with Strummer's still passionate voice and the result is both empowering and enchanting. Rock Art it is, and painted by a maestro.

1. Tony Adams
2. Sandpaper Blues
3. X-Ray Style
4. Techno D-Day
5. The Road to Rock 'n' Roll
6. Diggin' the New
7. Nitcomb
8. Forbidden City 
9. Yalla Yalla
10. Willesden to Cricklewood

"7~9" Rating **********
Review date - December '99 - © Neil Chase

There is an official Joe Strummer website at www.strummerville.com with news on this album, plus a few more pics and some news, but sadly not much else - apart from a collection of match box covers... Naturally there are tons of Clash tribute websites and one or two other strummer ones too. Browse through the Ultimate Band List for inspiration.

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Send questions and comments to: jendave@yahoo.com