The Clash
When the punk movement took place in the late 1970s, England went from jolly and merry to being the epicenter of an attitude that changed the music industry forever. As punk grew, one band emerged to help define a generation who were sick of politics and disco. No, we're not talking about the Sex Pistols, but The Clash. Formed in 1976, The Clash combined ska, rock, reggae, and funk to create a sound that was unlike any music that pre-dated the group.
Band Riot
With the charismatic Joe Strummer on lead vocals and guitar, The Clash solidified their place in both the punk world and the music industry with the release of their self-titled album in 1977. Although it was tremendously popular in the UK, the band had yet to make an impact in the US; however, it wasn't until ''London Calling'', their third album, did the band gain a following across the pond. But even with all of their worldwide success, drummers were constantly replaced. In 1986, The Clash decided end things after ''Cut the Crap'' was released. While members went on to collaborate on projects, rumors of a reunion hung in the air for years. Sadly, Joe Strummer passed away in 2002, which ended any hope of The Clash getting back together.
Ten Years of Punk
* '''''The Clash''''': This is the band's first fullrecorded version of "White Riot."
* '''''Give'Em Enough Rope''''': For UK fans, this was The Clash's second album. For their US audience, it was their big debut. ''Give'Em Enough Rope'' only peaked at #126 on the US chart, but fans and critics praised the album. The band stayed true to their social and political commentary with "Tommy Gun," a song about terrorism in the Middle East while "Julie's Been Working For The Drug Squad" stems from "Operation Julie," a drug bust of the largest LSD production ring.
* '''''London Calling''''': Although ''London Calling'' featured more danceable tunes, The Clash took on a new set of social problems that include race, drug use, unemployment, and adulthood. It was also a double album that cost the price of a single record. ''London Calling'' produced three singles: "Clampdown," "Train in Vain," and the self-titled track which became one of the group's most popular songs.
* '''''Sandinista!''''': The Clash combined a wide variety of musical genres such as rockabilly, dub, calypso, and jazz to create one of the most acclaimed albums. ''Sandinista!'' was released as a triple album in an effort to compete with Bruce Springsteen and featured "Hitsville UK", "The Magnificent Seven", and "The Call Up."
* '''''Combat Rock''''': Two of The Clash's biggest hits, "Rock the Casbah" and "Should I Stay or Should I Go" are found on ''Combat Rock''. Much like the band's previous albums, the record received rave reviews, but this time it acted as a popularity indicator. For the first time, a Clash album broke into the top 10 on the US chart and was certified platinum.
* '''''Cut the Crap''''': The final album turned out to be a commercial and critical nightmare despite the well received and only released single "This is England." ''Cut the Crap'' magnified the group's inner turmoil and is said to have been disowned by Joe Strummer.
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