Founding member, lead singer and key lyricist for seminal political punk rock group The Clash. A gifted songwriter (particularly in tandem with The Clash's Mick Jones), Strummer moved from subway busker to pub-rocker (e.g. his first group The 101'ers), and like so many others of his generation, discovered punk rock after seeing The Sex Pistols. He immediately formed The Clash, and within a year the group had carved out its place as "the only been that matters," a quote referring to their seemingly concrete political commitment.After a couple of critically lauded albums (especially 1979's
Formed rock band, The 101'ers (which included Keith Levene); single "Keys to Your Heart" eventually recorded and released
1976
Co-founded punk rock band The Clash with Keith Levene, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon and Tory Crimes (Terry Chimes), all inspired after experiencing seminal punk band The Sex Pistols
1976
(Summer) first Clash shows as opening act for Sex Pistols; after Levene left, group opened for Pistols's "Anarchy in the UK" tour as a quartet
1977
(February) Clash signed to five-album deal with CBS records; (March) debut self-titled album released (this album sold over 100,000 import copies in US, making it the then biggest selling import of all-time; it was eventually released in a less "crude" version in the US in 1979, following the critical acclaim of their "London Calling" L.P.)
1977
First headlining UK tour, "The 'White Riot' tour" (after current hit single)
