Joe Strummer inspires if we’re ready to perspire. Reflections on a decade without him
Hello, you already know the significance of today/tomorrow and don’t need me to remind you. Later today will mark exactly ten years since Joe Strummer passed away at his home in Somerset. For someone who lived many of his years as if every moment mattered more than we could understand his life expired in a very non rock and roll way as his body was stricken with a previously undiagnosed congenital heart defect. Today does mark an anniversary but I know that like many of you the significance isn’t really especially heightened beyond normal levels due to a calendar. We missed him 10 months ago, 10 weeks ago and we will miss him 10 days from now.I was inspired by Joe Strummer’s words and the music of The Clash from the age of 12, that inspiration didn’t diminish when he died in the slightest. although the sadness did seem to wash over it for a good amount of time. In time I think I managed to gradually use it as a motivating factor to follow my dreams a bit more urgently, to do what made me happy rather than simply what I should be doing and to continue trying my level best to understand issues and people no matter what or who they may be.
JOE STRUMMER ( The Clash ) Iroquois Hotel New York City December 23, 1981 Credit© Walter McBride / Retna Ltd, USA
I miss Joe Strummer, painfully, for that I must thank my brother (under my breath) for leaving his door open when he was playing Tommy Gun back when I was twelve and patiently answering the questions I had about this incredibly electric music that emanated from his bedroom. Youth and circumstances prevented me from having memories of the very earliest days of The Clash but from that moment onwards The Clash led the sound along with The Jam, XTC, The Damned and The Specials that dominated my life and my limited pocket money for the next few years. Other bands came and went and my passion for many probably equaled that I held for The Clash at times but nothing impacted me as much learning just after I turned sixteen that Mick Jones had been unceremoniously removed from the band that he started. No band did more for my awareness of music and its heritage and history as The Clash, nobody’s lyrics seemed as powerful and responsive as Joe’s, no band made me decide I needed to learn much more about the things that were previously just droning headlines on the evening news as The Clash and no band made me want to keep my hair short and spiky and ideally my attitude too like The Clash had done. (although I did visit the barber clutching the first Specials album more than once requesting I look like Terry Hall if possible).
I was lucky enough to see The Clash live, I was luckier still to have the door to so much brilliant music opened up to me by them that unlike many now my/our age music remains one of the very most important things in my life. I still find great new acts and go and see them live even though I’m reluctantly aware I could technically be their Dad. All roads eventually seem to lead back to The Clash for me, losing Joe honestly impacted me more than any other death I’ve been exposed to. That might sound awful but I mean it sincerely, my family ties are very badly weathered and those key primal years where I found my way in the world my biggest teachers also happened to share songwriting credits on the labels of the singles and albums that I played to death. You can clip me round the head if you like but I thought (as a teen) that Mick was cooler and Paul simply on another level. Strummer and Jones rolled off the tongue and even though nearly twenty years had rolled by from the time The Clash essentially ended I grew older with the band still motivating me significantly. In many ways I was only beginning to understand the roar ambition and depth of London Calling and Sandinista! years and years after the fact. I’m not embarrassed to say the magnificence of much of the music that The Clash made after the second album was partially lost on my then early teenage ears. It was easy to feel your blood pressure spike when listening to Complete Control but the genius of something like Jimmy Jazz or One More Time was something I only managed to properly comprehend years after the fact. That staying power of the music they made is rarely equaled.
I don’t know that my life needed more inspiration in it than that which I received from a punk band from London, I know I only hold the same passions for a few select things that mattered to me 33 years ago. I think that probably says it all.
This band did matter, Joe Strummer was neither a Saint nor a gimmick, he tried the best he could and managed to make a living doing what he most clearly was suited to. He got a late start in a scene where his age could almost have ruled him out by default. Through determination, arrogance, passion for his fans (he never forgot what being a fan felt like) and taking a chance he helped take The Clash from dirty pubs in front of a handful of people to becoming perhaps the most important band of their generation. This wasn’t done singlehandedly but can you image anyone other than Joe fronting The Clash?
I hope that his flaws remind us of ourselves, that his passion and effort can remind us of ourselves, his commitment ought to remind us of ourselves. I don’t know how you’re feeling today but please don’t mope and feel sorry for yourself longer than is needed. Be inspired, be motivated and keep looking for a way no matter how big or small to make a fucking difference. Share an idea, recommend a book, play someone a song or suggest a different approach, show them how to play a Dm, help someone who needs a friend to listen or needs a few coins to get through a tough time, remind others that giving up or blaming others is a cop out, question your motivations and obligations and ask if you can perhaps do things better. Stop waiting for him over there to sort it out because it up to you, just as its always been.
Not for the first time I’ve rambled on long enough, so I hope you got through all of that. Later tonight I’ll try this liveblog idea throughout the following 24 hours or so – if you have 30 seconds or 15 minutes and want to share how you’re feeling please do. How Joe impacted you, or simply a favourite memory or lyric, quote or photo. I’ll do my best to add a fair amount of photos and music but I really hope to see you. I thought I’d get the above written while my head was still clear. I hope many of you are at one of the dozens of events around the globe remembering Joe on his anniversary and you bloody better enjoy yourselves. If you have comments tonight please add them below and I’ll add them to the live blog tomorrow or you can email me. You can contribute anything you like but please let me know your name plus city and country – if there are links to photos, videos etc you’d like included on the blog send those too.
Thank you!
This post is a great summary of how I feel too. Without Joe & The Clash, my life would have gone in completely different direction. From my first would-be girlfriend who had an album (so of course I became interested). I never got the girl but I got the band, a love of Levi Red Tags, Converse shoes, playing the bass and a willingness to not accept everything. Something I summarise as "what would Joe do".
He's been an influence in so much as an idea or thought pattern, I never got to meet Joe but I saw the band many times, met Mick and Paul and 34 years later those sounds, those memories and the ideas they inspired in me remain alive and as close to me as ever.
I still try to avoid wearing blue & brown – I mean who wants to work for the clampdown!
I'll always think of we rather than me i.e. left-sided politics
And the band and Joe's music will always be close at hand.
Best of all, I wouldn't change a thing.
That was beautiful. "I hope that his flaws remind us of ourselves, that his passion
and effort can remind us of ourselves, his commitment ought
to remind us of ourselves. I don’t know how you’re feeling
today but please don’t mope and feel sorry for yourself longer
than is needed. Be inspired, be motivated and keep looking for
a way no matter how big or small to make a fucking difference." THANK YOU.
It's still the 21st here, not that time zones matter. And you're right: we miss him every single day. I think the power of today is that we're all thinking of him at basically the same time.
I just got back from the craft store. I'm going to make some Joe-related things tomorrow, and I'm not a crafty person…inspiration!
I also got some votive candles to light so I can sit around all new agey-like, reflecting on things. And I'll write.
If I come up with anything I'm comfortable sharing, I will let you know. I'm just so thankful for Joe and for all the fans' love. I have decided to, yes, cry, but use the day as a reminder to live each day to the fullest of my abilities, and as a kick in the pants to create, not give up, enjoy life, and remember that sometimes good things cause pain, and that's okay. For so long, I've been someone who hates to cry, but it's okay. It means his life affected me so much, means so much to me, that my emotions just overflow.
I need to sleep, but I will be back and thinking of Joe and all of us for the entire day and beyond.
You are all wonderful. Thank you.
(And a decade without him isn't how I choose to view things. I mean, physically he's gone, but through his music, influences, fans, spirit, love he gave the world, memories…he lives on, in whatever way that may mean to each of us.)
Also, I am going to make Joe-related cookies. They will likely look sloppy, but be made with love. There will also probably photos of said cookies, here or elsewhere.
Tomorrow night, we'll be having a bonfire party in Joe's honor. Not to mourn the loss, but to celebrate his life. Everyone is bringing their Clash vinyl, and we hope to make plenty of ruckus. Spliffs will be smoked, and songs will be sung!
He's been a part of my life for 35 years and always will be
What can you say. I've not got the words to describe how Joe Strummer and let's not forget the rest of the band made a impression on my life. I was lucky to see the band quite a few times and although memory fades I will always remember it was the best times I ever had.. Thank you….
I totally understand and share all the feelings that are being put out there about Joe and The Clash. I first seen the Clash in my hometown of Glasgow, back in 1979. Blew me away, my first ever gig. To cut a long story short (I may share it one day), till this day, they are still so relevant in my life. They stand accused of shaping my thoughts as regards (amongst others) politics, justice, class, my fellow man, humanity, dignity, and music. Yes.., all this from a band, but no ordinary band. They will always be the only band that matters. Yes, we are lucky to have the Clash in our lives, because it has made us all better people for it. I have been sad for 10 years now, but I have used Joes music to chase away the sadness. I gotta go, just let me say thanks to The Clash community, especially The Clash Blog, we have some celebrating to take care of today, I dont think Joe would have it any other way. Stay Free. Peace and Love.x
Hi! I'm an Italian girl, so I'm sorry if my english isn't perfect…
when I was 3, my father taught me to sing "Rock the Casbah"… now I'm 16 and some time ago I rediscovered The Clash between my father's old memories.
Since that moment my life has changed: I made important changes and now I feel more free and responsible. I have to thank Joe: he helped me to overcome a difficult period of my life.
I know, I will never understand what is living Clash music during their activity, but I think that they still live in new generations and their music will never die.
Thank you Joe!
Rita, you are so right. I was lucky enough to spend my later teenage years 77/78 discovering the Clash. The world was a different place then, but not too different. The things the band sang about were things that affected me, they gave me a different slant on things, they opened my eyes to the world around me, they basically educated me. I became a better human being for it.To this day,as you said, the music of the Clash is still relevant to the world around us. It numbs the sadness of our loss of Joe, it still inspires us all.Take care Rita, and all Clash fans. Stay free.
FOR JOE STRUMMER – RIP DEAR JOE – LOVE AND RESPECT FROM VICE SQUAD X
https://soundcloud.com/vice-squad/dear-joe-taken-…
FOR JOE STRUMMER – RIP DEAR JOE – LOVE AND RESPECT FROM VICE SQUAD X
https://soundcloud.com/vice-squad/dear-joe-taken-…
Tonight in New York City we will be remembering Joe, putting on a tribute night at Tammany Hall in the Lower East Side. We'll be performing some classic Clash live, and a few Mescaleros tunes too.
Doors open at 8pm
SundayGirl (Blondie Tribute) at 9pm
Straight to Hell (Clash Tribute) at 10pm
http://www.facebook.com/events/31042662239479
"And so now I'd like to say – people can change anything they want to. And that means everything in the world. People are running about following their little tracks – I am one of them. But we've all got to stop just following our own little mouse trail. People can do anything – this is something that I'm beginning to learn. People are out there doing bad things to each other. That's because they've been dehumanized. It's time to take the humanity back into the center of the ring and follow that for a time. Greed, it ain't going anywhere. They should have that in a big billboard across Times Square. Without people you're nothing. That's my spiel."
† remembering Joe Strummer † !!! check out: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Birthdays-of-Rock/1… xxx Jimbo
What's Bernie doing sitting in the chair behind him? Reading the Financial Times….?
Yes,
You have stated most of my feelings on Joe/Clash.
At 19 I had major panic attacks, felt so alone.
The Clash lyrics made me feel like I had power.
My mantra when feeling down is " get punk rock on your life"
The music was my sanctuary.
I felt hope and went to many punk shows feeling kindrec spirits.
I saw them 3 times ,but the best was seeing Joe with the Mescalaros a month before his death.
Small club, I stood right up front.
There he was.
I know we all wish wr could tell people that impacted us how grateful we are.
I silently hoped I could.
So like a previous comment said lets not mope or feel down.
Joe would not like that as we remember him.
Love to all my fellow Clash lovers,
Kathie
NYC