Joe Strummer
Joe Strummer
John Graham Mellor, known by his stage name Joe Strummer, was a British musician, singer, actor and songwriter who was the co-founder, lyricist, rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist of the Clash, a punk rock band that was formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Their music also incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, and rockabilly. The Clash were one of the most prominent of the emerging bands in the UK punk rock scene,...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionMusician
Date of Birth21 August 1952
hippie apathy
All hippies around now just represent complete apathy.
music running world
There isn't a town in the world I haven't run amok in.
letting-go interesting people
I`m kind of like one of those people that picks up small and interesting bits of wood and doesn`t want to let go of them. Or, you know, I`m fascinated with the wrapper on a sardine can. A little cuckoo.
home school parent
The only place I considered home was the boarding school, in Yorkshire, my parents sent me to.
trying harder
We aren't particularly talented. We try harder!
acting care illusion
I learnt that fame is an illusion and everything about it is just a joke. I'm far more dangerous now, because I don't care at all.
reading book opposites
I like to read because it's the opposite of being on the go. Reading is the perfect antidote.
chance music-is vehicle
For me the music is a vehicle for my lyrics. It's a chance to get some really good words across.
movement clash
The hippy movement was a failure.
mistake thinking people
If you're allowed to make your mistakes, I think you should. But people don't really like hearing you admit them. Although I'd never wanted to dump on the musicians that were involved in that.... Because it was not their fault.
responsibility thinking trying
Yeah, all those things, responsibility, pressure. It's a bit stressful. I try and come to terms with it by not thinking about it.
insane bits
A lot of the time I'm semi-insane, but there is a slight bit of intelligence there.
music stuff supposed
To me, our music is like Jamaican stuff - if they can't hear it, they're not supposed to hear it. It's not for them if they can't understand it.
mimicking pretending
We sing in English, not mimicking some American rock singer's accent. That's just pretending to be something you ain't.