The Clash

When you dive into the music of The Clash, you encounter an energy that goes beyond punk. Although they were born in London in 1976, their sound expanded rapidly, mixing rock with rhythms of reggae, dub, funk, and even rockabilly. This allowed them to connect with the post-punk and new wave movements that were beginning to emerge. The lineup that defined much of their career included Joe Strummer on vocals and rhythm guitar, Mick Jones on lead guitar and backing vocals, Paul Simonon on bass, and Topper Headon on drums.

The impact of The Clash was felt from their early works. Their debut album, The Clash (1977), and Give 'Em Enough Rope (1978) brought them recognition in the United Kingdom. However, it was with London Calling, released in late 1979, that they achieved popularity in the United States the following year. Decades later, Rolling Stone would consider it the best album of the 80s. They experimented further on Sandinista! (1980), and then achieved notable commercial success with Combat Rock (1982), which included the track "Rock the Casbah," a hit in the United States that helped the album achieve double platinum certification.

dance-punk Funk new wave Post-punk Punk 1970s

1 Albums

20 Songs

4,2M Listeners/mo

Start playing

Most played on DoReSol

Essential songs

See all 20 →

Should I Stay or Should I Go

3:03 02

Train in Vain

London Calling · 1979

3:02 03

Revolution Rock

London Calling · 1979

5:29 04

I’m Not Down

London Calling · 1979

3:03 05

Four Horsemen

London Calling · 1979

2:55 06

Lover’s Rock

London Calling · 1979

3:59 07

The Card Cheat

London Calling · 1979

3:44 08

Koka Kola

London Calling · 1979

1:44 09

Death or Glory

London Calling · 1979

3:52 10

Wrong ’Em Boyo

London Calling · 1979

3:08

1 album|s · 1979

Full discography

1979 ★ Essential

London Calling

19 song|s

Details, awards, members and more

More about The Clash

Biography

The band went through significant changes. In 1982, Headon left the group due to personal problems, and Jones departed the following year. With a new lineup, they released their last album, Cut the Crap, in 1985, and broke up shortly after. Despite the comings and goings, their legacy endures. In 2003, Joe Strummer passed away, and shortly after, the band, including original drummer Terry Chimes, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked them 28th on their list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time."

Before The Clash, their members were already immersed in the music scene of London. Joe Strummer, whose real name was John Graham Mellor, had been part of The 101ers in 1974. Mick Jones was in the protopunk band London SS, managed by Bernard Rhodes, who was also a key contact in the formation of The Clash. It was Rhodes who, after seeing the Sex Pistols in February 1976, urged Jones to contact Simonon to form a new band. In March of that year, Jones, Simonon on bass, Keith Levene on guitar, and a drummer they found, were rehearsing. Terry Chimes auditioned and joined briefly.

The subsequent careers of the members are also interesting. Mick Jones formed Big Audio Dynamite and has collaborated with contemporary artists like Gorillaz. Joe Strummer led Joe Strummer and the Latino Rockabilly War and The Mescaleros, in addition to a solo career and film work. Paul Simonon, after forming Havana 3 A.M. and dedicating himself to art, returned to music in 2006 with a project alongside Damon Albarn. Topper Headon released a solo album in 1986 and, after overcoming addiction, has remained away from the industry, although he has participated in film-related projects.