Joe Strummer facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Joe Strummer
Strummer performing live with the Clash at the Tower Theater in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, 1980
Background information
Birth name	John Graham Mellor
Born	(1952-08-21)21 August 1952 Ankara, Turkey
Died	22 December 2002(2002-12-22) (aged 50) Broomfield, Somerset, England
Genres	Punk rock post-punk reggae rock and roll new wave alternative rock
Occupation(s)	Singer musician songwriter
Instruments	Vocals guitar piano
Years active	1970–2002
Labels	CBS Sony Hellcat Mercury

John Graham Mellor (born 21 August 1952 – died 22 December 2002), known as Joe Strummer, was a British singer, musician, and songwriter. He helped start the punk rock band the Clash in 1976. He wrote their songs, played rhythm guitar, and was one of their lead singers.

The Clash's second album, Give 'Em Enough Rope (1978), became very popular in the UK. Later, they became famous in the US with albums like London Calling (1979) and Combat Rock (1982). Their music mixed different styles like reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, and rockabilly. The Clash was known for their strong messages about social issues and their rebellious spirit. They greatly influenced rock music, especially alternative rock.

Joe Strummer also played with other bands like the 101ers, the Latino Rockabilly War, the Mescaleros, and the Pogues. He also made solo music. Besides music, he acted in movies, wrote music for TV and films, and hosted a BBC Radio show.

In 2003, Joe Strummer and the Clash were added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. After he passed away, his friends and family started the Joe Strummer Foundation. This group helps musicians and supports projects that use music to make a positive difference around the world.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Joe Strummer was born John Graham Mellor in Ankara, Turkey, on 21 August 1952. His mother was from Scotland and worked as a nurse. His father was English and worked for the government in other countries. When Joe was nine, he and his older brother David went to a boarding school in England. They did not see their parents very often. Joe later said the government paid for his schooling because of his father's job.

Joe loved rock music from a young age. He enjoyed listening to artists like Little Richard and the Beach Boys. He even used the nickname "Woody" for a few years, inspired by Woody Guthrie. He later said the Beach Boys were why he started playing music. In 1970, his brother passed away, which was a very sad time for Joe.

After school in 1970, Joe went to art college in London. He thought about becoming a cartoonist. During this time, he bought a ukulele and learned to play songs. He later moved to Newport, South Wales, in 1973. There, he became the singer for a band called Flaming Youth, which later changed its name to the Vultures. He also worked as a gravedigger for a while.

In 1974, Joe moved back to London. He played music on the streets for a bit. Then, he formed a new band with his friends called the 101ers. They named the band after the address of their shared house. The 101ers played many shows in London pubs, performing popular American R&B and blues songs. Joe worked odd jobs, like gardening, to buy music equipment.

In 1975, he stopped using the name Woody Mellor. He started calling himself Joe Strummer. The name "Strummer" was a playful way to describe his guitar playing. Joe was the lead singer for the 101ers and began writing his own songs for the band. One of his songs, "Keys to Your Heart," was inspired by his girlfriend, Palmolive. The band liked it so much they chose it as their first single.

Music Career

The Clash (1976–1986)

On 3 April 1976, Joe Strummer saw a new band called the Sex Pistols play. He was very impressed. Soon after, he was asked by Bernie Rhodes and Mick Jones to join their new band. Joe agreed to leave the 101ers. The new band included Joe, Mick Jones, bassist Paul Simonon, drummer Terry Chimes, and guitarist Keith Levene. Paul Simonon named the band the Clash.

The Clash played their first show on 4 July 1976. They signed with CBS Records in 1977. Later, Topper Headon became their full-time drummer.

In 1983, Joe Strummer made some changes to the band. Mick Jones left, and Topper Headon had also left earlier. Joe and Paul Simonon continued with new guitarists. They released the album Cut the ... in 1985. After this, Joe decided to end the Clash.

When the Clash was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, they were called "one of the most political, explosive and exciting bands in rock and roll history." Their songs talked about important social issues like unfairness, unemployment, and police actions. Joe supported groups that used music to fight racism and other injustices. The Clash's album London Calling was even named the best album of the 1980s by Rolling Stone magazine.

Solo Work and Film Music (1986–1999)

Strummer, playing with the Pogues in Japan

After the Clash, Joe Strummer worked on music for films. He wrote songs for the 1986 movie Sid and Nancy. He also worked with Mick Jones again on his band Big Audio Dynamite's album, No. 10, Upping St. (1986).

In 1987, Joe acted in two films directed by Alex Cox, Walker and Straight to Hell. He also wrote music for these movies. He even joined the band the Pogues for a tour, filling in as a guitarist. This was the start of many times he would work with them.

Joe appeared in other films, like Jim Jarmusch's Mystery Train (1989) and Aki Kaurismäki's I Hired a Contract Killer (1990). He continued to write and produce music for films, including the soundtrack for Grosse Pointe Blank (1997).

In 1989, Joe released a solo album called Earthquake Weather with his band the Latino Rockabilly War. He also worked on the soundtrack for the movie Permanent Record with them.

He helped the Pogues produce their album Hell's Ditch in 1990. In 1991, he even sang for the Pogues on tour. In 1994, Joe played a benefit concert in Prague to help people affected by war.

During these years, Joe also played piano on a song for the Levellers and appeared on a song by Black Grape. He worked with famous producer Lee "Scratch" Perry on some older Clash songs. Joe also wrote music for a film called Tunnel of Love in 1997. He played a character in the French film Docteur Chance in 1997. In 1998, he was a guest on the TV show South Park and appeared on its music album.

Joe also hosted a radio show called London Calling on the BBC World Service.

The Mescaleros and Later Work (1999–2002)

Strummer performing in April 2002

In the late 1990s, Joe Strummer formed a new band called the Mescaleros. They released their first album, Rock Art and the X-Ray Style, in 1999. They toured England, Europe, and North America.

In 2001, they released their second album, Global a Go-Go. They toured again, playing Clash songs, reggae and ska covers, and even the Ramones' song "Blitzkrieg Bop". Joe also recorded a version of Bob Marley's "Redemption Song" with Johnny Cash.

On 15 November 2002, Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros played a concert to help striking firefighters in London. Mick Jones was in the audience and joined them on stage. They played Clash songs like "Bankrobber," "White Riot," and "London's Burning." This was the first time Joe and Mick had played together on stage since 1983.

Joe Strummer's last public performance was just two weeks before he passed away. He also worked with U2's Bono on a song called "46664" for Nelson Mandela's campaign against AIDS in Africa.

Personal Life

Joe Strummer became a vegetarian in 1971 and remained one for the rest of his life.

In 1975, Joe married Pamela Moolman so she could become a British citizen. He used the money he received to buy his famous Fender Telecaster guitar. In 1978, he started a relationship with Gaby Salter. They were together for 14 years and had two daughters, Jazz and Lola. In 1993, he began a relationship with Lucinda Tait, and they were married from 1995 until his death.

Death

On 22 December 2002, Joe Strummer passed away at his home in Broomfield, Somerset. He was 50 years old. An examination showed he died from a heart attack caused by a heart problem he did not know he had. His family received his ashes after he was cremated.

Legacy

At the time of his death, Joe Strummer was working on another Mescaleros album. It was released after he passed away in October 2003, called Streetcore. This album included a song for Johnny Cash and a song remembering the events of 11 September 2001. It also featured his cover of Bob Marley's "Redemption Song".

Memorial to Strummer on 7th Street at Avenue A, New York City

Joe Strummer helped start Future Forests, now called the Carbon Neutral Company. This group plants trees around the world to help fight global warming. Joe was the first artist to make his music production carbon neutral by planting trees. His friends and family also created the Strummerville Foundation to support new music. They hold an annual festival in his name.

In January 2003, the Clash were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. At the Grammy Awards in February 2003, famous musicians like Elvis Costello and Bruce Springsteen performed "London Calling" to honor Joe. Many other bands and artists have created tribute songs or named things after him.

In February 2005, a train locomotive was named Joe Strummer by his wife. In 2007, Fender released a special Joe Strummer Tribute Telecaster guitar, designed to look like his own worn guitar.

In November 2009, a town in Italy named a street after Joe Strummer. In January 2011, there was a proposal to name a street after him in Granada, Spain. In January 2013, a plaza in Granada was officially named Placeta Joe Strummer.

In October 2013, Mick Jones said that Joe Strummer had planned to reunite the Clash and they were even writing new music together before Joe's death.

In 2016, an actor played Joe Strummer in the film London Town. After Joe's death, it was found that he had kept many of his writings and tapes. In 2018, a collection of 32 songs called Joe Strummer 001 was released. It included unreleased songs from his whole career.

Musical Equipment

Strummer in 2001 with his guitar

Joe Strummer's main guitar was a 1966 Fender Telecaster. He bought it in 1975. After joining the Clash, he painted it black. He added stickers over the years, with one saying "Ignore Alien Orders." The guitar showed years of heavy use.

Joe was naturally left-handed, but he learned to play guitar right-handed. He felt this made him a less skilled guitarist, but it also gave him a very unique playing style.

He also used other Fender Esquire guitars and a Gretsch White Falcon and a Hofner Verithin before his Telecaster. For sound, he used different amplifiers, but his main one was a Music Man HD 212,150.

Discography

The Clash

The 101ers

Solo

The Latino Rockabilly War

The Mescaleros

Selected Filmography

Joe Strummer appeared in and contributed to several films and documentaries:

• Rude Boy (1980): A semi-documentary about the Clash.
• Hell W10 (1983): A silent film written and directed by Strummer.
• The King of Comedy (1983): A small cameo role.
• Walker (1987): Played a character named Faucet.
• Straight to Hell (1987): Played a character named Simms.
• Candy Mountain (1988): Played a character named Mario.
• Mystery Train (1989): Played a character named Johnny.
• Docteur Chance (1997): Played the songwriter Vince Taylor.
• The Clash: Westway to the World (2000): A documentary about the Clash.
• End of the Century: The Story of the Ramones (2003): A documentary about the Ramones.
• Let's Rock Again! (2004): A documentary following Strummer on tour.
• Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten (2007): A documentary about Joe Strummer's life.
• The Clash Live: Revolution Rock (2008): A documentary about the Clash's live performances.
• Quiero Tener Una Ferreteria En Andalucia (2011): A documentary about Strummer's connection to Spain.
• The Rise and Fall of the Clash (2012): A documentary about the Clash.

Images for kids

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  Joe Strummer nameplates on Cotswold Rail locomotive 47828 in June 2009

See also

In Spanish: Joe Strummer para niños