Tuesday, August 21, 2012

[Updated] Joe Strummer would have been 60 today


John Graham Mellor, better known by his stage name Joe Strummer, was born on this date in 1952.


Updated: Today at 4, East Village Radio has a special Strummer birthday tribute, hosted by Jesse Malin. Details here.

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And now... an EVG repost from Dec. 22, 2011...

Joe Strummer died on this date in 2002. He reportedly had an undiagnosed congenital heart defect. He was 50.

In November 2003, REVOLT painted a mural in honor of the former Clash frontman on the side of Niagara on Seventh Street at Avenue A ... seen here in this video featuring Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros singing "Redemption Song."




Since then, I've taken far too many photos of the mural, which REVOLT updated in February 2009...


Look, Smokin' Joe! (Eh, sorry...)



There's always something comforting about seeing the mural there... looking rather calm about anything going on around it...




Let's end this with a Strummer solo number from Aki Kaurismäki's "I Hired a Contract Killer" from 1990...



Previously on EV Grieve:
Joe Strummer gets a splash of Niagara

Joe Strummer gets a new look, skyline
at

10 comments:

  1. AnonymousAugust 21, 2012 at 6:53 AM

    Cool post Grieve. Trying to share but the share thing isn't working.
    Melanie

    ReplyDelete
  2. EV GrieveAugust 21, 2012 at 7:42 AM

    Thanks, Melanie.

    Not sure what's going on with the Share function.

    It actually works after you click on the headline....and share it as a separate post (sorry, not awake yet, and not explaining this too clearly...)

    ReplyDelete
  3. esquared™August 21, 2012 at 10:25 AM

    Joe Strummer was Lost in a Supermarket, now I am lost in the East Village -- I came in here for that special offer, guaranteed personality. Now it's not here, it disappear ...

    ReplyDelete
  4. ScoobyAugust 21, 2012 at 10:37 AM

    Rest In Peace, Brother Joe... My deepest thanks for what you gave the world, my fellow Leo. Wish you were here

    ReplyDelete
  5. glammaAugust 21, 2012 at 10:41 AM

    Jesse Malin doing a very cool EVR special Joe Strummer program today with some great guests

    ReplyDelete
  6. Marty WombacherAugust 21, 2012 at 10:56 AM

    Great post, happy birthday, Joe.

    ReplyDelete
  7. WilfridAugust 21, 2012 at 11:05 AM

    I like the mural fine, but as far as I know, Strummer had no connection with the East Village whatsoever. Curious to see him gathered to the communal bosom as if he did.

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousAugust 21, 2012 at 1:33 PM

    And a shout out for Joe's great turn as "Johnny" in "Mystery Train". My absolute favorite Jarmusch film.

    ReplyDelete
  9. AnonymousAugust 22, 2012 at 2:47 AM

    Hung out with him one night and drank together. Great man.

    ReplyDelete
  10. AnonymousAugust 25, 2012 at 9:08 PM

    Just watched the The Future is Unwritten- recommend it to all-
    Happy Birthday Joe- we could all use some of your wisdom right about now.

    ReplyDelete

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