HERA'S BLOG
Happy Birthday Joe!
Monday, August 21, 2006 4:20 PM
Joe Strummer
August 21, 1952 – December 22, 2002
Taking a moment to remember Joe Strummer on what would have been his 54th birthday. Joe was one of the founding members of the Clash, a band that had the most profound affect on me of any other, which says a lot, since I was fond of several during my college years.
The Clash Topper Headon, Mick Jones, Joe Strummer, Paul Simonon
I had the opportunity to meet the man (along with Paul Simonon, Mick Jones and Terry Chambers) backstage at the Majestic Theatre in San Antonio, the year of 1982. I was 20, attending the University of Texas for my Bachelors in Graphic Design. A bunch of us like-minded gals drove down from Austin in my 1971 VW Beetle. The show was great, the venue smallish, the theater majestic — an oddly appropriate setting for their music. We danced in our seats, and for the second half, stood and jammed in the aisles. My best-buddy (who was partially-sighted, and was the most fearless of all of us), snuck her way up to the barricade, and saw the show from there, since none of the bouncers had the heart to boot a blind-ish kid!
There’s no tool more powerful
in the hands of a pissed-off man
than an electric guitar.
We made our way after to the backstage door, and they let us in. I only shook Joe’s hand, as I was shaking in my Converse tennies, couldn’t summon up the courage to speak intelligently. Poor guy. I think I leaned in, peered into his eyes, and muttered “They’re brown. Your eyes are brown.” He looked at me kinda non-plussed and said “Yeah”, which let me off the hook so I could scurry away. My first and mostly last episode of fangirly-ness.
We were much more comfy with Mick and Paul, who were less intimidating. We just chattered away with them, cracked jokes. They were very kind. We asked if Joe Ely was still around, since he’d done an encore with them, they said SURE! “Hey, where's Joe, anyone seen Joe Ely?” So, much to our embarrassment there was this huge hubbub while they rooted Ely out of the warren of the backstage area, and he came over to visit. He recognized us, since we were regulars at his Austin gigs. Made us feel right to home. He’s still rockin’ to this day, too. Myself? Not so much.
Joe with Joe Ely, circa 1981
Joe died in 2002 at the age of 50, of an undiagnosed congenital heart defect. This news affected me greatly, as I survive with a diagnosed congenital heart defect; the warning shot was a bit too close to home, me being of an age with the man, albeit 10 years younger. If he’d known about his condition, he’d probably stopped smoking (sooner) and still be around today. Just projecting uncertainty of my own mortality, but I like to think that it could have played out that way.
Here’s to you, Mr. Strummer. You rocked my world, gave me a constructive outlet for my young-adult anger and frustration. Made me care at a time in my life when I had the energy for it. You will always stand as a tribute to my belief that music had the power to change the world for the better.
Hugs and much respect,
-Lt. Petey/Hera/Diane
My favorite songs from
The Sound of the Sinners
As the floods of God
Washed away Sin City
They say it was written
In the page of the Lord
But I was looking
For that great jazz note
That destroyed
The walls of Jericho
The winds of fear
Whip away the sickness
The messages on the tablet
Was Valium®
As the planets form
That golden cross, Lord
I’ll see you on
The holy cross roads
After all this time
To believe in Jesus
After all those drugs
I th
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