The iconic musician and co-founder of the Clash was only 50. He died from a heart attack caused by an undiagnosed congenital heart defect.
On this occasion, local singer-songwriter and bar owner Jesse Malin is hosting a free busking show outside the Strummer mural at Niagara on the SE corner of Seventh Street and Avenue A. Starting at 6 p.m., up to 20 acts are expected to perform an acoustic cover or two. There's an after-party at 9 p.m. at 96 Tears next door to Niagara. (Malin is an owner of both venues.)
Dr. Revolt and Zephyr created the first iteration of the Strummer mural here in 2003.
And in case you've never seen this... here's the video of "Redemption Song" by Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros that shows the mural's creation ... and a bonus clip below that...
I think this is fantastic and wish I was not gentrified out of the neighborhood and could be there. I believe that if Joe was still alive he would be concerned about the plight of refugees in NY now and would be using his talent to help them. How about taking up donations and also donating a portion of the profit from the drinks that will be sold at 96 Tears afterparty ? Invite Mayor Adams to accept the donations and attend , if he can , since he is dealing with helping busloads of immigrants as a good human being like Joe Strummer was and I hear the Mayor loves a good party.
ReplyDeleteJoe was a bandwagon punk (Father was upper class diplomat) who cashed in on a current trend in '77 and whose political views had about as much depth as a slogan on a bumpersticker. But damn, he wrote some excellent songs. By far his best shit were nonpolitical songs like Ramshackle Day Parade and Long Shadow (Johnny Cash tribute) and his hybrid fusion of World Music and Rock. Love Joe and his music but he has about as much street credit as Taylor Swift. But "Go easy/ Step lightly/ Stay Free/ and if you're in the Crown tonight/Have a drink on me......."
ReplyDeleteYou’re misinformed!! And the song your quoting was written by Mick Jone. https://slate.com/culture/2005/02/the-clash-less-punk-than-you-think.html
DeleteBandwagon punk... ridiculous notion. And street credit? What are you referring to even?
DeleteI lived in London thru punk's (and yes, it's punk, not punk rock) rise, and if I'll have the time, I'll challenge all of those revisionist ideas.
Why are you defaming a great band like XTC with your handle? Talk about a wannabe. I spent a few weeks with Joe in the 80's. Did you? No, because you weren't born and the best part of you ran down the crack of your mama's ass and ended up as a brown stain on the mattress. STFU. Detroit is talking.
DeleteWhy have they changed the name of the bar attached to Niagara 100 times? I don't get it.
ReplyDelete@10:57- NY Dolls----Malclom McClaren----Ramones-----Sex Pistols. While Strummer was impressed with the Pistols the idea to form the Clash was that of Mick Jones and Keith Levene (I assume you know who that is). Joe was into Woody Guthrie and The Beach Boys! "the reason he played music" (his words). So. it's pretty clear his early influences were American Pop/ Rock. Which is great but has very little to do with Punk,
ReplyDeleteor whatever anybody wants to label it. Joe was a brilliant musician and humanist but his roots were most certainly not in bands like The Stooges, MC5, Velvet Underground, Lou Reed, Roxy Music or David Bowie which were the mainstays of London's Bromley contingent at that time circa 76/77. You can reference John Lydon's take on this in No Irish/ No Backs/No Dogs, his memoir of that period. Meant to use the term "street cred." (it was auto corrected)
@9pm- Stay Free is written by Jones/ Strummer, sung by Jones. I used the lyrics as a fitting tribute to Joe. "have a drink in the Crown etc."
"The Right Profile" is my fave Strummer jam. He was a cool dude.
ReplyDeleteWoody Guthrie is arguably punk, XTC
ReplyDeleteSon of an upper class diplomat? lolol
ReplyDeleteClassic 'rebel'. Read Dave McGowan's book on rockers in the 60's Laurel Canyon scene.
A unique, pioneering work on the culture creators you've never heard before. Upset alot of govt types. He was murdered for it w/ a fast acting cancer.
@12:27- Defaming a great band?(XTC) Detroit is talking? STFU?..........Lol........So you know when I was born by reading a comment on the internet??......You're psychic right?......So funny, yet so stupid.
ReplyDeleteThat Dave McGown was a trip, and his book on the moon landings raised many questions, and some say his review of the Boston Marathon bombings is what caused him to be done in, but his look at laurel Canyon, and rock's relationship with the Military Industrial Society through the children of defense workers (which so many rock stars and media people are) seemed to me more to conclude that these kids had more access to opportunity and equipment due to their privileged backgrounds, rather than to be raised to continue the work of their parents and the government.
ReplyDeleteMore nepotism than nefariousness.
XTC yes the Ramones had no influences of American pop/rock. That is why they covered "California Sun", "Come on Let's Go", "Time has Come Today", "Needles and Pins" . It goes on and on they are practically a jukebox of American Pop/Rock. Leave your Punk theories at home
ReplyDelete@blank- Hilly Krystal had one rule when he opened CBGBs in 1973: NO COVERS. The Ramones INVENTED the genre of music, Punk Rock, that Strummer would later pick up on. See the difference?
ReplyDeleteI agree that Ramones are "practically a jukebox of American music." But that came later as they definitely did not play many covers in their early years. Their first album sounded like nothing, absolutely nothing, that came before. Strummer did not set out to be a punk. That is not theory, fact.
XTC you conveniently missed my point. The Sex Pistols covered Johnny B Goode, Substitute, Rock around the Clock, the list goes on and on. The point is punk is influenced by Pop/Rock. The best original Pistols material was written or co-written by Matlock. Who God forbid liked the Beatles. Try to be less doctrinaire. By the Malcom McLaren was a poser. Merry Christmas.
ReplyDelete