Joe Strummer: Guitar, vocals. b. John Mellor August 24,
1952 in Ankara, Turkey.
Mick Jones: Guitar, vocals. b. June 26, 1955 in Brixton
England. Left before Cut The Crap.
Paul Simonon: Bass. b. December 15, 1955 in Brixton,
England.
Nicky "Topper" Headon: Drums. b. May 30, 1955 in
Bromley Kent, England. Joined the Clash during "Complete
Control" recording sessions, mid-1977.
Terri Chimes (AKA Tori Crimes): Drums. b. June 25 1955.
Left after recording debut album. Returned for US tour for Combat
Rock.
Micky Gallagher: Keyboards. Added as touring member after
the Cost Of Living EP.
Pete Howard: Drums. Joined during Cut The Crap.
Nick Sheppard: Guitar. Joined during Cut The Crap.
Vince White: Guitar. Joined during Cut The Crap.
Bernie Rhodes: Manager.
I was born in Ankara, then I grew up and learned some Woody
Guthrie Songs. Then I joined the Clash.
My father isn't rich. He's got an
M.G. 1000 and a bungalow in South Croydon. He was born in India.
His father died when he was eight, so he went to an orphan
school. He was smart and worked himself up in the civil service.
Now he works in the public records office. He's a white collar
worker.
Schools: Boarding school (with girls). Central School of
Art. (A lousy set-up).
First instrument: Ukelele. (No kidding. I saved some money
£1.99 I think. And brought it down Shaftbury Avenue).
First band: The Vultures. Busking "Johnny B.
Goode" in the London Underground. (I didn't have anywhere to
live so I went to live with a girlfriend in South Wales. They
played R&B when it wasn't fashionable).
First single: "Keys To Your Heart" (Chiswick)
with the 101'ers. As far as sound and excitement go, The 101'ers
were much better than Eddie and the Hot Rods. But they were just
too old. What I always wanted was to get in with some young yobs
who I felt more in tune with. As soon as I saw Mick and Paul
walking down Ladbroke Grove with Glen Matlock (in April 1976), I
wanted to join the Clash.
First gig with the Clash/First Clash gig: Sheffield, June
1976.
(Says Paul: When Joe came along it was like having a Dad in the
group. He was like a teacher because he had been in a group
before. He's generally patient. He hardly ever gets angry. He's a
real laugh.)
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