The counterfeit Clash
Punk Icon Joe Strummer, who has died of a hear attack aged 50. was the voice of a generation of disillusioned youngsters. His songs tore onto the politics, racism and social ills of the late 1970's. The biting lyrics and raw power of his band The Clash helped transform punk into a world wide phenomenon.
Strummer collapsed at his £500,000 farm-house on Sunday, it was revealed yesterday. His wife Lucinda tried to give him the kiss of life. Next door neighbour Michael Carvil, 53 said "I was called over to the house just before 4pm. Joe was sitting in a chair in the Kitchen and he was unconscious.
"Linda was absolutely distraught, She said she had tried to give him mouth to mouth resussitation but it hadn't worked. There was nothing we could do. We just had to wait for the ambulance to arrive".
"Were all in a state of shock. Lucinda and her daughter Elize are being looked after by relatives. Jow was a fantastic chap. He would always speak to you and was a great neighbour. Police were called to the house and a post mortem was carried out yesterday. But there were not thought to be any suspicious circumstances.
Lucinda and ten-year-old Elize Strummer's stepdaughter were too upset to talk. Strummer also had two daughtersfrom a ten-year relationship with Gabrielle Salter. They are Jazz Domino Holly, 18, and Lola Maybellene, 16. Strummer and Lucinda married five years ago and had lived in the village of Broomfield, near Bridgwater, for three years.
The Clash's songs, such as Lon don Calling, White Riot and Should I Stay Or Should I Go, inspired musicians who became some of the greatest names in rock. They included U2 front man Bono, who said: "The Clash were the greatest rock band. They wrote the rule book for U2."
Ex-Clash road manager Johnny Green said: "The greatest legacy he leaves is that he made a generation of people think for themselves. "His music was political. He didn't quite manage to change the world but he changed the way people looked at it. It's a sad day - but what a life."
Strummer, second son of a Foreign Office diplomat, was born John Graham Mellor on August 21, 1952 in Ankara, Turkey. From the age of eight he attended boarding schools in London and Surrey.
He was a model student and got A Levels in English, history and art. He was bought his first guitar at the age of 16 and began busking on the London Underground stations during his days at art college. He changed his name to Joe Strummer shortly before joining pub rock outfit the 101'ers in 1974.
But inspired by the emerging punk scene, he left two years later to form The Clash with Mick Jones, Paul Simonon and Nicky "Topper" Headon. Their first gig was supporting the Sex Pistols on July 4, 1976, in Sheffield.
Later that year they were invited to appear on the notorious Anarchy Tour, with the Pistols. But wild and abrasive punk music — and particularly the outrageous Pistols, led by Johnny Rotten - had sparked outrage throughout Britain.As their careers evolved, the two bands became fierce rivals but Strummer's triumphed as the Pistols split in 1978. The Clash released 6 albums with the third - London Calling - their greatest work.
Singer and guitarist Strummer saw his band notch up 16 top 40 hits, which also included Bank-robber and I fought the Law. They even managed a number 1 with Should I Stay or Should I Go when it was used in a Levi's advert long after they split up.
Strummer and Jones were the creative force behind the Clash and were seen as the Lennon and McCartney of punk Like the Beatles stars, they could alternate singing duties.
The Clash had a notoriously stormy relationship and Strummer sacked Jones in 1983 for being lazy. Joe admitted later "I stabbed him in the back." The band limped on but finally called it a day in 1985 Strummer launched a solo career and was briefly lead singer with The Pougues after Shane MacGowan left in 1991.
He formed his final group, The Mescelaros, at the end of the 1990's and their debut Rock Art and the X-ray Style was released to acclaim in October 1999. Strummer's last gig was at Liverpool University on November 27. The same month he was also re-united with his old partner Jones during a fire fighters benefit show at Acton in West London.
Sir Bob Geldof, a musical contemporary with The Boomtown Rats said: "The Clash were very important musically. And as a person, Joe was a very nice man."
Singer Billy Bragg said: "I have great admiration for the man. His most recent records are as edgy as anything he did with the Clash."
Pete Shelley of the Buzzcocks said: "The clash played a crucial role in the punk movement. The Pistols kicked the door open but the Clash were the first punk band to have a real musical sound.".
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