It could have all been so different if they had stuck with the name The Heartdrops. Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Terry Chimes, Paul Simenon and Keith Levine became The Clash in late 1976. Inspired by seeing The Sex Pistols and the music they were making, the boys quickly evolved a stance and image that endeared them to the punk masses. Their first outing was a gig at their rehearsal studios in Camden for journalists and friends which caused Giovanni Dadomo a reviewer for Sounds to opine "I think they're the first band to come along who'll really frighten the Sex Pistols shitless." Indeed their first public gig was supporting The Sex Pistols at The Screen On The Green Islington London. Charles Shaar Murray, in a famous quote he wishes he'd never made, said in the NME they "..are the kind of garage band who should speedily be returned to their garage, preferably with the motor running." This was too much for Levine who left leaving the boys as a four piece.By Spring 1977 the boys had completed the Sex Pistols Anarchy tour, signed to CBS and delivered their first album, The Clash, to critical acclaim. They had drafted in Topper Headon on drums, had a stable line up and were going from strength to strength. One shouldn't forget Bernie Rhodes role as manager. Friend and initial partner with McClaren they had a similar modus operandi of running bands. For Bernie a strong visual and musical identity was foremost and the clash certainly developed these. The highpoint of this was their stunning Rainbow gig. A highly charged atmosphere of guitars on stun, energy, visuals against a backdrop of stark lighting and the riots at Notting Hill Carnival saw The Clash as an unbeatable proposition. The crowd rioted.
If 78 saw them release the uninspiring Give 'em Enough Rope then '77/'78 & '79 saw them release a stream of classic punk singles. Why were The Clash so popular? Every gig was a torrent of pure energy. Unlike so many other bands who denied they were punk The Clash embraced it and sang about it. Both White Man In Hammersmith Palais & Complete Control name checks' punk' while All The Young Punks is self explanatory. They even named a song Clash Ciy Rockers after their fans! For that we loved them. Always more urban and direct than other punk bands, you felt that with the Clash anything was possible and with the arrival of the album London Calling you knew it was and that music had a future. The Clash were always a force to be reckoned with and produced the goods all through their career. From singing Career Opportunities in Camden 1976 to singing it in the Shea Stadium USA 83 the Clash became, after the Pistols split, the greatest punk band ever mixing rockabilly, ska, reggae and punk for our enjoyment before internal dissension and drugs split the band. To their credit they never reformed and left a body of songs that will always stand up to repeated listening.
"None of us is going to change anything. Everyone goes "Punk! Hurrah!" But in three years time what do you think I'm going to be doing? What do you think the guys who buy our singles are going to be doing?? I'll still be walking around muttering to myself. They are still going to be shovelling shit down some old chute and maybe with their wages they'll buy The Clash's fourth album. Rock doesn't change anything." Joe Strummer to Caroline Coon - 1988 Punk Explosion.
