A laborious consideration of the life of the Clash's late front
man.Salewicz (Reggae Explosion, 2002, etc.) covered the career of
singer-guitarist Joe Strummer for years, as a correspondent for the
New Musical Express and other U.K. periodicals. The writer grew
very close to his subject, but that intimacy does not enhance this
sprawling, messy authorized biography. Like his band, Strummer
embodied the contradictions of the late-'70s punk-rock movement:
Born John Mellor in Ankara, Turkey, to a British foreign-service
officer and educated privately, he recreated himself as a squatter
in London and got involved in the city's pub-rock and punk scenes.
The Clash became punk's poster boys; cast as righteous rockers
while signed to a major label, they were often accused, in the
words of one of the band's own songs, of "turning rebellion into
money." Strummer gets somewhat lost in the shuffle during the
book's long central section, which recounts the Clash's triumphant,
contentious history, though he does emerge as a conflicted
character capable of equal measures of love and ruthlessness. (He
expelled lead guitarist Mick Jones from his own band.) The book
stops dead during a section about the musician's lost decade after
the Clash's breakup; Strummer's film work, escalating drug and
alcohol abuse and often aimless travel are enumerated in wearying
detail. The tale comes back to life in the late chapters recalling
Strummer's musical renaissance with the Mescaleros before his death
from a heart defect in 2002. Only a true Clash devotee is likely to
make it that far. Salewicz tells his story with the vanity of a
court biographer, and he displays a confounding love for endless,
unpruned quotes and tour itineraries; some chapters bear obvious
evidence of their genesis as music-weekly pieces. He is relatively
uncritical of his buddy's frequent meanness and chronic infidelity,
and there is little insight into the sources of his long-term
depression and alcoholism.Intelligent editing, less fact-churning
and more analysis would have served this overlong tome well.
(Kirkus Reviews)
The definitive biography of Joe Strummer, released with a new
epilogue to mark the 60th anniversary of his birth. Chris Salewicz
was an intimate friend of Strummer's for over 25 years. Drawing on
more than 300 interviews with family, friends and associates, this
is a comprehensive, compelling insight into the man behind The
Clash. The Clash was the most influential band of its generation,
producing punk anthems including 'London Calling', 'White Riot' and
'Tommy Gun'. For countless fans across the world, they are the
ultimate iconic mainstays of their generation. With his talent,
extreme good looks and laid-back attitude Joe Strummer was the
driving force behind the band: he was the archetypal punk frontman.
His untimely death in December 2002 shook the world to its core.
Written with full approval and co-operation of relatives,
companions and fellow musicians, this is the ultimate account of
one of British rock & roll's most fascinating idols: his life,
his work and his immeasurable impact on the world. Redemption Song
is the best and last word on the subject.
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