Joe Strummer was one of the twentieth century’s iconic rock’n’roll rebels. As frontperson, spokesperson and chief lyricist for The Clash, he played a major role in politicising a generation through some of the most powerful protest songs of the era, songs like ‘White Riot’, ‘English Civil War’ and ‘London Calling’. At the heart of this protest was the struggle for social justice and equality.
The punk rock politics of Joe Strummer examines Strummer’s beliefs on a range of issues – including socialism, alienation, exploitation, multiculturalism and humanism – analysing their credibility, influence and impact, and asking where they came from and how they developed over time. Drawing on Strummer’s lyrics, various interviews and bootleg recordings, as well as interviews with those he inspired, The punk rock politics of Joe Strummer takes the reader on a journey through the political influences and motivations that defined one of the UK’s greatest punk icons.
Table of Content
Introduction
1 Studying Strummer: issues and approach
2 Perceptions of Strummer’s politics
3 Strummer’s politics and philosophical perspectives
4 Rebel rock and its ramifications
5 Rocking against the rich
6 Advocate not activist
7 Straying from socialism
8 Strummer’s influence: secondary sources
9 Follower testimony
Conclusion
Index
About the author
Gregor Gall is a Visiting Professor of Industrial Relations at the University of Glasgow. He is editor of the
Scottish Left Review magazine, director of the Jimmy Reid Foundation and a regular contributor to various newspapers and magazines.
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