Founding member, lead singer and key lyricist for seminal political punk rock group The Clash. A gifted songwriter (particularly in tandem with The Clash's Mick Jones), Strummer moved from subway busker to pub-rocker (e.g. his first group The 101'ers), and like so many others of his generation, discovered punk rock after seeing The Sex Pistols. He immediately formed The Clash, and within a year the group had carved out its place as "the only been that matters," a quote referring to their seemingly concrete political commitment.After a couple of critically lauded albums (especially 1979's "London Calling"), the group hit financial paydirt and, in the process of "selling out," broke up by 1983. Following the group's disbandment, Strummer turned to film in the late 80s, providing scores for a couple of Alex Cox films, as well as acting. Although he had earlier appeared in a quasi-documentary on The Clash ("Rude Boy" 1980), and took a lead role in Cox's very unserious romp "Straight to Hell" (1987), it was his stilted, though not entirely off the mark performance in Jim Jarmusch's "Mystery Train" (1989) which marked his dramatic acting debut.
Profession(s):
musician, songwriter, Actor, composer
Sometimes Credited As:
John Mellor
1989 First original film scoring (instrumental) for "Walker"
1987 First original film scoring (songs) for "Sid and Nancy"
1987 First lead acting role in "Straight to Hell"
1980 Strummer and The Clash featured in quasi-documentary feature, "Rude Boy"
1977 (February) Clash signed to five-album deal with CBS records; (March) debut self-titled album released (this album sold over 100,000 import copies in US, making it the then biggest selling import of al
1977 First headlining UK tour, "The 'White Riot' tour" (after current hit single)
1976 Co-founded punk rock band The Clash with Keith Levene, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon and Tory Crimes (Terry Chimes), all inspired after experiencing seminal punk band The Sex Pistols
1976 (Summer) first Clash shows as opening act for Sex Pistols; after Levene left, group opened for Pistols's "Anarchy in the UK" tour as a quartet
1974 Formed rock band, The 101'ers (which included Keith Levene); single "Keys to Your Heart" eventually recorded and released
