At a sneak-preview Fillmore show last July, former Clash leader turned solo maverick Joe Strummer threw himself into his music with the ecstatic chutzpah of a peach-fuzzy punk.
``I can only say how great it is to be right here in this city at this time,'' he told the full house in his familiar guttural growl. ``Now let's look to the future.'' With that, he led his new backup band, the Mescaleros, into a song called ``Diggin' the New.''
The future is looking good for the man who has been both punk hero and rock star for 23 years. As front man for the Clash -- currently enjoying renewed popularity with the release of the ``Burning London'' tribute CD and the live ``From Here to Eternity'' album -- Strummer blasted the lethargic '70s and '80s music scene with a combination of vital grit and passionate social conscience.
Now he's taking aim at the complacent '90s with his first solo album in a decade, ``Rock Art and the X-Ray Style,'' and a U.S. tour that hits San Francisco's Fillmore tonight. His weapons of choice: three-chord garage guitar, a heavy reggae backbeat and a panoply of Caribbean percussion.
So far it's proved to be a potent offensive. ``Since that night at the Fillmore, I haven't been home for five minutes,'' says Strummer, 46, over the phone from England on a rare day off. ``We've been on the road in Europe ever since. I'm looking forward to America so I can sit down and go `whew,' because I haven't had a minute to stop and take stock.''
Strummer, his wife and three daughters (15, 13 and 7 years old) live in Somerset in the county of Wessex, 350 miles west of London. In spite of the rural setting, his kids have turned out to be ardent punk rock fans, though they don't care much for his generation's contributions.
``They're into Blink 182,'' says their bemused dad. ``But they think I'm all right. I bring 'em on the road with me when I can. They were at the Fillmore. They put the set lists out for us.''
Since the Clash split up in 1985, Strummer has played the renaissance man. His film career has included roles in Jim Jarmusch's ``Mystery Train'' and Alex Cox's ill-fated ``Straight to Hell,'' which co-starred budding actress Courtney Love.
He played with the Pogues, arranged and wrote the score for ``Grosse Pointe Blank'' and released his first solo album, 1989's ``Earthquake Weather.'' He hosted a BBC radio show, ``Joe Strummer's London Calling.'' Strummer's continued creativity contrasts with the fates of many of his peers, who died young (Sid Vicious, Johnny Thunders), faded away (former Clash drummer Topper Headon) or just aged gracelessly (the Damned and any of the ex-Sex Pistols).
His Clash co-founders, guitarist Mick Jones and bassist Paul Simonon, are also keeping busy: Jones is producing other British bands and preparing a new album by his own on-again, off-again group, BAD (Big Audio Dynamite). Simonon is a successful painter headquartered in London. The old band mates remain friendly but have no plans for a reunion -- at the moment, anyway.
``There's a tune on the new record that goes, `On the road to rock 'n' roll there's a lot of wreckage in the ravine/ Some you recognize used to hang out on the scene,' '' Strummer says. ``You just got to keep barreling on through, I reckon.''
Most recently, he barreled into the studio with Richard Norris of the British techno band the Grids on an acid- punk fusion project called ``Strummerville.'' Three songs from the unreleased sessions made it onto ``Rock Art and the X-Ray Style'': ``Sandpaper Blues,'' the trippy, synthesized ``Yalla Yalla'' and the album's signature song, ``Diggin' the New.''
The latter was inspired by Britain's revolutionary mid-'90s rave scene. ``We had some really good techno here in 1994-95,'' says Strummer. ``Then the House of Commons banned dancing to acid-house music.
``It was the best thing they could have done, because it pushed everyone in the underground together that might not have got on otherwise -- aging hippies, crusty New Agers, punk rockers, acid-housers, drum 'n' bassheads, junglists. We got 'em all in one pot now.''
Strummer dismisses the idea of ever outgrowing his rebellious spirit. ``Grow up? Me? No way!
``I never pay any attention to the concept of time,'' he says, laughing. ``I just try to appreciate the trees and sunsets and concentrate on the good aspects of life. I want to be the ruler of my own mind, what's left of it.''
And the father of ``revolution rock,'' whose music has decried the status quo from U.S. imperialism to the British class system, is still keenly aware of cultural catastrophes. What makes him maddest about England these days?
``Every damn thing in the whole country. There's talk around here late at night of a rebel Wessex being formed, of breaking off this part of the country, because everything out there is a mall with a McDonald's and a Burger King and a Gap.
``And people wander around thinking, `Is this it? To stumble into town on Saturday buying all this useless crap?' Everyone's gone all confused.''
He laughs. ``But I'm not confused. I know that we've had it.''
JOE STRUMMER: He performs with the Mescaleros at 8 p.m. today at the Fillmore, 1805 Geary Blvd., San Francisco. Tickets: $21.50. Call (415) 478-2277 or visit www.basstickets.com.
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