Joe Strummer Dead

[Footix]

http://www.nme.com/news/103809.htm

I'm incredibly saddened by this news.

Strummer was a very important part of my growing up. The Clash's music was like school to me, and Strummer was the professor. He taught me politics, geography, sociology, history, and of course, many styles of music. Most importantly, he taught me two major life lessons...to have an informed opinion on the things that mean something, and the act of "doing for others" is more important than "doing for self".

NYC was kind of their second home, and when they played here, it was always a major event for me. The Bottom Line, one of the famed Bond Casino-Times Square shows, on Pier 84, at Convention Hall in Asbury Park...even the "Cut The Crap"-era Clash without Mick Jones rocked fiercely in an overcrowded Rutgers University gym. I don't think there was a second of a Clash show that I did not enjoy hugely.

Earlier this year I got to meet Strummer for the first time. I've been fortunate enough to have been able to meet most all of the artists that have ever meant anything to me, and usually I come away from the meeting disappointed, as they usually are not as interesting as I had hoped. Strummer was quite the opposite. He was articulate, charming, funny, and he did the one thing I've never really seen a personality of his stature do...he seemed like he was really interested in what I was saying to him. He was obviously the kind of guy who really took in every bit of information that was offered to him, in hopes of learning more about everything.

Against my better judgement, the fanboy in me made me ask him to sign my copy of London Calling, an album that means the world to me. Expecting him to grunt and scratch out a couple initials, he seemed thrilled that I bothered to have brought the disc with me. I guess after today's news I'll treasure that disc even more.

R.I.P.

[bert patenaude]

RIP.

[Native Aztexan]

I guess we won't "Rock the Casbah" on their suppose reunion. Sad day. RIP :(

[capt. america]

man what a shame this is! the clash is one of the best bands i've ever heard. RIP Joe.

[pething101]

Wow.

What a bummer of a way to start the morning.

[Col Mustard]

I haven't even begun to take in the enormity of this yet. What a f***** miserable way to start christmas !

I haven't been able to find out what exactly what happened other than it was a heart attack of some kind and that he died in his sleep.

I'm stunned and very very sad.

I can't write much more at this point.

[Dr. Wankler]

Originally posted by Footix
Earlier this year I got to meet Strummer for the first time. I've been fortunate enough to have been able to meet most all of the artists that have ever meant anything to me, and usually I come away from the meeting disappointed, as they usually are not as interesting as I had hoped. Strummer was quite the opposite. He was articulate, charming, funny, and he did the one thing I've never really seen a personality of his stature do...he seemed like he was really interested in what I was saying to him. He was obviously the kind of guy who really took in every bit of information that was offered to him, in hopes of learning more about everything.

I liked everything you said, but this is worth repeating. The closest I've ever come to meeting Joe Strummer was that great Lester Bang's article, but my sister-in-law met him once. Against her will, her brother, a concert promoter, asked her to find an all-night diner so Strummer and a couple of other guys from the Pogues and their wives-girlfriends could get a bite to eat after a show. She was expecting the worst sort of rock-star behavior (sort of what she was used too, given her brother's line of work). But she sat by Strummer the whole night, and was blown away by his intelligence and his decency... treating the waitstaff, the counter help, everyone, like human beings.

It was too short, but he had a good life judging by his effect on his fans.

[MikeLastort2]

I bawled my eyes out when Joey Ramone died. Now this, and I'm crying again.

Man, what horrible news.

[MeridianFC]

I remember the first time I heard the clash. I was probably around 13 or 14 (I think "London Calling" had just come out). I immidiately ran out and spray painted "The Clash" on anything that wasn't moving. I was so profoundly affected I couldn't even think of anything more sensible to do.

Death or Glory

Every cheap hood strikes a bargain with the
world
And ends up making payments on a sofa or a girl
Love 'n' hate tattooed across the knuckles of his hands
The hands that slap his kids around 'cause they don't understand

How death or glory becomes just another story
How death or glory becomes just another story
'N' every gimmick hungry yob digging gold from rock 'n' roll
Grabs the mike to tell us he'll die before he's sold
But i believe in this-and it's been tested by research
That he who ************s nun will later join the church

From every dingy basement on every dingy street
I hear every dragging handclap over every dragging beat
That's just the beat of time-the beat that must go on
If you been trying for years-then we already heard your song

Joe Strummer R.I.P.

[mr.acorn]

Sad Day indeed....The Clash were one of my favorite bands of all time...I was looking forward to hearing them play again at the upcoming Rock N Roll Hall of Fame inductions....

[cosmosRIP]

The Clash were my favorite band, I remember I just had to see them, (I had missed the Sex Pistols and I wasn't going to let that happen again) the first chance I got I had just started college in upstate NY and I had to take an 8hr bus ride to NYC to see them at the Palladium and then back to school the next day, this was in 1979 and don't think any of my new friends at school had even heard of them, they thought I was nuts. I saw them a few times after that but my best memory is seeing them at Bonds, it was my first time in a Manhattan night club like that, what an amazing night.

[Zenit]

Geez, this destroys me....No question the Clash were my all-time favorite band, no one else even close. All those crappy album rock 70s & early 80's bands I wasted time on in high school...after hearing "Safe European Home" & "Police & Thieves" for the 1st time, I was hooked, never could stomach another AOR band again. The Clash remains the best live show I have ever seen.

This really sucks. I actually was going to pay attention to the R&R Hall of Fame induction for the 1st time, just to see the lads toghether again.

[hangthadj]

This is terrible.

[MeridianFC]

The official Strummer site is so busy you can't even get on. Fitting I say.

[-cman-]

I'm shredded.

I never got to see them live. But their music was the soundtrack of my youth and young adulthood.

Strummer was a very important part of my growing up. The Clash's music was like school to me, and Strummer was the professor. He taught me politics, geography, sociology, history, and of course, many styles of music. Most importantly, he taught me two major life lessons...to have an informed opinion on the things that mean something, and the act of "doing for others" is more important than "doing for self".

Ditto.

SOME IS RICH, AND SOME IS POOR
THAT'S THE WAY THE WORLD IS
BUT I DON'T BELIEVE IN LYING BACK
SAYlN' HOW BAD YOUR LUCK IS


Godspeed Joe. And wherever you are don't take any s**t.

[Michael K.]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2602083.stm

Billy Bragg eulogizes.

[Doug Dobey]

Sit ye down, Joe. Rest ye...

Today I've lost a dear friend that I never had the chance to meet.

"An' if you're in the Crown tonight
Have a drink on me
But go easy... step lightly... stay free..."

[Father Ted]

Truely a great. I saw him one time with the Pogues.

[-cman-]

Me too at the Riv' in Chicago, '92-3-ish. The closest I ever came to seeing the Clash. They did White Riot and London Calling for the encores.

[cmonaco]

I've never had news regarding a musician's death affect me the way the tragic news this morning has, but then again, I was only 2 years old when John Lennon was shot. Suddenly the entire world seems a less inspiring and vital place. I feel so unfortunate to have never seen Joe play live, yet so fortunate that his life's work has affected me and so many others in such a positive way. It was just too soon for him to go, only 50 years old.

"Cause years have passed and times have changed
and I move any way I wanna go
I'll never forget the feeling I got
when I heard that you'd got home
And I'll never forget the smile on my face
cause I knew where you would be
and if you're in the Crown tonight,
have a drink on me
But go easy...
step lightly...
stay free."