HOW the HELL Is This Apocalyptic 1979 Anthem MORE Relevant TODAY than it was THEN?-Professor of Rock
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Published 2024-03-27
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#classicrock #70smusic #vinylstory #theclash
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“This is London Calling”… the identification introducing shortwave radio broadcasts transmitted by the BBC during World War 2 with post-war programming advancing well into the 80s.
When John Graham Mellor, better known as Joe Strummer, was a 14-year-old lad he spent some time in Africa, with his father, who was a British foreign service diplomat, and his mother who was a nurse. In the middle of one hot African night, young Joe was turning the dial of his father’s shortwave radio, frantically trying to find sounds of his British homeland.
When to his amazement he tuned into the staticky reception of a UK Singles Chart Countdown show. It was the first time that Joe recalled listening to a broadcast from the BBC World Service, and hearing the official identification that kicked off every BBC program… ”This is London Calling.” The ID rang resoundingly in Joe’s childhood memory, and it would prove to be a major influence in his emergence as a punk oracle, and a BBC radio personality. Before the world was introduced to the name Joe Strummer, the future icon played rhythm guitar in a pub rock act that came together in ‘74 called The 101ers.
During his 2 year stint with The 101’s, Joe went by his original stage name “Woody” Mellor. By the time The Clash was formed in 76, Joe ditched Woody in favor of his new stage moniker… Joe Strummer- which was a reference to his days of “strumming” a ukulele in the London Underground-- metro London's rapid transit system nicknamed ’The Tube.’ The Clash immersed into London’s “inner circle” of punk, along with acts like the Sex Pistols, The Damned The Jam, and 9-9-9. Strummer recalled how he & his bandmates put in endless hours of what he termed “Stalinist dedication" to become a tight-performing unit & to establish a distinct identity that would separate them from the pack.
Joe Strummer was a news junkie. He had a ravenous interest in learning about topical events in every newspaper & magazine he could find. In fact, the impetus for many of the songs Joe wrote were from news articles he had read. The most prolific example of Strummer’s obsession for current events reporting can be found in the lyrics he penned for “London Calling,” the apocalyptic anthem for the disillusioned, and the title track for The Clash’s epic 3rd studio double album.
All Comments (21)
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Poll: What is your pick for the COOLEST ALBUM COVER of the 70s?
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I remember coming home from work one day and my youngest daughter, who was a teenager in the early 2000s, told me she had borrowed my CD of London Calling and asked if it was ok if she kept it for a while. This is when most kids her age were listening to boy bands, but she went in a different direction. She went through most of my CD catalog of classic rock and punk for a couple of years. She even asked If we could go see Cheap Trick live at a nearby club! Proud Dad.
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The Clash were one of the acts that kicked off the transition of 70's to 80's music styles. Their music has aged well also. I enjoy it more and more each time I listen.
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“This is not a time to be dismayed. This is punk rock time. This is what Joe Strummer trained you for.” Henry Rollins, 2020. The world desperately needs The Clash today
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London Calling is one of those epic albums that I never think of when asked for my faves, but when I'm reminded of it, I'm like, "Oh, yeah!" Every song is fantastic.
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Punk rock taught me to think for myself. The way I think, the way I live my life - punk rock helped me discover it. The Clash were there for me!
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We need a "London Calling" in 2024. Instead all the "music" we hear is sampled and/or grating technodribble. No messages, just regurgitation. I'll get off my soapbox now.
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The river Thames ( pronounced Tems) is called Isis where it flows through the city of Oxford. But the name Thames is retained throughout the rest of it's length.
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"The only people who put iced tea in Jack Daniels bottles is THE CLASH, baby!" - David Lee Roth, 1983 ;-)
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One of my favorite rock & roll stories was one night I came home & my mom was watching some TV talk show & someone was interviewing The Clash.
I asked my mom: 'Why are you watching this?'
Never forget her answer: 'This is the first rock band I've heard interviewed that makes sense!' -
Didnt get into punk much but the clash were different. To my ear their style and sound was more clean and honed than other punk bands
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Jazz was the rock and roll of the early 20th century. When it lost mainstream appeal people kept it alive and evolving so it is still going strong. We need to do the same with this music. Kids are still rocking we just don't see them on TV. Crank it up!
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They're right, the world was and has fallen apart, we're now living in the aftermath.
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❤❤❤ loved "Rock the Casbah" and " Stay or should I go"
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Fifty year fan of radio and shortwave (before the web) to hear this angle on the classic puts a smile on my face. The world was nearly coming to an end, and we could use a pulling back once again. PEACE.
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I love it when I know exactly what song you are covering before I even click play! I turned 22 in 1979. The Clash was and still is one of my favorite bands. RIP Joe Strummer; your impact on music will stand forever!
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I remember when I first saw the London Calling album cover in a record store and I thought "Whoa! Talk about in your face!". It's now one of my all time favorites! (Album or cover? Both!)
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The “London Calling” vinyl LP was released way back when I was a Radio DJ, and it was my pleasure to play the title cut on the California FM station where I worked at the time. If you like Punk, you’ll LOVE the record. I’m proud to say I still have that original pressing of the album! And by the way, the River Thames is pronounced “tems”.
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Adam, you have improved greatly since you started. Just more streamlined. Keep documenting. I have learned so much from you. A million before summer.
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A welsh schoolmate introduced this Aussie teenage to The Clash back in 1982. And The Jam. Still bands I adore today, and so do my kids.
