SWLing Post reader, Chris, writes:
“After reading your piece on Peter Gabriel it reminded me of Joe Strummer and the Clash and the Mescaleros… The album and song London Calling was written from a huge influence from the BBC World Service…. Need I say more about the song?
Shortly before his death in 2002, Joe recorded an album called at Global A Go-Go along with a song of that title track. The first line in the song is “World Service Bulletin” and references many cities around the world wanting great rock and roll music…
I know there are also interviews with him stating that growing up his father was a diplomat and he lived in various countries. He would tune in to the BBC World Service to get rock music from home!
The Clash ended up taking on a worldly sound in their later recordings. During Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros, it was all world music!
The latter is still one of my top three albums of all times!
Shortwave radio is the reason why I love world music.”
Same here, Chris–shortwave radio is directly responsible for my interest in any and all forms of music. Growing up, the variety I could hear on shortwave was beyond anything I could hear locally. I think many SWLs share this global connection.
Strummer via the World Service
After receiving Chris’ message, I did a little more research because I vaguely recalled a program on the BBC World Service that was hosted by Joe Strummer, though I never had the opportunity to hear it live.
Fortunately, I uncovered the original Joe Strummer’s London Calling via PRX. SCORE!
I’ve embedded the first episode below: an introduction to the series where you’ll hear a little about Joe in the first half hour and in the second half, the first episode of the original Joe Strummer’s London Calling.
This is an amazing collection–actually, that’s an understatement. I’m already on the third episode and will probably listen to the whole series by the end of the week (if not end of day).
Click here for the full list of shows via PRX.
This has all prompted me to order Rock Art & The X-Ray Style by Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros. Thanks, Chris: amazing stuff…
that picture is of paul simonon the bass player, not strummer
Thanks for posting this. I’d run across some seriously low-fi mp3’s of the original broadcasts on the web (if you must have it: http://www.radioclash.com/archives/2009/08/07/the-groove-machine-from-bush-house-joe-strummers-london-calling/ ), but man, these are much better sounding and all episodes are there! Thanks again.
I love The Clash’s music and a big fan of Joe. He was the heart and soul of the band and in it for all of the right reasons it seems. His Mescaleros work is in fact, some of his best in my opinion. After reading the Peter Gabriel posting, Joe Strummer and the Clash came to mind as someone who’s music was obviously influenced by shortwave radio because its power in social and political influence in the world. (London Calling, Radio Clash, Rock the Casbah, etc)
Great post! 🙂