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This comment area is closed to new submissions. Visit ITVS.org to continue the conversation about this film.
04/04/2008
Wow. Where do I begin? If I'm to begin at the beginnining, it would be when I was sixteen years old and rooting through my older brother's record collection. (Yes, my brothers and I are old enough to have had RECORD collections.) I seem to remember him rather suddenly and simultaneously possessing the first album (US version), "Give 'Em Enough Rope," and "London Calling." These records changed my life. Listening to The Clash inspired me to put down the sports page and pick up the front page.
"Working for the Clampdown" became an anthem for this suburban kid who desperately needed one. I wrote the words "THE" and "CLASH" in black magic marker on the white toes of my gym shoes. In the summer after my high school graduation I roadtripped with two friends from Cincinnati to Chicago to see the band because this was the closest the "Combat Rock" tour would bring them to us. (Aug 13, 1982 at the Aragon Ballroom. Was anyone out there at that show?)
On Christmas Eve 2002, after doing some last minute s
hopping, I stopped at a gas station and caught out of the corner of my eye a photo of Joe on the front page of USA Today. I thought, "Hey! Joe Strummer's on the front page of the . . . " and then I was suckerpunched with shock and grief.
I went home and spent a good part of the evening on Strummernews.com commiserating with other fans posting messages on the community bulletin board. I met there and eventually exchanged email messages with a woman from England who was very much in the scene there in the seventies. She knew the band -- at least on some level -- and attended Joe's funeral. It was a sad time, but getting to know her briefly in those few days is something good I'll always be able to associate with an otherwise gloomy experience. God bless you, "Beat Surrender!"
1/9/06
Robin Dealing-Bedar
Joe Strummer Feeds my soul on a daily basis.He had so much to say! Where did it come from? He spilled pure brillance in every lyric.There is so little of that today!!Zero could never a person be who has such a great impact on such small young people today.LEGEND in one word Sums up What Joe strummer means to the whole world!!! The Clash is truely the only band that mattered! I have 2 Girls 8 and 11 and they know a whole hell of alot about the Clash ,(8 year old thinks kids at school are stuiped for not knowing who the Clash are,DuH!!!)Please keep it comming ,anything produced about Joe Strummer I am first in line to BUY IT!Gone too soon,R.I.P beautifulJoe
10/5/05
dick rude
hollywood, ca
Came across this page and wanted to give a shout out to all that have supported Joe and the effort to get his word out. Thanks also to the Producers at Independent Lens for giving us the forum to see some cool stuff. It is my great pleasure to let you all know that the film will finally make it to your local stores in the Spring of 2006. Your kind remarks definitely help keep me going.
5/3/05
Montgomery Spliffed
Birminghams Burning UK
I think Bentonville Arkansas missed the point of the film entirely.
Times change...Not everybody should stay in the light.... Exactly!
Joe was not some rock dinosaur trying to recycle an old image and sound for a few easy bucks. Joe was no Bono relying on the success of years long passed to sell a million albums and tickets. What Joe brought to the music scene each time was fresh new and exciting. Sure you got a few Clash songs at the live shows but Joe was man enough to keep it behind him and start all over again at an age when most men are thinking of slowing down. The Mescaleros albums are entirely original and represent the development of a band far removed from the Clash in many respects yet true in every respect to the principles instilled from the very early days.
Global a go go, Rock Art and Streetcore are not "greatest hits" compilations, you'll not find the 1999 extended dance remix version of Whiteman in Hammersmith Palais in them but you will find an awful lot of passion and thought and commitment. Joes not looking to sell millions, he's looking to sell enough to break even so he can do another album. After years in the Wilderness the man just wanted to make music and give it to us.
Mick Jones is going through a similar "rebirth" with his new band Carbon/Silicon at the moment. Starting from the bottom and doing it the old fashioned way, playing clubs and bars, piling up the miles, rewriting and reworking continually. You'll not get a single Clash song out of Mick these days and do you know what? No matter how much you'd like one it probably endears him to you all the more.
Men of principle!!!!! Not many of them left now, look after them while you can.
I'm amongst the many who are glad there are a few people like Joe out there, proud to have known him in whatever small way whether directly or through his work.
The clip shown was a harsh reminder of the brutality of the music industry and a poignant testimony to the humility of the greatest frontman ever.
Thanks for all your effort Dickie can't wait for the full release.
5/3/05
Edward Rink
Platteville WI
I'd very much like to see the full film of Joe Strummer Lets Rock Again. He was just a more interesting person than the Ramones were. I think most people could tell that from just watching the short film. His music is a much richer source of inspiration for me. He continues to touch people and effect people's lives even after his death. I think people deserve to see this documentary.
4/29/05
don d
san francisco, ca
I stayed up late to catch KQED's rebroadcast of the film. Eight minutes is way too brief a glimpse of the film.
Joe Strummer and the Clash did what the Ramones didn't do -- they broke thru w/ songs and stories that taught us what the U.S. media wouldn't touch.
Anyone really want to compare the importance of "Rock 'n Roll High School" w/ "Sandinista"??? I'm sorry he's gone.
4/29/05
Dominique Ritchot
Montreal, Quebec
Kudos to Dick Rude for showing Joe Strummer doing what he loved best : bringing his music and lyrics to the people. 8 minutes was too short and I hope the full lenght film will be released soon.
I had the privilege to see Joe Strummer and his Mescaleros a couple of times and it was always an uplifting experience. Meeting the man and his band was as inspiring as they came accross as unassuming, unpretentious individuals, only dedicated to their creative musical unit.
The appeal of Joe Strumer's music comes from his indelible hope in the human spirit and his dedication to tear down fences and bring people from all walks of life and cultural borders to see beyond their differences. This was never more evident than in the music he created which was blending many styles and influences and his lyrics which were meant to share knowledge. Notwithstanding some no-sensical gems that only he had the secret of.
The man may be gone in body, but his spirit lives on.
Last but not the least : get Global a Go-Go, Joe's best ever work !
4/27/05
nick vlasso
flushing,ny
i had the pleasure of meeting joe on several occasions through out the years.my most memorable was in march of 1980 after seeing blow the roof off the Palladium,my friends and i were at a club called Heat after the show.walking over to the bar there was Joe and Mick.i babbled in his ear for 20 minutes about everything that i thought that was wrong with the world.Joe Strummer politely just listened.I was a 17 year old kid meeting his hero.all i can say just a kind genuine person what you saw is what you got.i was home just waking up to 1010 wins when i heard the terrible news.just a devasting loss to the music world.Joes legacy will live on for many more years you can hear the influence to this day."ZERO" I THINK NOT. God Bless you Joe. thank you
4/27/05
Bentonville Arkansas
I give Joe credit for trying, but it is time to move on. Quit trying to relive glory days long past. Even this movie short appeared to have seen better days. Times change, the world changes not every person who has had a roll to play should stay in the light.
Yes the Clash was a great band but next time use the time for some other struggling artist trying to make it into the history books.
4/27/05
Gary Lewis
Waterford, MI
This is a fantastic taste of a much longer piece which I'm sure a lot of Clash fans would love to see! Joe's quotes are always fresh and timeless, and he will always be "that rocker" you would want to hang around with. Thanks for such a great piece of memorium to a music legend!
4/27/05
Greg Bartram
Dublin, Ohio
This is an excerpt from a longer documentary called 'Let's Rock Again'. THe film had some licensing issues, so maybe this is all that can be broadcast so far.
4/19/05
Dean Kaplan
Joe Strummer the front man for the Clash, one of the best rock & punk bands ever created deserves a longer and more detailed outline of their beginning, their influence on punk, rock, alternative rock over the last 20+ years. They were by far as big if not bigger influence on the music scene than the Ramones, Iggy Pop, The Velvet Underground etc...
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