THE CLASH

Mick Jones was in a soon to die band called “London S.S. that he formed in 1975 who’s members once included Nicky “Topper” Headon, Bernard Rhodes, and Paul Simonon. Mick Jones, wanting to make a new beginning on forming a new band and started teaching Paul Simonon to play guitar. Paul soon switched to bass claiming it was easier. Into this new band Paul was forming they picked up Keith Levene as guitarist and Terry Chimes as Drummer. Paul and Mick knew a man called Joe Strummer from the Band “101’ers” and admired his talent, for his band had “made it”. Jones had asked the 101’ers lead man if he’d like to begin a new band with them. On 31st May 1976 Strummer had officially joined. In 1976 after reading how the news had used the word “clash” as something meaningful, a word that always stuck out, Simonon decided that would be a good name for there new band. Levein and Chimes soon after had left the band, not into their new ideas.. They signed to CBS Records and during three weekends they recorded The Clash in London with sound engineer Mickey Foote taking on the producer's role. Chimes came back to record there first album, and that was the last of him. The S/T album reached number 12 on UK charts and was liked yet criticized universal. Jones had run into an old band member of his previous band London S.S. , Topper Headon, and asked him audition for the band. Headon had made it in and joined their tour.

Give “Em Enough Rope was the next album up. It was produced by Sandy Pearlman. People were surprised at the more calmness of this album, which resulted in people saying the Clash were “sell outs”. It reached number two in the UK, but failed in the US. “Tommy Gun” was a top 20 hit in the UK. Shortly after they released the S/T album in the US, slightly altered in songs. It sold almost well, than they released London Calling.