The  Clash was formed in 1976 as part of the British punk wave.  Lead singer Joe Strummer joined forces with guitarist Mick Jones, bassist Paul Simonon, and drummer Nicky “Topper” Headon, to form the band.  They were a huge success in the UK, almost immediately, with their 1977 debut album,

The Clash

I have a weird life because I live on songwriting royalties, which are a strange income. Sometimes it rains, sometimes it doesn't.

Getting Started

The  Clash was formed in 1976 as part of the British punk wave.  Lead singer Joe Strummer joined forces with guitarist Mick Jones, bassist Paul Simonon, and drummer Nicky “Topper” Headon, to form the band.  They were a huge success in the UK, almost immediately, with their 1977 debut album, The Clash.  The album peaked at #12 on the UK charts.  They did not release the album in the United States because the band did not believe the sound was radio friendly.

After an extended play release, The Clash released their second album, Give ‘Em Enough Rope,  which peaked at #2 on the UK charts.  This time they released in the United States too, and the album appeared at #128 on the Billboard Top 200.  The album spawned two singles, Tommy Gun and English Civil War, both of which were widely popular in the UK.  They were not yet receiving much radio play in the United States, but an underground cult following was developing.

Creating a Niche

The Clash released their third album, London Calling, in 1979.  The album was enormously popular, eventually being named #8 on Rolling Stones 2003 list of Best Albums of All Time.  This release marked a shift to punk, ska, reggae.  It also marked the band’s entry into the US music scene. It peaked at #27 on the US Billboard Top 200, but also appeared on charts in the UK Sweden, Austria, Switzerland, and Norway.  Hit singles included London Calling and Brand New Cadillac.  London Calling would eventually be inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

The band released three additional albums through 1985, each certifying gold.  The 1982 release, Combat Rock, certified double platinum in the United States.  Singles, This is Radio Clash, Should I Stay or Should I Go, and Rock the Casbah benefited from heavy airplay on the radio and on MTV.  

The End of an Era

Prior to the release of Combat Rock, drummer Topper Headon was asked to leave the band due to a heroin addiction.  Terry Chimes replaced him, but left upon the conclusion of the Combat Rock Tour.  They released their album, Cut the Crap, in 1985, but recording had been chaotic and it showed in the music, inviting harsh critical reviews. The Clash officially disbanded in 1986.

Strummer, Jones, and Simonon released a live compilation CD in 1999, along with a video documentary, entitled Westway to the World.  The Clash was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.  In 2004, an anniversary edition of London Calling was released, exposing a whole new generation to their music.  Tracks are available on line for download purchase.

Did you know . . .

• Most of the band’s first album was recorded in a flat rented by Mick Jones’ grandmother, who frequently attended their live shows.

• The song, Rock the Casbah, is about the Iranian limitations placed on the import of Western music.

• The artwork used on the album cover for London Calling was inspired by the cover on Elvis Presley’s debut album.

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