The 70s, one of the most racially difficult eras for Britain. Despite the general discrimination against the black population, it was very common for the police force to behave brutally against them. The Carnival of Notting Hill which started in 1959 as a response to a series of racist attacks that took place during the 50s, became crucial for the integration of the Caribbean immigrants. The year of 1976 was very important for the racial relationships in the country. London was like a bomb ready to explode as serious attacks occurred. In the summer, during the Notting Hill Carnival in the fear of a possible upcoming riot more than 3.000 police officers where gathered in the festival area.
Witnesses say, everything started after an attempt of an officer to arrest a pickpocket. The reaction from the public was massive and soon it exploded into a violent riot. Shops shattered, bricks and bottles were thrown against the police and thousands of people were injured.
Before the 1976 events, the Clash was a very small band, completely unknown outside of London. Neither punk music was very famous. Their manager suggested them to write songs about what was happening in the society and then Joe Strummer wrote the first Clash single «White Riot» which was released at 1977 and one month later their first album “The Clash” received very positive reviews.
The Sex Pistols is undoubtedly the most famous British punk band but the uniqueness of the Clash is unbeatable. I would easily consider them the most important punk band ever. First of all, their strong radical left-wing ideology is present in most of their songs. According to Wikipedia “Joe Strummer was a committed leftist”. They have also declare their participation in the 1976 rebellion as they were angry with the police oppression and racism. Therefore we don’t have to do with a band that became successful because they simply took advantage of a social event, but they perfectly mirrored themselves through their music. No other band gave so much support to the “revolution” and the working class people, perhaps this is the reason they got so many dedicated fans in both in Europe and the other side of the Atlantic. Even the name of the group is connected with the general political climate of the time. A few years later, Paul Simon has stated that while he was reading the “Evening Standard” newspaper the word “clash” was everywhere present as strikes and riots used to happen very often.
In 1978, a few months after their second album “Give ‘em enough more” the band appeared in front of 80.000 people in a concert against racism in Victoria Park of East London. However their most crucial moment was in 1979. After their successful American tour “Perl Harbor 79″ they released a double LP “London Calling”, perhaps one of the most powerful albums in the history of rock, an album that climbed in the top 8 of the UK charts. The album was indeed one big step forward. The reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap and rockabilly elements are visible and together with some experimental passages give a unique character to their music. The anti-authoritarian – rebel spirit is stronger than ever before. Of course “London Calling” is nothing more but a punch to the British conservative establishment “London calling to the faraway towns, now war is declared – and battle come down” (London Calling 1979), “When they kick out your front door, how you gonna come? With your hands on your head or on the trigger of your gun”? (Guns of Brixton, 1979). There are also references to the Spanish Civil War (“Spanish Bombs”), the Nazi crimes and admiration for George Orwell. Even the artwork which is a photo of an American live tour and shows Paul Simon destroying a bass guitar has been considered as one of the best artworks in the rock history. “London Calling” is nothing more but an absolute masterpiece.
Their following three albums Sandinista! (1980), Combat Rock (1982) and Cut the Crap (1985) should be taken seriously as well. Sandinista is perhaps the most explicitly left-wing release they ever did as the name refers to the famous left wing Sandinista de Liberacionn Nacional. Songs like “Washington Bullets“, “Police on My Back”, “Somebody Got Murdered” are maybe the most famous. More successful became “Combat Rock” as it reached number 2 in the UK charts. “Cut the Crap” with the famous “This is England” and “Should I stay or should I go” is slightly different, ideologically is more focused on the high crime rates and violence in some of the English cities, “Straight to hell” and of course the high unemployment.
“The Clash” should definitely be considered as the “Kings” of punk. I would strongly recommend the band to everyone who is looking for a political context in music. The way they express things, their provocation and sarcasm together with their vibrant performance and the raspy voice of Joe Strummer make the band one of the most important moments of the modern political, popular music.
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