The Clash's Breakup & The Story of Cut The Crap
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- Опубліковано 5 бер 2024
- The breakup of the Clash & the making of Cut the Crap
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#theclash #cutthecrap #mickjones #joestrummer
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The Clash emerged in 1976 amidst the British punk rock scene, distinguishing themselves with a socially conscious approach to their music. Comprising Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, Keith Levene, and Terry Chimes, the band quickly gained prominence with their politically charged lyrics and energetic performances. Despite internal conflicts and lineup changes, The Clash achieved commercial success in the United States, particularly with their albums "London Calling" and "Combat Rock," the latter being their best-selling release.
However, internal tensions within the band began to escalate. Drummer Terry Chimes departed due to personal reasons, and his replacement, Topper Headon, struggled with heroin addiction and was eventually fired. This instability, coupled with disagreements over musical direction and management issues, led to a division within the band.
By the early 1980s, the Clash had split into two factions: Mick Jones on one side and Joe Strummer, Paul Simonon, and manager Bernie Rhodes on the other. Rhodes, a controversial figure known for his authoritarian approach, was rehired by Strummer to manage the band's finances, despite previous conflicts. However, Rhodes' control over the band's creative direction further strained relationships within the group.
The tensions came to a head with the release of their final album, "Cut the Crap," in 1985. Strummer aimed for the album to be a departure from mainstream pop and glam metal, but Rhodes exerted significant influence over its production. The resulting album received harsh criticism for its synthetic sound and inconsistent quality, leading to poor sales and further alienating fans and critics.
Following the album's release, the Clash attempted to organize a tour, but Strummer's relocation to Spain and legal threats, along with resistance from band members over Rhodes' heavy-handed management, thwarted these plans. Eventually, in October 1985, Strummer disbanded the Clash.
Despite their legacy as one of punk rock's seminal bands, "Cut the Crap" remains a stain on the Clash's discography, often omitted from discussions of their career. Strummer himself expressed regret over the album's failure and the band's dissolution, acknowledging that the chemistry between the original members was irreplaceable.
In later years, attempts to revisit "Cut the Crap" included a 2005 re-release and a 2021 remix by German musician Gerald Manns, which received mixed reactions from fans and band members. Nonetheless, the album's reception and the circumstances surrounding its creation serve as a cautionary tale of the dangers of internal discord and artistic compromise within a band. Despite their turbulent end, the Clash's impact on music and culture endures, leaving behind a complex and storied legacy.
If you guys like The Clash, I had done another video on them previously about the time Joe Strummer "Disappeared" for a few weeks. Here it is. ua-cam.com/video/0C3rEG3XzB4/v-deo.html
Another MTV contest video coming Friday! Who loves heavy metal and motorcycles?
Mötlëy Crüe used to. Now they like John 5, backing tracks, & donuts. 🍩
Great job on the clash. Just wanna to know if you were able to do a quick bio on a Canadian band late 80’s and early 90’s called Frozen Ghost? Keep up the good work 🤘
Good video. What’s your favorite album by The Clash?
I stand by Sandinista being great.
I was just comparing the vibe of This Is England to Ramshackle Day Parade the other day and posted it here. Anyone else get that feeling?
Me
@@ministerofdarkness Most times I have no clue what Vince is saying. Glad that Mick Mars got out
I met them when they were recording Combat Rock on 8th street in NYC. It was in the newspaper that they would be there ! I hang out in front of the studio until they arrived at 8 PM. They each signed for me and I shook their hands . The first one to arrive was Topper - and he was like "The other guys will be here soon" and the way he said that was like "I know I'm the LEAST important member of this band". Cold rainy fall night that I will never forget.
thank you for the story I enjoyed reading it
Just to clarify Topper Headon was The Clash’s drummer from 1977 until he was fired. I know you didn’t really say anything contrary to that but Terry Chimes is pretty much a footnote in the band’s history. Sorry I know this comment probably seems a bit pedantic of me it’s just from listening to the video you would think Chimes played a bigger and longer role than he did.... I actually feel a bit of a dick even writing this but just thought I’d point it out. (Headon was also responsible for the piano in Rock the Casbah)
I appreciate the clarification, thank you
Terry Chimes went on to play drums for Hanoi Rocks, I believe. It was after their own drummer was killed in a DUI car crash with Vince Neil of Motley Crue.
The pedantic approach is nothing short of demonstration of respect to the historymakers like the Clash..😜🧐
This guy is really confusing, he starts telling a story, then seems to end it with a completely different story. And he opened up saying there was the Sex Pistols, Clash and The Jam. The Jam became popular much later, I think he must have meant The Damned. Those were the 3 original English Punk bands, and the Buzzcocks were a close fourth.
@@johnnyslc the Jam didn’t really achieve the success.the clash did in America
Big Audio Dynamite
That was an awesome couple of albums
Great band. Loved Don Lett's samples on the first two albums for additional atmosphere.
The band The Clash could have been
One of my favourite 80s groups. Megatop phoenix one of my favourite albums of all time
They had a shit break up as well.
Took a bus with my buddies to see The Clash in the summer of 1982. A couple of weeks before the start of my senior year of high school. Ahh the memories…
Mick Jones must be one the most versatile guitarists there has been, pretty under rated on that regard.
Oh yeah, guitar fans are really quiet about the players they think are great, they keep it all to themselves, and don't publish magazines full of lists of best guitarists, and analyze playing styles... They just haven't notice this guy who's been around for decades, but once they do, he's gonna be up there with all the greats!
Mick Jones was a great crafter of rock n' roll songs and knew how to use guitar arrangements in a very creative way. I don't know if that makes him a "great guitarist." There are things that Clapton and Hendrix could do with 6 strings that I'd say were completely beyond Mick Jones's capabilities. I don't mean to diminish Mick, but I'd be hesitant to call him a great guitarist. For The Clash and their sound, he was probably the best guitarist in the world for that style, just as Billy Zoom was for X. But I consider that too limited for "greatness."
Thank you for this one. I have been waiting for this story for awhile. The chemistry between Jones and Strummer just could not be duplicated. Topper Headon was probably literally the best drummer in the rock music business. Jones was also an overlooked talented producer in the band but no one really talks about his contributions regarding that.
Simple fact that The Clash without Mick Jones is just not The Clash.
Agreed 100%...and then Mick showed his true talent with the 1st B.A.D. album, which I always felt was as good as anything he did with The Clash.
I was never a huge fan of The Clash but absolutely love Joe Strummer as an actor in Jim Jarmusch's Mystery Train. If you're a fan of Joe and haven't seen the film, check it out. It's a love letter to music in general and also features Screamin' Jay Hawkins in a hilarious role.
You're mixed up 😂
Holy shit...a cable channel forced me to watch that movie several times and I never knew that.
I was fortunate enough to see Joe Strummer at The Hootenanny in Irvine shortly before his passing.
I saw the Cut the Crap version of the band in Long Beach in 1984. I made up for it by seeing B.A.D. in San Francisco in 1987.
My aunt Sarah introduced me to The Clash when I was about 9 years old (circa 1985). I was instantly hooked and they've been a favorite ever since
All can I say is, thanks Joe Strummer!!!! Joe says a truth every day with Clash songs......
Cheers from Argentina.
So strange......worked w/ Mick and Big Audio Dynamite as a college concert club kid running security for their show. I found Mick to be exactly opposite of a diva rock star. He couldn't have been more humble and cool to everyone.
He even sent someone to buy me an expensive bottle of Cognac as a gift and wouldn't even let me open it to share......he said it was for me to take home.
He was playing in our college gym.................. didn't act 1 bit too important.
I wonder if the rest of the band equally caused the problems......... interesting
From what I understand it was more to do with Mick Jones' desire to explore different kinds of sounds that the rest of the group wasn't really on board for & that Strummer was increasingly exerting control over the group, even though it was arguably Jones' band to start with.
Drug addiction.
I get the feeling that they were all kind of growing resentful of each other. Bernie Rhodes encouraging them to not contact family or bring girlfriends on tour would only build tension in the band. The apparent attitudes and behavior that they fired Mick over sound more like a passive aggressive response to something than an indication of his personality. I think they all just needed an extended break from each other.
RIP joe
I was a punk in the 70's and saw The Clash in 78 and 79. They were a brilliant and that put me on the road of being a life long fan. I still have all their vinyl records. In 1984 I travelled from Middlesbrough to London by coach to see them play at Brixton Academy on the Mohawk Revenge tour, what a disappointment, but I still have fond memories of those days.
Strummer & the Mescaleros were BADASS!
It was sad because his music was really clicking before he passed away.
I loved Havana 3AM...
I used to wear out my Walkman batteries listening to This Is England over and over again when I was a kid. Great track.
Cheers! Totally the same here!😜💯
Awful record, I bought it when it was released. It was all over the Clash and Joe Strummer when that was released. Showed just how out of touch and stilted Strummer had become.
Mick Jones fared a little longer with BAD
@@jazztheglass6139 I suspect you hated Sandinista?
Todd in the Shadow's video on this album is fantastic
Yes!!! Love that guy, but that episode was really really good
You need to do a video on the 10 year hiatus of Hank Williams III
I was at the US Festival in 1983 and watched their last show. I loved/love their music, but they really pissed off a lot of fans that night by coming on late and having a bad attitude. Still a great show though!
0:07 "unlike their British counterpart..."
Uh, The Clash were British.
The narrative knows this
@@jamesdonoghue7967 Maybe he just doesn't know what the word "counterpart" means. In the same way that you seem to struggle with the words Narrative and Narrator. 😆
@@David-mg1yj I was using the audio feature and didn't double check the written words. Thank God you were there to correct it......dooossshhh
They broke up because they clashed.
The Clash were so effin' serious about every little thing that it simply did them in.
That's what I remember.
There's that, but I think the loss of Mick Jones really hurt them the most.
Seems like that was due to Strummer, mostly, but I don't know. But I do know that Jones was the most unique talent. Without Jones, it shouldn't be a surprise that the last album sucked.
The only band that matters…
I was in the audience for Mick Jones' last appearance with the band at the '83 US Festival. One could clearly see them in the middle of a break up, climaxing with Jones telling Strummer to 'Shut up and play' before they roared into a great version of 'Clampdown.' I also saw the post-Jones version of the Clash at Long Beach Arena, and they were mediocre at best.
I've seen videos of that show, it's awesome you were actually there. Joe seemed a bit out of sorts and excessively ranting at the audience...I can't blame Mick for saying that.
Spanish Bombs is what turned me to these guys.
The Clash ruled. you already know Rancid was listening to that shit 😎
"I'll keep listening to the great joe strummer because through music we can live forever"
Green Day parlayed the great Clash sound into a lucrative career of infantile teenage boy anthems. I thought Rancid was much better, even if completely derivative.
Terry Chimes, nowadays, makes a living as a practicing chiropractor
Terry seems like an interesting guy. I think he was just too "down to earth" to deal with the chaos of the band, either in the early days or the later ones when he came back.
The only song that I remember from the "Cut The Crap" album is,"WE ARE THE CLASH!" since it sounds like a theme song of a cancelled Clash sitcom. 😅
The band Sparks covered it not too long ago. The video is on UA-cam.
Somehow that line has stuck with me too; it comes to me in a multitude of situations, like I'll be at a zoo and just naturally start thinking, "WE. ARE. THE. PENGUINS."
Hilarious description! I think that song was mostly a response to Mick saying that he and Topper were going to play together as "The Real Clash". I can't think of that without laughing because I think he was mostly doing that to mess with them (Bernie primarily) but he was also making a good point.
@@maddie8415 I heard Bernie was the Teddy Riley of Punk, meaning Bernie is part of the group, except Teddy is arguably likeable and Bernie is not.
I met Joe on South Street Philadelphia the year before he passed away. Two fine Asian individuals allowed me to borrow their Sharpie so Joe could sign my ticket in the alley. He said where ya from. Said Syracuse. He said that's a long drive. Said bus. He said Im playing Atlantic City tomorrow, hope anybody will show up. I said, "back in the day , even circles were squares. And radio waves moved like pollen through the air" he said yeah
My life came true
I remember seeing the US Festival performance when I was a kid, turning me onto The Clash, and seeing the tension between the band there between songs. It almost felt like they were just going to quit then and there.
The only band…..that puts iced tea in a Jack Daniel’s bottle……is The Clash baby!
Hitsville UK is such an underrated masterpiece of a song.
Joe Strummer was an awesome guy, he was so cool with his Mohawk and his outfits, he was always so energetic.
Sarcasm at its best.
Larping as a punk while daddy’s at the Foreign Office
outfits? Punk rockers surely don’t have outfits…
Oh yes they surely do!
@@michaelwills1926 Best comment
Thanx man! Whada Great Band, and what sad, dull and not even sour aftertaste..
Salutations from Sofia 🎉
Big Audio Dynamite fucking slaps
I consider myself very lucky to have seen them play live. I wish I had a chance to see them more. They were awesome
I saw them play the 1983 US festival they played after men at work (a forgotten band) the clash were amazing but I "believe" that was the last gig with the original three man frontline. They did take A LONG TIME time get on stage I found out they were arguing with Wozniak about some nonsense that now seems pointless.
Jones was not "IN" General Public: the vinyl releases from that band listed him as "on loan" from other projects. Also, the Clash mk II played my home town of Boston in early 1984
Chimes was in 3 times. For about 4 months at the very start, then came back for 3 months to do the album, then for about 9 months after they sack Topper HEAD-on.
Chimes is pretty much an irrelevance to be fair, Christ knows why he was inducted into the HoF
The Clashes drum sound was all Headon.
Say what you see Head-On.
Thank you so much for that! I was a 12 year old kid growing up in the middle of nowhere, in Winnipeg, Canada. And then my older brother brought home some punk records he got from some friends. And we were both like, 'What the hell is this!' And I've been a devoted Clash fan ever since. Thanks again for your video :)
The Globe B.A.D was huge here in New Zealand
The Clash made a couple of great albums but then like a lot of overly political ego driven acts they began to believe their own press way too much. In the end they ended up every bit as “Spinal Tap” as any Metal band.
Yes. They were a band sorely in need of a sense of humor. What little element of that they did have left with Jones, I think.
You forgot to mention that in 1996 Mick, Joe, and Topper got together and put their differences/past behind them and became friends again and even talked about doing a year long reunion tour. When they approached Paul with the idea Paul said he didn’t want to do it because he was in the middle of rehearsing to record an album with his band at the time Havana 3am. The band, Havana 3am, broke up 2 months later.
"The only people that drink tea in a Jack Daniels bottle is the Clash baby!" -David Lee Roth, US Festival 1983
Hahaha that's awesome.
Cheers for an informative video on a band I have always loved… right to the very end.
Thanks
Thank you, I've been a udge fan of tis band when I was teen, still the band that matter a lot for me !
Excellent job! Lots of images and info I didn't know, even as a longtime Clash fan. Kudos.
Thanks
You should do a video about the movie Straight To Hell, it has members of The Clash, Elvis Costello, Shawn McGowan and was directed by Alex Cox. The movie was made after they were unable to raise money for a tour so they made a movie instead that was just amazing given the budget. Also has Courtney Love and a fleet of Yugo compact cars.
I like this album. Love the opening track dictator with its crazy trumpets and synths. Dirty punk is a riot of an anthem, Movers and shakers, this is England. Great album to get showered and dressed to before a night out as its not that long and very motivational 😎🤘
I liked the way you retell this story. You make it okay to be mad at your favorite band.
This was one of my favorite childhood bands.
Should I. Stay or should I go.. my favorite
Thank you for the grim details.
And thank you for all those details. I've been studying the Clash for decades, and one of my friends introduced me to another of his Clash friend and said, 'Oh, Vello knows everything about the Clash.' I said, 'No I don't. I just know enough.' :D
So typical of Band lore. Thanks for posting
Mick Jones was obviously the visionary. BAD was ahead of their time, while the Clash (sans Jones) painfully fell behind it.
I love your channel dude❤
Thanks so much! Means a lot
For some reason the story reminded me of the film I know you usually do music the film was about a band from England play the band The strange fruit in the film is called still crazy
I enjoyed that movie.
I low key love this album. It’s so wild and out there. Most of the songs don’t hit and the story behind the album is pretty interesting .
2:54 "His rock star lifestyle...." (B roll: him holding a guitar synthesizer. lol)
My biggest disappointments:
Clash - Cut The ---- (ya know, algorithms)
Gang of Four - Hard
Los Lobos - Kiko and the Lavender Moon
Hard was so bad you hoped the group would breakup & they did !
Hard is an excellent LP.
Thanks for your great videos ! Would you, or have you covered anything on : Big Country or/& The Stranglers ?
Two great bands, predominantly '80's.
I'd watch something on the Stranglers.
While I know this story very well I look forward to seeing your take on it.
Joe Strummer: "We gotta get back to basics. We gotta cut the crap!"
Also Joe Strummer: "I don't want anyone in my band named Greg."
I listened to the Clash and learnt Guitar. All the Album are great except "the crap" . ✌️🤘🏴🇦🇺
This is great ...if you already know a lot about The Clash
I’d love too see you do a video on Big Audio Dynamite
Sid,
1. What is your favorite Clash album? Overall, most people say London Calling is the best Clash album; while others say Sandanista. Then others might say Combat Rock.
2. You are right in that 'This is England' was the only praised song off Cut the Crap.
3. In 1995, the organizers of Lollapalooza offered the classic Mick/Joe/Topper/Paul lineup $10 Million to headline that year's touring festival. Word was that Mick was all for it, but Joe said no.
1. I’d say Combat Rock but I was stoked when harmonix released london calling as full album DLC for rock band.
Yeah I didn’t get too much into the reunion and other stuff. I want to do a deep dive on the band’s history so I am saving it for that.
Interesting. Even after I figured out that you weren't addressing those questions to Sid Vicious.
I'd read that the Clash were considered for one of the first couple of Lollapalooza tours in the early 90s. The promoters put some feelers out to the public and didn't see enough interest. I guess they would have been considered an oldies act, not sure. That always bummed me out.
I can't stand when people say, "No pun intended." You absolutely intended it, knock it off.
Really nice video 🙌🏼 However I would not site “Cut The Crap” as a true Clash album. Only Joe and Paul remained for the recording and subsequent tour. I saw several dates of that tour and the third show I walked out. It was really embarrassing.
Love Joe Strummer.....
I was kind of surprised that there was no mention that Joe was already putting music out with the 101ers when he joined The Clash.
This Is England is a great song. Too bad the production is truly crap. If possible an album remix would be surely welcome.
Yeah, too bad the masters are all messed up.
"Sandinista" is a Masterpiece.
The Clash was the only British "Punk" Rock Band with a Real, True and Honest Message. That's why They were so Successfull Worldwide.
They were for Real,not for TV shows and Mainstream Magazines.
Their Message Did Influence an all Generation.
The Clash are among the Greatests Bands in music history.
LOL a real honest message???? What message????? "Hey communism people! You should want communism because we say so, don't look into it, just know communism"
@@YoungNino2017 You're an idiot. The Clash never endorsed communism.
Good band,though they really weren't doing anything groundbreaking.
Mick and Topper were the musicians in the band. On top of that, Mick knew how to arrange a tune. Joe was a poet. Bones/Strummer a perfect once in a generation pairing. With Topper and Mick both gone, there was zero musicality to the group.
For A Time , The Clash had the deserved title " The Only Band That Matters "
When was that? One very special day when everyone in the Police and U2 turned invisible, and every fan and critic of the era forgot they existed?
That was a great publicity campaign but also absolute rubbish. Several bands mattered as much lyrically at the time, and many more musically, imo.
@@perfectallycromulentThe Talking Heads as well as XTC "mattered" at that time, and personally, I always preferred them both to the Clash. One reason might be that both explored more styles/sounds and had a sense of humor.
@@perfectallycromulent its not to be taken literally
Wonderful.
U2: A four-legged table. It's difficult for bands to stick together. The Clash could've been huge!
You should go over the classic Danzig shakeup or the transition from Samhain to Danzig thanks to Rubin.
I thought the name The Clash came from the reggae song "Two Sevens Clash" by Culture. Matter of fact I'm pretty certain it did.
Fascinating that Joe saw Topper's exit as being the catalyst for ending The Clash. Topper was a key element of the band's sound, and had initiated writing the song that became their biggest single. But Mick was so critical to what the Clash had done. It's not like Joe was being petty; he admits Mick was all that despite his attitude. But even though he had more cause to axe Topper, for Topper's own sake anyway, Joe seemed to recognize his value more acutely.
Having seen a lot at this point I feel that usually when the first member leaves it's the beginning of the end.
Saw the original band. Best gig I ever saw. Saw the final version of the band...did not suck but was just not as good.
number one band i will never of gotten a chance to see and are deff my fav old school band.
An appropriate name for a crap album once mick was gone that was the clash gone
Anyone can tell me what that middke poster is in back with the Ed Roth character and the words “gun….. “ something. Thx
I saw Woz at Walgreens in Lawrence, Kansas during the pandemic nonsense. He noticed me noticing him and jumped back in his white Tesla with a fluffy white dog and burned out. Guess he didn't want to sign my Apple 2
“Would Clash, no point intended” lol
Ty for not having full sleeve tats like every other trendy on tube.
on the channel “ your favourite band sucks “ they allege how the use of keyboards during their final tour would’ve made Asia jealous which i find particularly cruel but funny as i was bullied by cool kids whom loved The Clash because i listened to Prog ( Asia were hideous).
Mick Jones seemed like a really decent bloke in later or more recent interviews 😎
I’ve always been impressed with their musicianship. Compared to their contemporaries, they could really play. Syd Viscous for example, looked and acted the part, but I’ve read many times he really could not play.
Too bad these guys couldn’t stay away from dope and get along, they could have made some iconic music.
Thank you to the clash
I have to say, some of those songs sound pretty good live, and you can hear what Strummer was trying to go for. I implore anyone to check out some of those live recordings from the Mark II lineup, there's plenty of them. Now if only that sound had made it on record.
Have you done an episode on Dokken? If you did, hit me up with a link!
Haven’t yet. On my to do list
I fell in love with The Clash upon hearing White Riot and Complete Control for the first time. I fell completely out of love upon hearing Lover's Rock.
Cut The Crap would have been a great album if it hadn't been put out as a Clash album.
They indeed 'cut' a record of crap 💩
i love the clash's earlier stuff, don't really know cut the crap other than this is england which is good
always perferd the Stranglers