The Clash

The Clash were an English punk rock band, active from 1976 to 1986, part of the original wave of UK punk.Along with punk rock, they experimented with reggae, funk, rap, dub, rock and roll and rockabilly among other roots music.For most of their recording career, The Clash consisted of Joe Strummer (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Mick Jones (lead guitar, vocals), Paul Simonon (bass, backing vocals, occasional lead vocals) and Nicky "Topper" Headon (drums, percussion).The group disbanded in early 1986, owing to lack of creative control and the loss of Headon in 1982 and Jones in 1983 due to internal friction.
The Clash were a major success in the UK from the release of their debut album. Their third album, London Calling, released in the UK in December 1979, brought them popularity in the United States when it came out there the following year. It received wide critical acclaim; a decade later Rolling Stone magazine declared it the best album of the 1980s.

The Clash's style and rebellious attitude, along with their music, had a far-reaching influence on rock, alternative rock in particular.Their record label's A&R director dubbed them "The Only British Band That Matters," which fans picked up and transformed into "The Only Band That Matters". In January 2003 they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked The Clash #30 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.

Most of the band's founding members were already active in the London music scene at the time of The Clash's formation. John Graham Mellor had played in the pub rock act The 101'ers. He had already abandoned his original stage name, "Woody" Mellor, in favor of "Joe Strummer", a reference to his rudimentary strumming skills on the ukulele as a busker in the London Underground. Mick Jones and Paul Simonon were briefly in legendary proto-punk band London SS.
Jones, Simonon, guitarist Keith Levene and "whoever we could find really to play the drums"spent much of 1976 in rehearsals. At the behest of their manager, Bernie Rhodes,Jones, Levene and Simonon recruited the slightly older Strummer from the 101'ers.The recruitment took place in the Portobello market when Simonon and Jones bumped into Strummer and told him they didn't like the 101'ers but thought he had punk potential.As Simonon later said, "[o]nce we had Joe on board it all started to come together."

Paul Simonon came up with the band's name, The Clash, after they had considered alternatives including "The Weak Heartdrops" and "The Psychotic Negatives".Simonon explained how he came up with the name, "It really came to my head when I start reading the newspapers and a word that kept recurring was the word 'clash', so I thought 'the Clash, what about that,' to the others. And they and Bernard they went for it."After deciding on a name, the band found a stable drummer in Terry Chimes.
The Clash had their first gig on July 4, 1976, supporting the Sex Pistols at the Black Swan in Sheffield.By that autumn the band had signed a contract with CBS Records.In early September, Levene was kicked out for never showing up to practice.On September 21, 1976 the band performed at the 100 Club Punk Festival, sharing the bill with the Sex Pistols, Siouxsie and the Banshees and Subway Sect.Chimes left in late November, briefly replaced by Rob Harper for the Anarchy Tour in December 1976, but was soon drafted back to record their debut album.