The Clash

The Clash are a British punk rock group from London, active from 1976 to 1986. They form one of the best-known bands from the first wave of punk in the 1970s and are associated with a wider sound that includes rock and roll, reggae, rockabilly, dance-punk, funk, new wave and post-punk.

Style and importance

The band stands out for combining strong musicianship with politically engaged lyrics. Joe Strummer and Mick Jones write much of the group’s lyric content, with a left-wing idealism that contrasts with the more stripped-back or nihilistic approach associated with some of their punk contemporaries. Their live performances are also noted for their intensity.

The Clash have major influence across and beyond punk rock, not just because of the music but also because of their attitude and image.

Albums

Their first five albums — The Clash, Give 'Em Enough Rope, London Calling, Sandinista! and Combat Rock — continue to attract significant interest from rock fans and musicians. London Calling, issued in 1979, is widely regarded as one of rock’s great albums and is singled out by some critics as the best album of the 1980s.

Line-ups

The original 1976 line-up includes Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Keith Levene, Paul Simonon and Terry Chimes. The classic line-up from 1977 to 1982 adds Topper Headon. Later line-ups include Terry Chimes again in 1982–1983, Pete Howard in 1983, and the final 1983–1986 line-up with Nick Sheppard and Vince White on guitar alongside Strummer, Simonon and Howard.

Later work and recognition

Mick Jones goes on to form Big Audio Dynamite after leaving the band, later works with Tony James in Carbon/silicon, produces artists including The Libertines and Babyshambles, and also collaborates with Gorillaz. Joe Strummer fronts Joe Strummer and the Latino Rockabilly War and Joe Strummer and The Mescaleros, and also has a solo career that includes film work and other projects. Paul Simonon forms Havana 3 A.M., later turns to visual art, and then returns to music with Damon Albarn in The Good, The Bad & The Queen. Topper Headon releases the solo album Waking Up in 1986. The Clash are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003.