Joe Strummer dead.

[Johnny Canuck3]

In the early days, I liked the Sex Pistols first. This friend of mine really talked up the Clash: I resisted listening, since my friend was such a fucking know it all.

Finally I did: then I went and got all the records of theirs that I could find. They turned into the group whose music I'd listen to late at night, alone in the dark, after another drunken shitty night at the tavern.



THIS IS RADIO CLASH TEARING UP THE SEVEN VEILS
THIS IS RADIO CLASH PLEASE SAVE US, NOT THE WHALES
THIS IS RADIO CLASH UNDERNEATH A MUSHROOM CLOUD
THIS IS RADIO CLASH
YOU DON'T NEED THAT FUNERAL SHROUD

FORCES HAVE BEEN LOOTING
MY HUMANITY
CURFEWS HAVE BEEN CURBING
THE END OF LIBERTY

HANDS OF LAW HAVE SORTED THROUGH
MY IDENTITY
BUT NOW THIS SOUND IS BRAVE
AND WANTS TO BE FREE - ANYWAY TO BE FREE

 

[TechnicianKC]

Plenty of time spent listening to Clash tracks today and appreciating the timeless quality of so much of the music.

Strange and sad how appropriate "The Call Up" has become once more...

 

[longdog]

Oh for fuck's sake.

This has put the fucking icing on the cake this has. Just when I thought that a year couldn't get any shittier, this happens.

RIP Joe, and thanks for everything.

Huh! D'you think it's funny?
Turning rebellion into money.

<gutted>

 

[Mr.Bishie]

RIP

 

[butchersapron]

As Ian Dury said of Sweet Gene Vincent - the voice that called my heart ...

 

[bluestreak]

Just have to put my two pence worth in...

Even though I'm too young to have been around the first time I'm still deeply saddened by Joe Strummer's death. The Clash are a great band and joe's work said a alot about the world that is sadly still valid today. he spoke the truth and didn't sell out. i raise my glass and fetch my copy of sandinista in tribute...


joe strummer ladies and gentlemen: the fuckin man...


2002: we've lost dudley moore, spike milligan, and now joe strummer, yet thatcher still lives. suckis, innit.

 

[Iconboy]

What shocking and unhappy news that is. I loved the Clash when I was younger. What a sad time!
RIP

 

[spliff]

Having a brother commit suicide must really hurt.


spliff xxx

101'ers. First gig : Brixton Telegraph, Sept. 6th 1974.

I think I may have been to that pub

 

[walktome]

Jeez, I'm 99% sure it was him my dad met like less than a year ago! I could have met them but my dad really does like some awful music so I didn't come. Then later I notice all the Clash patches that are all over everyone downtown here and I was like, oops.

Anyways the point is... All the old punk bands are half dead. Like Joey & Dee Dee Ramone! So RIP to everyone, not just Joe.

 

[irishmade59]

condolences to joe's family

It's wonderful to read everybodies memories here. i didn't hear the news til tonight. The other half dropped the bombshell whilst we were shopping. I screamed in the middle of the town centre. Joe was worth the grief.

someone good always dies at Christmas.

rest in peace Joe. the music lives on.

irish xxx

ps too gutted to say any more except.. thankx for the song quotes and the thread !

 

[editor]

Good link spliff! I never knew Joe lived in Newport, Wales for a while!

 

[PA68]

Had the pleasure of watching Joe play a stroming gig at the Liquid Rooms in Edinburgh just last month. The mans passion for the music was still very much in evidence.

Thanks for the good memories Joe.....

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

Theres a tribute by Billly Bragg on the BBC news website here that says it all really.

RIP.

 

[Streathamite]

Joe Strummer was a) one of the greatest lyricists in the entire hostory of Rock 'n' Roll ("if Adolf Hitler flew in today, they'd send a limousine anyway-hayy") - a worthy rival to Lennon, McGowan, Dylan and McGuinn, and b) the leader of the greatest band of the 70s. wottabloke, what a band - and what a poet. Since the demise of the Clash, only Cocker, Morrissey, McGowan and Ryder (("son, i'm 30, I Only slept with your mother cos she's dirt") come even close. This man wrote the sound track to my youth, and dragged me out of despair so many times. And for that, I am more grateful than I could possibly describe.

 

[soulrebel]

fucking hell, fucking hell, fucking hell. another of the true greats gone.

but fuck the , cos Joe would want us to turn it into

so i am never going to see the Clash live now... London Calling is an all time great album & every time i listen to the title track i imagined how great it would be to see Joe/the Clash live. thought there was blatantly gonna be another Clash reunion eventually cos thats the stuff of legend, but this is the cruellest way of all to smash that possibility forever. No disrespect to the other members of the Clash but Joe was the one they could never, ever replace.

someone good always dies at Christmas.

too fucking true - the last time i lost a musical hero like this was when Curtis Mayfield died on December 26th 1999.

The Clash both defined and transcended "Punk", as well as inspiring absolutely everything else good (IMO) to come out of the UK since. They took the reggae revolution, changed it without losing any of its righteous rebel spirit into something alienated white/black/whatever British kids could understand, added the soul that rock and roll lost when poncey wankers like the Beatles appropriated it, and rocked the world. So much so that even youths like me who were born 2 years after London Calling was released have it in our blood.

Ironic that although the spirit of punk was "No Heroes", the very men who sang "don't look to us" could not escape being heroes to every subsequent rebel generation.

"One bright morning when this life is over, man will fly away home..."

Rock in Zion as you rocked on Earth Joe.

 

[southwest9]

Totally, totally gutted. Strummer politicised a generation and The Clash were the greatest band of all time. Billy Braggs interview on the BBC site somes it up perfectly (see link earlier). I saw the Clash twice and no band Ive ever seen since has come near the sheer excitement of those 2 gigs. 2 weeks ago Mick Jones joined him onstage for the 1st time in 20 years at the FBU benefit in Acton. I wish i'd seen it. Rest in peace Joe and Stay Free.

 

[treelover]

All the various boards, nme, etc, are awash with tributes, we should bombard the BBC to show the Don Letts video: 'Westway to the World'

 

[scarletwoman]

I don't remember much of the punk scene but I do love The Clash. A friend introdiced me to thier music about tenyears ago when i was 18.

All I can say is, now Jo is somewhere where he is safe from harm and at peace with himself. No one can hurt him and he will never suffer pain again.

I hope htat helps.

 

[Red Alex]

Originally posted by soulrebel

The Clash both defined and transcended "Punk", as well as inspiring absolutely everything else good (IMO) to come out of the UK since. They took the reggae revolution, changed it without losing any of its righteous rebel spirit into something alienated white/black/whatever British kids could understand, added the soul that rock and roll lost when poncey wankers like the Beatles appropriated it, and rocked the world. So much so that even youths like me who were born 2 years after London Calling was released have it in our blood.

Xactly soulreberl, exfuckineactly!

Alex

 

[jms]

Abso-bloody-exactly

 

[handy1]

bump...this was nearly off page one,and i thought no,not this soon,some heartwarming posts, one for the archives i hope.

 

[caz]

caz
visitor

Registered: Dec 2002
Location: enfield
Posts: 1
Hey everyone, Im new here. Decided to join up last nite as wanted to share this email I sent to the official strummersite web site last nite. Guess it was kind of cathartic (on such an emotional day).

******Hi

Kind of ironic that Joe was counselling me about Mattys (Blaggers ITA) death a few weeks back. Its so sad that now; Joe has gone too......

Mart knows we spoke about Matts death and also that we spoke about vulnerable heroes. Martin knew about my situation at work... I work in mental health for a local authority and just "blew the whistle" on my boss. It cost me my health as the "cover-up" was actually compounded by UNISON - who represented the council NOT THE STAFF AND SERVICE USERS! Joe told me I would "get there in the end" and NOW - it is almost over :0).... I go back to work on 6th Jan and my boss will have either been sacked or moved. result!; seeing as she abused us all for so many years.

I rang Pete this morning (23/12/02). Pete does all the merchandising for Mascaleros. He is my friend and a neighbour too. Everyone is devistated.

I want Martin to know the good that has come out of the tradgedy of Matty and Joes death. I rang Mattys mum in Wales today (she had been glued to the news all day). Pete has one last Joe Strummer t-shirt and he is letting me have it. I am giving it to Mattys dad as he still hasnt come to terms with his son's death. Matty (Matthew Roberts) was an only child. Matt inspired thousands of people with his passion and his music; was not articulate nor a confident orator - but none-the-less, managed to touch the hearts of so many. We loved him deeply and miss him so much.

It would be fantastic if this message could be forwarded to Martin and any other of the Mascaleros band members.

Lots of love and condolences from our family, Mattys family and all our friends in the music biz

XXXXxxxxxxxx4 WANTED TO SHARE THIS EMAIL I SENT TO THE OFFICIAL STRUMMER SITE

 

[Jessiedog]

Hi caz,

A warm welcome to the machine and Yuletide Greetings!



Please stick around on U75. Draw up a chair, make yerself comfortable and someone will be along to put the kettle on in a bit.

Feel free to poke around and most surely make yerself at home.

But whatever you do, DON'T lend Dubversion a fiver!

Blessings to you, Mart, Matt, Brian, Pete, of course JOE and, as always, everyone.



Woof

 

[caz]

GR8 to meet you Jessiedog - heres the reply from the boys at the strummersite:caz
visitor

HTML1DocumentEncodingutf-8 *******

Thankyou for your kind words and thoughts in this sad time.
We will keep all messages of condolence and do our upmost
to pass them on to Joes family.
God bless.
Ant & Rob

 

[VelocityGirl]

Hell. I remember a few years after leaving the valleys - Strummer came down to Rhydycar leisure centre in south wales and did his stuff with Foreign Legion [Merthyr Tydfil's answer to slicied bread]. Gutted I missed it.

Look at what he stood for as opposed to other so-called 'stars'. Like the plastic crap we now see....

 

[guinnessdrinker]

this is all very sad and stuff. but there is no point rambling about it unless people are prepared to do what he did then at the time and carry on with the revolution.

Personally, I think the No1s of this christmas should be ritually slaughtered for his peace in heaven.

 

[white rabbit]

I don't want to sound disrespectful but ...

I'm a huge Clash fan. The best gig I've seen was The Clash at Hammersmith Odeon in 1979. I love their stuff and there are so many of their tracks that shall always have a special place in my heart.

It's a dreadful shame that the man should die so young as well but really this is an issue now for his nearest and dearest because, to be honest, it's a long time since he produced anything worthwhile.

One of the admirable aspects of the punk ethos was not putting old farts on a pedestal and worshiping them long past their sell-by date. It was about being fresh, energetic and real. If I'm honest I have to say that Strummer's death is preferable to the prospect of The Clash reforming.

 

[guinnessdrinker]

totally agree. at the end of the day, this is the story of a fifty year old man who dies of a heart attack sitting on a chair after walking his dog in the west countryside. happens everyday. what doesn't happen everyday is youngsters keeping their elders awake in one way or another and keeping them on their political toes by influencing the more intelligent among their kiddies.

in respect to him and others, let the guitars battle.

 

[rorymac]

If I'm honest I have to say that Strummer's death is preferable to the prospect of The Clash reforming.

That's fuckin great White Rabbit...how fuckin extraordinarily smart you are...
I hope you fuckin die soon too arsewipe.
You stupid stupid cunt.
Fuck off.

Edited to add...
Oh dear ...a bit drama queenish and OTT..
Apologies to white rabbit.....

 

[Red Alex]

I don't want to sound disrespectful but ...

Originally posted by white rabbit
If I'm honest I have to say that Strummer's death is preferable to the prospect of The Clash reforming.

And the award for stupid comment of the day goes to

Alex