Clash's Punk Pioneer Strummer Dies at 50: Reuters
Clash's Punk Pioneer Strummer Dies at
50
Mon December 23, 2002 09:07 AM
ET
By Jason
Hopps
LONDON (Reuters) - Joe Strummer,
frontman with the Clash whose 1979 track "London Calling" exploded as one of
punk's biggest anthems, has died at the age of 50, a spokesman said on
Monday.
The singer, guitarist and
songwriter died on Sunday at his home in Somerset, western England of unknown
causes.
"We do not yet know the cause of
death, but we believe it was not suspicious and that he passed away peacefully.
An autopsy will be forthcoming," the spokesman
said.
Born John Graham Mellor in Ankara,
Turkey, Strummer's talents propelled him from busting on the London Underground
to fame with the Clash, who with the Sex Pistols defined the in-your-face sound
and style of 1970s British punk.
Until
they split in the 1980s, the Clash produced a catalog of punk classics,
including "Career Opportunities" and "Should I Stay or Should I Go?," distilling
the depression, anger and energy of 1970s
Britain.
But they transcended the
three-chord aggression to deliver messages of anti-racism and social
consciousness. Strummer, the son of a British diplomat, wrote many of their
biggest hits.
"He was one of the most
important figures in modern British music, a powerful performer and wordsmith on
a level with Bob Dylan," said Pat Gilbert, editor of British music magazine
Mojo
"His music had compassion and
vision, backed with an agenda to change the world for the better," he told
Reuters.
Sometimes described as rebels
with a cause, the Clash fused a variety of musical styles -- reggae, funk and
even rap -- with a political message that brought punk to the mainstream and
also found big success in the U.S.
market.
Bono, lead singer from the Irish
band U2, said: "The Clash was the greatest rock band. They wrote the rule book
for U2."
DEFINITIVE
PUNK
In 1976, Strummer met a then
23-year-old guitarist Mick Jones and linked up with bassist Paul Simonon and
drummer Terry Chimes. As the Clash, the quartet made an immediate and explosive
impact in Britain.
Rolling Stone magazine
called their 1977 eponymous debut "The definitive punk
album."
Follow-ups "Give 'Em Enough Rope"
(1978), and "London Calling" (1979) also became instant punk classics. After The
Clash split, a tireless Strummer stayed center stage with a variety of projects,
dabbling in acting and writing music for
films.
More recently, Strummer toured
with a new band, the Mescaleros, and played a benefit concert with Mick Jones in
November, reuniting with his partner in punk for the first time in nearly 20
years.
At the time of his death, Strummer
was collaborating with U2's Bono and Dave Stewart, formerly of the Eurythmics,
on an AIDS awareness track.
"The Clash
are to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame next year and there was
hope that there would be a reunion and a tour...this must be especially sad for
their fans," Gilbert said.
Strummer's
death was a double blow for punk fans still mourning the fatal drug overdose in
June of singer Dee Dee Ramone from legendary American band the
Ramones.
Strummer is survived by his
wife, two daughters and one stepdaughter.
Posted: Sat
- February 8, 2003 at 11:06 PM