International Clash Day – February 5, 2025

History of International Clash Day

There was once a band called London SS that wasn’t around for long, but out of the ashes of this largely unknown band came Mick Jones, Tony James of Generation X, Paul Simonon, and many others who would go on to form popular punk-rock bands. However, Jones and Simonon would join Joe Strummer, previously the frontman of the 101’ers, to form the Clash in 1976. Strummer had earlier been inspired by the Sex Pistols to enter the punk-rock genre. Keith Levene was also a founding member before his drug habits kicked in and forced him to leave. Terry Chimes was chosen as the drummer soon after until he dumped his music career to become a chiropractor and was replaced by former jazz drummer Nick Headon. Bernard Rhodes, part of the Sex Pistols’ former management team, managed the band for most of their career. Strummer, Jones, Simonon, and Headon would go on to tour most of the world, produce five albums, and is widely regarded as the classic The Clash lineup.

In 1982, Topper Headon left the band, leading to ‘clashes’ among the remaining members and Mick Jones being forced out in 1983. Younger guitarists were taken in and a new lineup of The Clash recorded “Cut the Crap,” their last album. They went on a small-scale U.K. tour before disbanding in 1986.

International Clash Day started as an organic movement on February 7, 2013, when John Richards, radio host of Washington-based radio station KEXP, played the Clash’s songs all day. There is an extremely popular video available on the internet that describes how the movement started and rapidly became a global phenomenon. The holiday will be celebrated for the ninth consecutive year in 2021. Ever since its inception, it has been recognized through official proclamations by several cities including Vancouver, Seattle, and Austin. For 2021, KEXP’s playlist of the day will be music by or inspired by the Clash. The day’s programming will also feature in-depth conversations about the band’s influences. Radio Jockeys from Latin radio partners in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, and Mexico, will delve into the group’s ethos. As Joe Strummer, co-founder of the Clash once said, the band is “…anti-fascist, we’re anti-violence, we’re anti-racist, and we’re pro-creative. We’re against ignorance.”