The Clash Presentation.

In 1976 The Clash was formed in London. They released 5 albums in 6 years which
included;

• The Clash (UK & US) [Self Titled]

• Give ‘Em Enough Rope

• London Calling

• Sandinista

• Combat Rock

and Later in 1985 they released their final studio Album Cut The Crap.

The band went through some switches of band members but their four most
longstanding members were; vocalist Joe Strummer, guitarist Mick Jones, bassist Paul
Simonon, and drummer Nick “Topper” Headon.

Although The Clash were a punk band they liked to explore different sounds. One other
sound that they used and are probably also known for is reggae. They wrote songs
addressing the issues about the class and race that was tearing england apart in the
1970’s.

Their first album (Self titled) was successful in the UK when released in 1977 but in the
US it was considered too raw, and labels here didn’t want to put it out. Later of course it
became a success here in the US as well and was eventually released.

Give ‘em enough rope was their first US release. It showed a style and sound that was
different to other punk artist out there. The album was named the best album in 1978 by
Time magazine.

London Calling was their third album it was a success and was released in 1980. This
album also featured R&B and a Rockabilly sound. Their album cover is probably an
iconic one, a well known cover. It featured Paul smashing his bass on stage. (New York's
Palladium in 1979) Train in vain peaked in #23 at the billboard charts in 1980.

Sandinista reached further in their music. It had 36 songs, which had to use 3-records.
It had sounds from gospel to dub and it featured their most political work.

In 1982 Combat Rock was released. The album included Rock the casbah which is
probably their most successful song that hit the billboard charts. It peaked at #8 in
1982, and Should I stay or should I go peaked at #45 in 1982, and in #50 in 1983.
Should I stay or Should I go hit #1 in the UK 9 years later after a re-release. Their only
#1 in their homeland. They were well known around this time, and tension was starting
to build up between members.

Topper left the band shortly after the sessions for Combat Rock finished; the press
statement said he parted with the group due to political differences, but it was later
revealed that the split was due to his heavy drug use.

During the summer of 1983, the band headlined the U.S. Festival in California; it would
be their last major appearance.

In September, Joe Strummer and Paul Simonon Kicked Mick Jones out because he
"drifted apart from the original idea of the Clash." Jones formed Big Audio Dynamite the
following year, while the Clash hired guitarists Vince White and Nick Sheppard to fill his
vacancy.

In November of 1985 The revamped Clash finally released their first album, Cut the
Crap. The album was greeted with overwhelmingly poor reviews and sales; it would
later be disowned by Strummer and Simonon. Early in 1986, Strummer and Simonon
decided to permanently disband the Clash. Several years later, Simonon formed the
roots rock band Havana 3 A.M., which released only one album, in 1991; following the
record's release, he concentrated on painting.

Strummer released a solo album, “Earthquake Weather”, in 1989. Shortly afterward, he

joined the Pogues as a touring rhythm guitarist and vocalist. By 1991, he had quietly
drifted away from the spotlight. For the remainder of the decade, Strummer was quiet,
appearing on only one other recording -- Black Grape's 1996 Top Ten hit "England's
Irie." Though Strummer and Simonon were both quiet, and Jones was busy with various
incarnations of Big Audio Dynamite, rumors of a Clash reunion continued to circulate
throughout the '90s. When "Should I Stay or Should I Go?" appeared in a Levi's
television commercial in 1992, the song was re-released in the U.K. by CBS, and it shot
to number one, fueling reunion speculation.

The three founding members - Joe Strummer, Mick Jones and Paul Simonon -
cooperated in the compiling of a live album (From Here to Eternity) and video
documentary (Westway to the World), released in 1999. On November 15, 2002, Jones
and Strummer shared the stage for the first time in nearly 20 years, performing three
Clash songs during the encore of a London benefit show by Joe Strummer and the
Mescaleros. This raised hopes for a Clash reunion. But then on December 22, 2002 Joe
Strummer died of a heart attack.

On March 10, of 2003 The Clash were inducted into the Rock and Roll hall of fame.

Bob Dylan, Bob Marley & Bruce Springsteen were The Clash fans. U2, Green Day &
The Beastie Boys were inspired by the politics type of music which was one of the
points of the music of The Clash.
 Bit of the facts
• Band Members: They went through a few changes throughout the years. But the
members who were there through most of their career were; Joe Strummer (Lead
Vocals, & rhythm guitar), Mick Jones (Lead Guitar, Vocals), Paul Simonon (Bass guitar,
backing vocals, and occasionally he was lead vocals), And Nick Headon (drums,
percussion)
• The 101ers were named either for the address of the building where they squatted or
the number of the torture room in the George Orwell novel 1984.

US Charts
-Singles - Billboard Hot 100
• “Rock The Casbah” Peaked at #8. October 02, 1982. (Combat Rock)
• “Train in Vain (Stand by me)” Peaked at #23. March 22, 1980. (Train in Vain)
• “Should I stay or Should I go” Peaked at #45. July 17, 1982. (Combat Rock)
• “Should I stay or Should I go” Peaked at #50. February 19, 1983. (Combat Rock)

-Albums Billboard - Billboard 200

• Combat Rock - Peaked at #7 June 12, 1982
• Cut The Crap - Peaked at #88 January 18, 1986
• Live at Shea Stadium - peaked at #93 October 25, 2008
• The Essential Clash - Peaked at #99 March 29, 2003
• The Story of the Clash Vol. 1 - Peaked at #142 June 25, 1988
• From Hell to Eternity - Peaked at #193 November 13, 1999

Facts
• 1978 - The Clash’s Paul Simonon and Topper Headon were arrested in London.
The offense? Shooting pigeons from the roof of a rehearsal hall.
• Paul Simonon came up with the band name. He got it from reading a newspaper.
• Mick Jones & Paul Simonon have been doing music with the Gorillaz for the last year
or two. Albums Plastic Beach & The Fall. (PB) Plastic Beach (feat. Mick Jones &
Paul Simonon). ASPEN FOREST (TF) - Additional Bass: Paul Simonon.
Revolting Doors (TF) Additional Guitar: Mick Jones.

Joe Strummer grew up in a boarding school, but he dropped out while he was in his
teens. In 1974 he formed the 101ers, a pub-rock band. Mick Jones and Paul Simonon
both grew up in working-class Brixton (UK). Paul was attending Art School when he met
Mick Jones. He had never played an instrument until after he heard the Sex Pistols, He
then learned to play the bass and Joined Mick Jones band the London SS, which also
included Topper.