Hello again, it’s nearly 5am London time on the Sunday so I’ve no qualms with officially considering this time to say recognise Joe Strummer’s Birthday. I’m hoping you’ll all help me make this post as interactive as the one we did together during the less cheerful December anniversary eight months ago. Today is a day to be glad that we were were exposed to Joe Strummer, whether we first saw The Clash in the last summer of 1976 or even if we were cheated due to age in never seeing him the important piece is his music and his fire will stay with us until our respective number is up. I was even glad to learn this week that the Bloggette’s daughter now in Junior High was able to talk to her new history teacher about The Clash. She might not become a huge Clash fan (she currently likes some very dodgy shit) but she’ll use The Clash as her benchmark for what makes a great band who cared. That’s enough for me.

So I encourage you to please add comments below and I’ll update the blog regularly over the next 30 hours or so. Share you favourite memory, tell us what Joe means to you, send me a video or photo link. I’ll try and get them all included. My favourite Joe Strummer quote changes from week to week and the same goes for song and lyric, but this week I’m especially enjoying his time with the Mescaleros. Hence the video beneath and the quote from the Dick Rude film about Joe “Let’s Rock Again” when Joe is trying to hawk tickets to his concert coming up in Atlantic City. When confronted with a couple who can’t attend because they are flying home that evening Joe sharply states “Change your tickets!”.

Thank you Joe, I think of you daily and that’s been the case now since about this date in 1979, much of what I’d like to write I did last December – but essentially it was that we should be inspired by him – I know we were. Now it’s over to you!!!

Now it’s over to you, please add anything you wish, ideally with your name and city if you can and I’ll update the blog as the day and night rolls on. Cheers – Tim

“Rudy Rudy Rudy Rudy Rudy Ru-dy Can’t Fail”

Tim – London/Phoenix

“Happy 59th birthday to Joe Strummer of The Clash. Rest in Peace, clash city rocker!”

Wendi

Came across these recently in an old copy of GQ. Thought I’d scan them and share with all friends and fans of Joe on his birthday…enjoy! -

Mark, Toronto

“The future is unwritten. The Sandinista album is amazing. The Clash are amazing, your voice is so unique…. Without you I wouldn’t have a role model to look up to. Your my legend forever and RIP, I love you and let your legacy live on. London Calling ”

For ever in my heart Joe Strummer ! thank you very much. “Spread the words tonight please,Sammy”- Corner Soul

Mecha

“Thank you for the being that was Joe Strummer”

Heather

Thank you for the being that was Joe Strummer

Thank you for the life-force that came through Joe Strummer

Thank you for the potency,the excitement,the passion,the fire that were expressed through Joe Strummer

Thank you for the conviction and commitment that were expressed through Joe Strummer

Thank you for the music,lyric and song that came through Joe Strummer

Thank you for the explosive and all time great band led by Joe Strummer

Thank you for the sense of community that was expressed through Joe Strummer

Thank you for the demorcracy and inclusivness that was expressed through Joe Strummer

Thank you for the idealism that was expressed through Joe Strummer

Thank you for the nobility that was expressed through Joe Strummer

Thank you for the inspiration I received through Joe Strummer and his music.

Thank you Joe Strummer

Ignore Alien Orders!!

written by-Mike Scott, The Waterboys

‘You have the right to free speech, as long as your not dumb enough to actually try it.’

Ben

I can’t even begin to describe how much Joe Strummer meant to me. One of the first musicians I truly looked up to. My biggest regret, is that I didn’t fall in love with the Clash and Joe Strummer until after he passed. Sure, I had heard the music, knew of the man, but not on the level that I do today. Every time I walk past that Joe Strummer mural in the LES outside of Niagara bar, I have to pause and pay my respects. One of my next pieces that I’m getting inked will be tribute to Joe Strummer.

Happy B-day Joe!

WGTA(Tumblr)

‘Joe supported me with words and music when i had personally very difficult times as a confused youngster. that’s why i’ll always keep him in my heart and mind like a kind of elder brother.’

Michael

Most people usually love a band for its frontman/woman. They don’t care about the rest of the band. In my case, it’s different. At first, I didn’t have any preference.
But then I saw that movie about Joe Strummer: “The Future Is Unwritten”.

It reveals us all the aspects of his personality, the good ones and the bad ones. And that’s what made me love him the way I do now, the way he just was, his qualities, his flaws, everything. He simply is an amazing man, the best songwriter in my opinion. He loved people and always took the time to discover them and ask them about their story. He lived for the music. He wasn’t as self assured as some would think. He had doubts, like everyone, he hesitated a lot before making his decisions. At first, he was lost when The Clash were finished. He wondered if there was going to be a life for him after the Clash. And after a lot of pain he had to deal with, he finally did it and moved on with his life: he proved to us all that his musical talent had absolutely no limits and that he could really do anything and go from one band to another without losing that special thing he has that makes him stand out of the crowd.

And even though I didn’t know him in person, I still feel like I know exactly what he was like. I miss him. From time to time I imagine how the world would’ve been if he were still alive.
More music, of course, but also more and more inspiration for all the people who, like me, look up to Joe and see a role model.

Sadly, I’m only 15 and would’ve never been able to see The Clash live back in those days… I still manage to stay happy with the music he left us behind.

Camille

‘All over, people changing their votes, along with their overcoats, if adolf hitler flew into town, they’d send a limousine anyway!!’

Andrew G

‘one emotion!! back of a chop everybody wants what the next guy got….’

Arthur, Mexico City

‘Authority is supposedly grounded in wisdom but i could see from an early age that authority was only a system of control and it didn’t have any inherent wisdom. I quickly realised that you either became a power or you were crushed.’

Justin, London

Happy Birthday Joe – Drummerville Sticks

‘Run rabbit run, strike out boy for the hills, I can find that hole in the wall, and I know that they never will.’

Lorenza

‘DON’T FORGET YOU ARE ALIVE’

Joe Strummer

‘career opportunities the ones that never knock every job they offer you to keep you out the dock’

Les

‘Joe is my inspiration,his delivery of a song is what i strive for.Im so glad i saw him live, if only for a few numbers ,it will stay with me forever.Happy Birthday Joe R.I.P.’

Andy

‘Are you taking over or are you taking orders? Are you going backwards or are you going forwards? These words still keep me on track and get me fired up when I need it. Happy birthday Joe. You’re missed now more than ever.’

Angela, King City, Ontario

‘

‘Happy birthday Joe!!!!!! I don’t have words to describe the impact you have on me. You will never be forgotten. RIP and keep rocking! Love you Joe….’

Anon.

—-Lovely photo and post over at Strummerville - a huge thanks to all of my friends over at Strummerville, you help keep the spirit of Joe front and centre, as it should be. Tim….

‘

‘When you meet people, who say you had an effect on their life, you realise it was all worth it’

Dora

‘

‘Don’t fucking call me woody !!’

Paul

‘

First heard this (above) as a backing track in the studio then Joe said ‘I got some words’ and soon it was a live highlight way before the single came out. These Music Machine gigs were The Clash surfing their unstoppable peak, Joe on fire everry night. ‘New groups are not concerned with what there is to be learned’ still! Happy birthday Joe.

Kris Needs

Face front you got the future shining Like a piece of gold But I swear as we get closer It looks more like a lump of coal But it’s better than some factory Now that’s no place to waste your youth I worked there for a week once I luckily got the boot

Siiri

“I think people ought to know that we’re anti-fascist, we’re anti-violence, we’re anti-racist and we’re procreative. We’re against ignorance” Joe Strummer

Marta, Porto, Portugal

“Karlo Marx and Friedrich Engles came to the checkout at the 7-11 / Marx was skint but he had sense, Engles lent him the necessary pence.”

Simon, Glasgow

‘They’ve got Burton suits they think it’s funny turning rebellion in to money …RIP Joe..’

Michael, Gourock, UK

“So now I’d like to say, people can change anything they want to and that means evrything in the world” happy bday joe, cheers”

Stephie

‘‎”Without people, you’re nothing!” I love you Joe, you’re my hero. ♥”

Leanne, Dublin

Bob Ferguson wrote a great piece about how Joe influenced his work.

‘‎’n every gimmick hungry yob digging gold from rock ‘n roll,
Grabs the mike to tell us he’ll die before he’s sold,
But I believe in this and it’s been tested by research,
He, who fucks nuns, will later join the church.”

Mark, New Jersey

Another great piece about the influence of Joe that was written by my friend Angela – highly recommended.

Happy Birthday Joe Strummer (21 August 1952 – 22 December 2002)!! We love & miss you Joe! ♥

Marisa

It is sad that he is gone but his life is definately something worth celebrating. Joe lives on in all of us.

Chad, Riverside CA

THE FUTURE IS UNWRITTEN!

Brayan, Santa Catarina

Happy B’day Joe, I can see a great party going on up there… he’s celebrating with the best!

Debora, Milan Italy

“There’s a mirror in your soul. You should turn it to the sky.”

Melissa, Clinton, Ontario

Just bought a vintage 61 Juke box-took out the cool 50s music, and replaced it with the Clash!

Jonanthan, Kansas City

Blistered hands, broken sleep, driving between towns, flier after flier, emails, phone calls, and 3 rocking shows…all in the name of Strummer! Rock n roll & Happy Birthday from everyone who attended all 3 Texas gatherings! We had a blast and look forward to celebrating next year! Cheers!

Clampdown Joe Strummer Tribute, Texas

You have the right to food n money..aslong as u dont mind a little investigation,humiliation and if u cross ur fingers rehabilitation.

Barry, Newcastle

My Joe Strummer line for today is “Must I get a witness for all this misery ? There’s no need to brother, Everybody can see…….You don’t need no silicon to calculate poverty” Sadly these words ring just as true as they did when I was hanging around outside Brixton Fairdeal listening to the Clash soundchecking twenty-nine years ago. Paul Simonon’s bass was pulsating through the ground I was standing on, as I was anticipating the gig that night. I was virtually first through the door…. Picture the scene though, on the 30th July 1982 at ‘The Kasbah Club’ which the Brixton Fairdeal became for the night…..early 6000 people crammed into a massive crumbling theatre. Mick’s Dad in the audience for the first time.

By this time they were the greatest rock band on the planet…. ….The lights dimmed and I was jammed up against the stage as the Ennio Morricone intro music faded, torches flickered as the band took to the stage and the place erupted as Joe Strummer called “Good Evening, Welcome !” and Mick Jones screamed 1,2,3,4 and THE CLASH launched straight into ‘White Riot’. The place went completely ballistic….. bodies, clothing, drinks and boots flying in all directions. Just typing this I’ve got shivers down the spine. I have a recording from that night on a old compact cassette. This wasn’t extortionate ticket prices to sit half a mile from the stage and beer a £5 a pint. This was £3 to get in to see one of the greatest bands of all time and you could touch Strummer’s guitar from where I was standing, jammed against the stage – no orchestra pit there !! It was very much in your face from the off. Power and passion never equalled.

Pete Stevens, Acton, London

It was 1978 my older brother was into the NYC Punk scene. He call me in his room to listen to a new band. It was the of course The Clash. Clash City rockers/Jail Guitar Doors single.I was hooked and couldn’t wait till they toured. Had to wait till 79 but it was worth it. They came and rocked the stage. The energy in the audience was electric and music for me was never the same. To the punk rock warlord Happy Birthday! I wish you were still here.

Mark A

Happy Birthday Joe, you are and will always be my inspiration, my strength and my medicine…i truly love you , 4 ever!

Silvia, Rimini Italy

First time I met Joe….Manchester Apollo..79..we took a bus from Newcastle drinking,smoking,speeding the journey away…then we arrive outside the Apollo..its about 3-4pm…walking round we saw the back doors open and people just going in and out unchecked..so…straight in we go..The Clash are soundchecking and we just stand infront of them as they go thro I Fought the law,Whiteman and Paul wants to do Bankrobber…it was incredible,we were buzzing…then this big thugs sees us and heads straight over..”You Out”..but the soundchecking stops..and Joe suddenly over the mike says ‘hey fuck,leave em alone’…Joe Strummer noticed us.!!!..it was the best thing ever,like the prophet saved his flock…then he came and sat stage right and talked for a short time,gave us some plecks and sent ‘hey fuck’to get us a tshirt each….thats Joe Strummer for you…

Barry

I realise it’s a bit daft but this is my favourite online toy for flickr images, give it a try and design your own Planet Clash! 

http://www.theonlymanthatmatters.tumblr.com Happy brithday Joe!! We all love and miss you very very much.

Ashley

Happy Birthday Joe Strummer RIP rock legend X

Tara

spent the morning listening to joes music from the 101 ers to the mescaleros ,great talent sadly missed by many but still influencing musicians and people today r.i.p

Steve, Fordingbridge UK

keep listening to the great joe strummer cause through music you can live forever……..

Artur, Mexico City

Only saw The Clash live once, but I’ll never forget the sight of Joe Strummer the human dynamo with the sweat flicking off his hair every time he moved around the stage.

Tracey, Kingston Upon Hull UK

I once heard Billy Bragg say that every time he stepped on stage, he would pretend that he was The Clash. It’s a sentiment that I think many of us can relate to, whether we’re musicians or not. There’s a definite pull to be *somebody* or do *something* of merit, and Joe and the boys exemplified it. I’m not sure if a non-musician like me can rightfully have musical heroes, but that’s exactly what I consider Joe. I may be getting older and no longer look like the angry young punk I once did, but that fire still burns. Happy birthday Joe…the world is a blander place without you.

Mike

Great photos from The Clash gig in Oslo in May 1980.
None from Mick and Joe’s fistfight though http://www.helgeoveras.com/clash.shtml

Gorm, Oslo

Inspired by Joe Strummer and NYC’s infamous summer heat… Happy B-day Joe… The world is a lesser place without you…

Vagabond

Joe gave me his guitar pick after playing live in the studio of CFNY on Yonge St. in Toronto. I miss him.

Steve, Toronto

its one thing to like…but i really miss him…even on an ‘off day’ or when a…lets say anathoma…he was always a proper human being!!!

Porta

A great anecdote about Joe Strummer from the always great Louder Than War blog

it ain’t coke cola…it’s rice!! R.i.P

Oorwulie

To even know about The Clash changes your way of seeing the world, then really commiting to the task of getting to know Joe it’s a complete upside down in LIFE! All I know is that if it wasn´t for Joe I wouldn´t be who I am now. Live Forever Joe Strummer the one and only PunkRock Warlord.

Rubiie

“Grabs the mike to tell us he’ll die before he’s sold.”

Ohana, Rio de Janeiro

Here’s to Joe (raises large glass of whiskey)! A man who not only led (and still leads) generations in rebellious, thoughtful, compassionate and intelligent thought, but remains one of my most heroic inspirations. Passing him on to my kids is one of my most exciting pastimes! We love you , Joe Strummer! -

DenverThread

If Music Could Talk…

Mike

thanx Joe for all the power & stamina & humour & great music–right now in 2011….the Clash are still the most inspirational band for LOT of bands around the globe–that what we call patchanka…….& the first global music record of patchanka was….Sandinista in 1981—–i saw The clash in Bologna 1980..london calling tour ..and at that period The Cash were the best rock n roll band EVER—i still dream sometimes abt that gig,,,when i was 17:))—–cheer to all Clashical people….here Rude Hi-fi aka Barriobeat—respect to the warlord of punk rock—ciao!!

Barrio Beat

the Clash changed everything for me… I was 11 when “London Calling” hit me like a ton of bricks. And it keeps hitting me, over and over again, just like the rest of their albums… Joe Strummer has of lately, yet again, made me go rediscover both the power of punk rock and the power of any music with soul and heart and sincerity. Mr Strummer means in no way nostalgia, but being alive, right here and right now… …fuck how I envy his way of phrasing and lending power to the words he sings without sounding like a cunt! Stay free, Joe

Crossler, Sweden

 

Joe Strummer: Behind the Scenes from editorlisa on Vimeo.

 

When I was 13 I had an English teacher who was the biggest U2 and Bono-fan. During one class we were talking about popular culture and were asked to each name an artist/band that we thought were important to the history of music. I raised my hand and said THE CLASH, his reply was “No, not big enough.” He went on to let someone else speak, and I raised my hand again and said, because I knew what a sucker he was for Bono “U2 probably wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for The Clash.” He ignored me and went on with the class. When class was dismissed he took me to the side and told me never to embarrass him that way in front of everyone. Therefore I continued making Clash references in essays, tests etc.
Emily, Stockholm

Good morning and how is it then? I’m writing the blog in a foul and bitter mood as the football season is back but after 11 weeks without, the return of the beautiful game has brought nothing but annoyance thus far. Hence the blog is a good place to escape all that for now especially as we’re about to launch into a strummertime weekend. Tomorrow of course marks what should have been Joe Strummer’s 59th birthday and if that fact doesn’t remind us that our years are clicking past few things will. As it happens though we were cheated out of seeing Joe enjoy his years as the elder statesman of punk or the grandfather of political music – his death in 2002 at the age of just 50 leaves him seemingly frozen as a man who never had time to grow into his later years as they were taken away right as they began. That really aches as he was back to his prolific best in my opinion, he had such a thirsty need to make new music. What’s more he seemed fully rejuvenated by playing and touring again with his Mescalaros as evidenced by the amount of time the band spent on the road those last few years.

Joe’s birthday though is a great time to remember him at twenty eeking out a living in Newport South Wales, or at twenty-five as The Clash released a debut album that would change the musical landscape in the UK and elsewhere forever and even now over 30 years later is a blueprint for capturing the energetic rush of a young band with something to say. By the age of thirty Joe had been on the recording, touring, recording treadmill with The Clash for six years and although at the time I never assumed the band would split up by the following summer 50% of the core members were jettisoned. The Clash stumbled on for a few more years but as Joe approached his mid thirties he no longer had a band and was bound by a CBS contract that left him with one hand tied behind his back. Hence the oft-called ‘wilderness years’ began, I often wonder if we lost some great work as result.

That said there are some that reflect that his album Earthquake Weather and his work on soundtracks in that period of time might have been Joe at his most creative, no longer needing to be the mouthpiece of the most important band of his generation but following his heart and working on projects that excited him with people he enjoyed. What’s rather lost on me until I think about it is the fact that people knew of Joe Strummer for the better part of 25 years but only a third of that time was spent with The Clash. Such was the weight of the legacy created by a band that never stopped working, whether that was by bloody minded management or an urgency to create is open for debate but the intensity of being in The Clash was surely the single leading factor to the fallout that was to follow. On reflection though I think frantic page of The Clash had much to do with Joe being a bit older than the others coupled with Mick’s desire to learn everything he could about music. By the time he walked from the 101′ers and started working with Mick and Paul he was already 24 years old and perhaps he felt he had to make up for lost time. Those prior years weren’t a waste though, it was time where he carved out a semblance of his deeply held passions and views and importantly refined his musicianship to the point where he was a bloody great rhythm guitar player. As I’ve written before you can’t judge a life on it’s length but by it’s accomplishments and for Joe Strummer – The Clash were his every waking thought when they existed and so much work was there to be done.

Tomorrow I’d be really happy if you’d like to contribute to the blog – it’s ultimately your blog much as The Clash were your band. If you have any thoughts of Joe, favourite lyrics or quotes, photos or videos please email them to me, or comment below and I’ll hand it over to you. I’ve spent too many anniversaries of Joe’s passing feeling very hollow about his departure and I think that his birthday should be a time to play The Clash and his other work loud, so loud that your neighbours complain and you can then explain you’re only trying to expose them to something important – something very special. Incidentally I can’t think of a greater collection of Joe images over the years than those captured by his dear friend Bob Gruen – here is a link to a selection of those.

“I deeply miss my friend Joe Strummer. He was the strongest of men, a real inspirational leader, a guy who never seemed to tire of listening to people and talking to them, learning and teaching all the time. He had true compassion for everyone he met. He was the nicest and also the most fun loving person I’ve known”          Bob Gruen

There’s been loads of great things written about Joe this week which I’ll try and gather together for you over the weekend, most importantly though I love the fact that time shows absolutely no sign of being able to diminish the importance of the music and the man. I especially enjoy reading the comments of a sixteen year old who is as passionate about the band as those of us who saw them. That’s exactly as it should be.

Later I’ll add the links to some Joe Strummer events / articles that I’ve found. Normally I’d be more prepared but as I mentioned in the last post it has unfortunately been one of those weeks, I apologise for not getting this done earlier. Cheers – Tim

Hello again, submarine mission returning to base. It feels like an age since I blogged when in fact it’s just about four days but the interruption was neither planned nor ideal. I’m back now but not quite sure where to begin as it was a busy few days in terms of tales of Mick Jones and Big Audio Dynamite, Joe Strummer Tributes (both completed and forthcoming) plus the usual assortment of bits and pieces that I try and report on. If you’ve emailed in the last week or ten days thank you – I am very far behind but will follow up as soon as I can. As for my absence it’s been a combination of lots of work, some pressing matters at home and then when playing football (soccerball) this past weekend I managed to bruise some ribs (well, a foul by an opponent caused that outcome, I didn’t just bruise them by choice) so I’ve been in relative agony the last three days – spending only as much time sitting up and typing as is needed – such time on the computer(s) is greatly satiated by my work commitments so I had to press the ‘pause’ button on the blog for a few days.

In the meantime there’s been rather a lot going on from the Big Audio Dynamite camp at the very least and I’ve yet to even check out Clash news over the last four or five days. B.A.D. left the midwest for the sunshine in California and by all accounts put in three stellar shows in Los Angeles, Orange County and then up in San Francisco. I’ll have a number of photos and videos from each of those and then a little special bonus up in the bay area. Suddenly we’re only a few days away from Joe’s birthday too and I feel guilty that my blogging void has left some of those events short of a proper preview, indeed some of have already taken place. I’ll try and get a short summary/preview of everything I see on the calendar for tomorrow’s post if that’s alright?

Huge thanks to Scott and Jessica in Minneapolis who performed a triple somersault past security guards whilst cleverly dressed/disguised as harmonicas at the B.A.D. concert in Minneapolis to grab me the B.A.D. setlist from the stage and also for then getting it signed by Mick Jones later that same evening and conducting the impromptu Clash Blog interview with Mick post show. More on that later once I get myself sorted out and a photo of course. There are many many photos and videos from the last few nights of the B.A.D. tour and the rest as well to get through, it might take us the rest of this month.

Sunday – August 21st – Joe Strummer’s Birthday. Joe would have been 59 this Sunday which twists the knife in that bit deeper that we lost him far too soon. Moreover as I try and remind myself his family lost him far too soon and I can only imagine the depth of that loss which is uniquely theirs. I think we’ll go with a photo or written tribute this Sunday – if you wish to visit the blog I’ll do my best to man the blog during the day and update it as we go – you can either email me comments and links, pop on facebook or twitter and send me your favourite Joe lyrics, quotes memories or photos. Hopefully we can enjoy it as much as we did on The Street Parade post that we did in December. Just add your name and city to the link (if you like) and I’ll add your input to the blog as the day goes on. Let’s make it a celebration – I can’t help feeling Joe would enjoy that far more. More on that on Saturday morning as preview. Sorry I was gone so long, let me know what I missed, more tomorrow! Finally…good luck Cesc Fabregas, you’ll be missed. Tim