In 1976 Joe Strummer (1952-2002) founded The Clash, one of the leading bands of the British punk movement. Before his tragic early death, the rock legend began working with Julien Temple on a biopic that would be released five years after his passing. As one of Strummer’s friends, Temple was able to record some of the band’s first rehearsals on film. Capturing Strummer’s early days of manic energy, rebellion and fury, the documentary resonates like a hand grenade slipped up the bourgeois backside, while giving equal attention to Strummer’s later years, including his expansion into “world music” and intensive introspection.
Gathered around a sparkling firepit, among other milieus, we see a notable cavalcade of musicians, loved ones, and famous people who admire Strummer’s lifework, such as Jim Jarmusch, Martin Scorsese, Steve Buscemi, and Bono – to name a few. Filled to the brim with anarchic energy, the soundtrack strikes you like a million volts throughout the more than two-hour long runtime. Reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, and rockabilly – Strummer was at home in all of them. His portrayal is not purely unproblematic, harmonious, or simple. His street credibility is high like the collars of his leather jacket, and his political takes punch the snot out of the suits’ noses.
Lauri Timonen