Remembering Joe Strummer On His 7th Death Anniversary

On the occasion of the seventh death anniversary of John Graham Mellor, better known to the world as Joe Strummer, Don Letts hosted a tribute over at the BBC 6 Music Radio Last Sunday, December 20. It featured, aside from tunes from Strummer and The Clash, a dub version of London Calling which is part of the called Shatter The Hotel: A Dub Inspired Tribute To Joe Strummer. (You can check out the article and the sound clip here.) Don Letts, as you know by know, is the man who is arguably responsible for the marriage of punk and dub in the London scene.


All over the world, Strummer tributes were being staged, such as in Bologna, Italy last December 12, in Phoenix, Arizona last December 19, and of course over at London, England. It would be virtually futile to enumerate all tribute gigs here.

It seems the world has not yet completely gotten over the fact that Strummer, musical visionary and mover who virtually broke the walls that contained punk music, is gone. Understandably so.

Trash Radio Manila will never cease to put out blog posts about Strummer, which is an unabashed personal favorite. For this year, I have collected some songs both from his works with The Clash and later on with The Mescaleros, highlighting the breadth of Joe's vision and passion.

The tracklist:

1. Armagideon Time (The Clash)
2. Joe Strummer on the political nature of The Clash as lifted from Rockers Galore album
3. London's Burning (The Clash)
4. Safe European Home (The Clash)
5. Police On My Back (The Clash)
6. Capitol Radio Two (The Clash)
7. Bhindi Bhagee (Joe Strummer and The Mescaleros)
8. Joe Strummer ("Without people, we're nothing), lifted from The Future Is Unwritten
9. The Sound Of The Sinners (The Clash)
10. Train In Vain (The Clash)
11. The Road To Rock 'n' Roll (Joe Strummer and The Mescaleros)
12. Redemption Song (Joe Strummer and The Mescaleros)

I will probably put up one more post that will feature new All-Pinoy stuff next week, the last for this tumultuous year. Did you guys find time to go to the gigs this weekend? A late addition to the gig round-up was the farewell tribute gig to Juandokito, horn sessionist for Pinkcow. Christmas is coming in three days ... does it feel like it for you? Be safe everyone, and remember the true reason for this season. Merry Christmas!

[A related post also appears at The Last Song Syndrome.]