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The Clash in 1983

So I checked out the new documentary Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten.

Let’s leave the music aside for a moment and just say it’s a given that musically The Clash are easily one of the most important bands in the history of rock…cool?

THAT being said…

I have so much respect for The Clash and Strummer (outside of the music) because of what they stood for and the righteousness that Strummer carried throughout the rest of his life. He was the type of high profile artist who we forget can actually exist alongside gold records or a sold out tour as we are consumed today with manufactured rock stars and celebrity gossip…MY GOD, THE GOSSIP.

Joe Strummer brought songs about racism, police brutality and unemployment to the masses, in turn actually becoming a way for kids to learn about important issues and always fought to maintain low concert ticket prices and reasonably priced merchandise even at the height of his success. He was always known as amazingly dedicated to his fans, never forgetting how important they were to his success.

It’s also a little known fact that long before musicians jumped on the global warming bandwagon, Joe Strummer was the first artist to make the recording, pressing and distribution of his records carbon neutral through the planting of trees.

I can speak about him in the same breath as people like Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Bob Marley or Woody Guthrie as a musician who will always be remembered not just for the music he made, but for the difference he made.

Go see this movie and listen to The Clash. [Editor's Note: If you live in Toronto you can catch Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten at The Royal this week at 7 or 9:30pm!]

=mw

Photograph Courtesy Getty Images

Posted on Wednesday, February 6th, 2008 at 2:07 pm by Kate M. and is filed under Concerts & Events.

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