Joe Strummer | Artist
John Graham Mellor aka Joe Strummer, was a British musician, singer, songwriter, actor, and radio host born 1952 in Ankara, Turkey, the son of a British foreign service officer. Strummer was best known as the co-founder, lyricist, rhythm guitarist, and co-lead vocalist of the Clash. He developed a love of rock music listening to records by Little Richard, the Beach Boys and Woody Guthrie. Strummer even went by the nickname "Woody" for a few years. After seven years in boarding school he moved to London, where he attended the Central School of Art and Design and shared a flat with punk-poet Clive Timperley and musician Tymon Dogg, earning a meagre living as a ukulele strumming street performer. In 1973, Strummer moved to South Wales and became the vocalist for the band Flaming Youth, renamed the Vultures. During this time, he also worked as a gravedigger in St Woolos Cemetery. In 1974 Strummer moved back to London, where he reunited with Dogg and formed another band the 101ers, named after their squat at 101 Walterton Road in Maida Vale. In 1975, he stopped calling himself Woody Mellor and adopted the name Joe Strummer. He began to write original songs, including "Keys to Your Heart" which became the 101ers' first single and was inspired by his girlfriend Palmolive, drummer for the Slits. On 3 April 1976, the then-unknown Sex Pistols opened for the 101ers at the Nashville Rooms in London. After the show, Strummer was approached Mick Jones from the band London SS, who wanted Strummer to join as lead singer. Strummer left the 101ers to join Jones, bassist Paul Simonon, drummer Terry Chimes and guitarist Keith Levene. The band, renamed the Clash, made their debut on 4 July 1976 in Sheffield, opening for the Sex Pistols. On 25 January 1977, the Clash signed with CBS Records as a three-piece after Levene was fired. Topper Headon later became the band's full-time drummer. The Clash's songs tackled social decay, unemployment, racism, police brutality, political and social repression, and militarism. Strummer was actively involved with the Anti-Nazi League, Rock Against Racism and Rock Against the Rich campaigns. The Clash made several seminal punk-rock albums including London Calling, which was named best album of the 1980s by Rolling Stone magazine. After the Clash, Strummer followed a solo career and headed his own band Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros. He also had stints with Big Audio Dynamite and The Pogues. Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros released three excellent studio albums: Rock Art and the X-Ray Style (1999), Global a Go-Go (2001) and Streetcore (2003). The 2012 live collection Live at Acton Town Hall is also recommended. In 1987, Strummer appeared in the film Walker directed by Alex Cox and he wrote and performed on the film's soundtrack. Strummer also appeared in Jim Jarmusch's film Mystery Train and in 1998, made a guest appearance on the TV show South Park and appeared on the album Chef Aid: The South Park Album.
Artist Website: joestrummer.org
Featured Albums: Joe Strummer
Related Artists: The Clash, The Pogues, The Mescaleros, The 101ers
Video Clips: Johnny Appleseed, I Fought the Law, Yalla Yalla
