When Joe passed six years ago my life changed almost as much as when my brother took a then impressionable 12 year old little brother to see The Clash back in 1979. I don’t think I’ve ever missed anyone as much in my life – the saddest part for me was after ten years frozen out of the music industry by a naive contract signed by The Clash, Strummer was writing and touring again and gradually receiving the accolades he was always due.
Nothing has been the same since; it was the loss of something you can’t quantify but also reminds you of the power and perhaps importance of popular culture/art. Joe Strummer was not a genius or a scientist but he was an idealist and for 23 years of my life I always felt I was lucky enough to be a fan (a gang member?) of the only band that matters – to me the ideal band. My passion for music was nurtured by The Clash, and my idealistic hopes for a somewhat better society was fueled by 4 angry punks.
Thanks as always Joe – you never left.
Tim
When you blame yourself, you learn from it. If you blame someone else, you don`t learn nothing, cause hey, it`s not your fault, it`s his fault, over there. (J Strummer)
1 response so far ↓
andrea merendelli // February 17, 2009 at 11:31 pm |
Hi Tim,
I like your comments. Very touched. I’m a storyteller, and I’m on tour with my punk tale CLASH TO ME, dedicated, of course, to Joe and the CLASH. It’s the first theatre performance about the punk-movement (in Italy, of course, but we are trying to translate in english…hard job).
I’d like to get in touch
Take care
Andrea