Joe Strummer

Background

Joe Strummer, born John Graham Mellor, was a British musician who served as the co-founder, co-lead vocalist, rhythmic guitarist, and lyricist of a punk rock band called “The Clash.” He was born on August 21, 1952, in Ankara, Turkey. Strummer’s father was Ronald Ralph Mellor and he was the son of a clerical officer. His mother was Anna Mackenzie, the daughter of a crofter in Bonar Bridge. When Strummer was nine, he and his brother enrolled in the City of London Freemen’s School. They were boarders at the school and rarely saw their parents for the next seven years.

Strummer developed an interest in rock music during this time and he would listen to records by ‘Little Richard,’ ‘The Beach Boys,’ and ‘Woody Guthrie.’ In 1970, Strummer’s brother committed suicide, an event that scarred Strummer for life. That same year, Strummer finished his time at the City of London Freemen’s School and enrolled at the Central School of Art and Design in London, where he completed a one-year foundation course as a cartoonist. In 1973, Strummer moved to Newport, South Wales where he met college musicians and started a band called “Flaming Youth.” During this time, he wrote and recorded “Crumby Bum Blues” on an old reel-to-reel tape recorder.

In 1974, the band fell apart and Strummer moved back to London. He met Dogg and formed a new band called “The 101ers.” One year later, he adopted the name “Joe Strummer” and went ahead to build a huge name for himself. His career lasted more than two decades until his death on December 22, 2002.