Interview with Joe Strummer, Part 1 - April 4, 2002 - NYC

Excerpts from an interview done with Joe Strummer at the Gramercy Park Hotel. He discusses his approach to song writing, how he got into music, being on Hellcat Records, and HIS WICKED PLAN.

[@officialjbbeverley]

I miss Joe Strummer. When he died… part of many of us died.. What a great man. R.I.P.

[@TheDudeMeister69]

Joe Strummer dies when we die

[@justme_66]

J.B. Beverley yes, wierd it's true. He's a genius, sees things in this wonderful perspective which is all Joe Strummer. I'm glad they let him just talk.

[@ouFabLseK-LLangir]

@@justme_66 weird...Yeah. I seen that quite a while ago. It's nice to hear him just talk freely...years of pressure in THE CLASH had often made him nervous about expressing certain things. Especially towards the end. CLASH2...was very much on the defensive. I saw his first solo show in France and it was not great...something about the acoustic of the place. I think there was some great tunes on his solo album EARTHQUAKE WEATHER but of course (just crosses my mind) it's fair to say that none of them equaled the Great Clash with their solo project. Topper's jazz album was great at the time but real jazz fans didnt think so...also. Topper's main addiction became catastrophic and I think he did time. Havana3am...not sure...to be honest...can't make anything of it. BAD on the other hand I liked instantly. Not all of it was good but there was some magical moment (recently, a friend of mine dissaporved and I had to fight hard to prove my point.) I liked the Mescaleros and caught 50% of one gig once in '98 I seem to recall. Great tunes. I think they would've reformed...with Norman Watt-roy on bass. I think Strummer was into it. Anyway...I've all their albums and even Cut the CACA which has at least one very good song on it. I liked all albums to be dishonest. I try to scratch my head...I'm sure I bought SANDINISTA first but I had listened to the second album a mate lent me and I had seen the brilliant flick RUDE BOY 17 times in just two weeks. (not on VCR but at a cinema) They were brilliant. I guess that LIVE! the best time must've been 1979-1981. I saw them for the first time around that time and it was chaotic. Not on stage but in the audience. Still amazing exp to see them play at long last. See ya

[@beetleything1864]

🙏🏻

[@johnconway9882]

Joe Strummer lives -- as long as Daniel Ortega and the Sandinista utopian regime remains in Nicaragua.

[@ChrisSmithfromLowell]

It moved me when he said, "We leave everything to the last moment, y'know?. There's no need to rush."

[@johndamienreilly]

I remember a rainy day in Hammersmith in my car, window down, blaring out a recording of 'Rock the Kasbah', and a guy walking alongside the car gave me the thumbs-up. When he dropped his hood I could see it was Joe Strummer. Coincidence?......yes! John d Reilly on Spotify

[@NotEventheChairProductions]

Sounds like Joe! Very unassuming and super chill.

[@kevinmilner7166]

nice

[@fabfourfever674]

No pretention, whatsoever. Joe talked to you like you were a friend. He didn't care to have his fame or achievements define him. In fact, it sounds like fame didn't "stick" to him as far as him letting his ego get wrapped up in it. What a truly down to earth, sweet soul. Thank you for all the music, Joe, and for reminding us that even famous, influential rock stars can be "real". xx

[@gentillygirl545]

Consummate Human! I met him in 1982, and he was just lovely, genuine, gentle and kind. He made such an impression on me, as opening a gate. I was 17 at the time, so it was "right place right time," and I am grateful and thankful.

[@gloomyharlow]

So handsome and talented. Sorely missed :(

[@thielees]

He was always generous and honest. Never played the rock star and big-timed anyone.

[@egledispoto2594]

I feel like he's still alive actually. He taught me so many things, like not being afraid to be myself, and to always follow my ideals. God only knows how much I wish I could get to know him in person and tell him how important he still is for me... You live, Joe.

[@andylowe5491]

Me too, i remember thinking about going to go up early to his glasgow show n wait so i could meet him but left it too late and just went to the show, then on his last tour me n the boys didnt go, fuck knows why, think we thought we would see him the next tour but he died soon after, absolutely gutted when i heard that news

[@misakiyoshida]

He lives on through us

[@agreen7380]

Thank you so much for posting this. I saw him in Hartford CT, 10-8-01, just year and 2 months before he died. And thanks to a guy and girl who, i think worked for MTV Radio, tipped me off that i couldl meet Joe after the show, and i did! I met "my man" who influenced so much about me from my-The Clash-days. There's so much i must leave out, even so manu cool nuances between us, but i digress. He was so personable, so kind and genuine, and i swear i talked to him over 7 minutes covering a range of topics. They say when you meet your hero there is usually remorse, but not this man, no way. I hope to write this story and share this because for his sake alone it is worthy and i think any Clash fan would appreciate it. Peace

[@NotEventheChairProductions]

That was my friend and me! Are you the one who sent me the CD of The Clash in Boston from like '81 or '82???

[@LCHLLO2008]

saw him play .i was so glad ......four weeks later he was gone :( ......A part of my youth died too .R.I.P Joe .

[@carrieb9106]

One of my most loved musicians..I love how he talked about mainly listening to the lyrics when he first got into music. Joe Strummer had this amazing presence, what a vibe. You can’t help but feel his effect on you. The most beautiful song for me is Redemption Song, so much passion. and also when he sang it with Johnny Cash. ❤️RIP❤

[@jam1ga]

A Man of the people and for the people.Much Love and Respect for Joe

[@MrMekakoopa]

I love this.He's clearly had a drink and he's just being himself; he doesn't even mind having a camera shoved in his face! We miss you Joe

[@sweethomelondonwheretheski649]

I've met him so many times in early 90s around North Kensington, he was down to earth Gentelman, not like some stars, for instance David Gilmour, who have no time for their fans, all the clash members are very humble, they meant what they were singing about

[@AlexW14]

A genuinely lovely man and legend. Well and truly missed.

[@PFM007]

I met Joe after a gig in early 80s and he was kind and gentle and signed my T-Shirt which I still have. Years later in 1988 I’m in Portobello hailing a cab and a man approached me and asks if I mind if he shares the cab. I said sure. We got in the cab and he asked me with his raspy voice where I was from...and then it struck me I was in a cab with Joe Strummer. Fantastic. I miss him. Along with Lennon he is more relevant and needed now. Thanks Joe for your kindness and great soul.

[@NotEventheChairProductions]

So many times over the past years I have wondered what his reactions would have been, what the songs he would've written would have said.

[@maria-melek]

Jeez you met him twice! How much oh a lucky person you are. ❤ Joe died 8 months and 2 days after I was born 😢 I got into the early days of alternative/ indie once I got into middle school (2015) this was after discovering rock alternative rock in 5th grade from the ’10s thanks to though Fall Out Boy haha and I absolutely loved them especially Joe he seemed like such a amazing human being, without having him in front. ❤

[@TheGAK62]

It's sadly ironic that Joe was talking about the possibility of having the #1 song at Christmas in England in 2002, yet he died three days before Christmas...

[@ouFabLseK-LLangir]

Joe always hated Christmas...some trauma from childhood

[@thanktheuniverse9438]

I'm late to the Joe Strummer / The Clash appreciation party, but each KZbin interview I watch Joe is very calm in his speech and seems very comfortable with what he talks about. One thing I do notice, is that he doesn't space fill with ers or swearing or whatever. Very smooth talker.

[@rayman17578]

I only just got into them back in December I was 2 when he died

[@deerhunter2218]

@@rayman17578 Joe will be reading your comment up stairs mate, it's never too late to get into the Clash 👍

[@rayman17578]

@@deerhunter2218 Indeed RIP! Him and Chester Bennington both since there my favorite frontmen of all time and singers

[@charold3]

Son of a diplomat. I guess you could say it's in his blood. God knows today we need good diplomacy and fairmindedness vs. what Rupert Murdoch and his ilk pimps.

[@akellosdias]

Im guessin he had psychedellics

[@curtis866]

A beautiful soul , missed by many . A real genuine lovely character. God bless you

[@T800System]

Truly genuine guy. What ever music I'm into, I will always end up gravitating back towards Joe. There was no posturing with him. No nastiness for publicities sake. Not like Lydon - who in his old age still feels like he has to maintain a punk persona.

[@NotEventheChairProductions]

completely agree! he is greatly missed!

[@johndamienreilly]

Yeah, but with Lydon, you could butter him up. John d Reilly on Spotify.

[@Mrpublicimagelimited]

I was always more of a Pistols man but I have to agree - Lydon is now a pathetic embarrassment. He's stuck in the past, thinks his words are gold, and is surrounded by servile yes-men who encourage his worst impulses. He's a sad parody of himself but doesn't have the self-awareness to realise it. Sad really. None of that shit with Joe, he was a thoughtful and humble man who meant what he said. RIP.

[@buckbumble]

Lydon is a massive, talentless shill. All posture and no substance. Still trying to play the same part that he did 45 years ago, except he’s forgotten how to play it and now just looks like a clown.

[@roughanmacnamara147]

The difference is Lydon was always 1 dimensional. Joe was always more talented and intelligent. Loved both bands but even as a 12 year old I knew Joe was the real deal and better.

[@daytona955joop]

This man made me re think all my opinions. Said something to the effect that unless you are an absolute specialist in your field, throw your opinions out with the garbage! Listen to the people who know something and whether you agree or not, keep your mind open. Valuable advice! We miss you Joe and in these difficult times we need people who think like you. Thank you and god bless.

[@ouFabLseK-LLangir]

farcical as Joe was an atheist

[@daytona955joop]

ouFabLs eK-LLangir0611 ????

[@ouFabLseK-LLangir]

@@daytona955joop does god bless? not sure...never met god...but thank you

[@daytona955joop]

ouFabLs eK-LLangir0611 Me neither, it’s a turn of phrase.

[@ouFabLseK-LLangir]

@@daytona955joop JESUS CHRIST...why didnt you tell me...anyway. no harm done...have a good Sunday (assuming it is Sunday too where you are)

[@paulhamj6175]

I am on an incredible journey these past few weeks. Let me explain... Shane Macgowan, all time rebel, poet and frontman of The Pogues died and threw me into a whirlwind of emotion i had no idea was even there but, possibly tied into my fathers death in 2017 who was a huge Pogues fan, i felt myself stabbed in the heart when Shane passed on. I was reeling and so began a journey of listening to andnwatching everything I could find that was The Pogues or Shane Macgowan. One of the many documentary films on youtube was a great little film where Joe Strummer was talking to camera about each member of Ths Pogues intimately, and he obviously knew them very well. Here was a musician i had basically overlooked all my life and yet as soon as he started talking i was transfixed. His charisma, his presence..it was kind of electric. I knew right then that i had to learn more and listen to lyrics by Joe Strummer. So off my journey continued on, on a sudden side street i hadn't anticipated, into the fas insting worldd of Joe Strummer. I learned about his awful, such early death by a rare heart condition, his experience of having to identify his brother at 16, who had died by the river andnwas found in regents park, London after taking a load of Aspirin. I learned how Joe took his brothers suicide note and kept it for the rest of his life, i learned how Joe began in music despite hardly being able to play an instrument, how he ended up being in the biggest punk band there ever was, how he still played music right up to the week he died, with his band Ths Mescalitos..and i learned a lot more. I learned that, along with the 3 biography books of Shane Macgowan that my wife had got me for christmas, i now also needed to add 1 or 2 Joe Strummeer life books to ths colllection. One thing i must pass on: On a blog somewhere during my travels i found a line stating that "the best short form bit of writing about the life of Joe Strummer, is a piece written for THE AMERICAN SCHOLAR by a writer called BRYAN DOYLE." Now, i urge any fan of Joe to google that and find ths writing because it had me literally in tears for this wonderful man, who had endured so much in his short life. Go read it. Peace and love to every one of you Joe Strummer fans. I urge us all to be a little more like him.

[@gerardgrywacheski1418]

I could listen to Joe all day long to be honest. He spoke true fully about a lot of things in the world, but he was always down to earth and gave his time to his fans. I miss him and his music. R.I.P. Joe Strummer!!😢💔

[@aailill3610]

I'm always pleased with Strummer fandom, the people who give a damn....

[@biffdelmonte3787]

You just want to say "Please, Joe, go see a doctor right now" .

[@paulgrahamedwardspencer5161]

biff delmonte he didn’t know about his heart

[@beetleything1864]

@@paulgrahamedwardspencer5161aneurysm - could have happened anytime....nothing a Doc could do....

[@lauranewberry6520]

Why would you say that ... ?? He looks well and healthy. It was a sudden death. From A heart problem unknown to him. Could have happened any time

[@sitruk6120]

Laura Newberry he’s saying you just want to be able to tell him

[@ouFabLseK-LLangir]

WHY?

[@Nyllsor]

Thanks so much for putting this one up! Very inspirational!

[@philruane5910]

I saw Joe live, playing, Liverpool Royal Court. He stood in one night for Shane MacGowan, with The Pogues. Pogues gigs used to open wi Clash straight to hell. Pogues n Joe , beautiful. I laid flowers at Joes tree at Glastonbury

[@UnkleJustin]

Great to see Joe! An original. And great guy. We miss you Mr. Mellor.

[@markporter1901]

Hard to watch knowing he passed 8 months later. Self effacing, honest, humble. “Without people, you’re nothing.”

[@shawnmclean7932]

So humble, explaining the process of creating a song. I miss Joe, but I listen to him.

[@DaveAMcLaughlin]

Love these interviews! Thank you so much for posting! #JoeForever B-)

[@NotEventheChairProductions]

+Dave McLaughlin Thanks for watching them. It was too special of an afternoon not to share.

[@jameskenneally5644]

What incredibly humble man.

[@garybeckman3382]

A legend.

[@deedonnerramone4757]

Joe was a genuine good guy. We all love him and miss him. My solo meeting was in Detroit in 1979 and it was a bad night. And to his credit Joe said "In England, they'd throw bottles' Please find the tape, Masonic Auditorium, Detroit, September 1979

[@stressbelden5869]

How can Strummer be a "genuine good guy" when he was on drugs most all the time? Being a druggie and "genuine" somehow just don't go together.

[@garydunning9363]

+Stress Belden again I have to correct you,Joe was not on drug's an certainly not anywhere near the amount Lennon took :)

[@parmor125]

he was still young and looked younger than his age. So sad for that loss but so happy for him being a part of a great era

[@mummyd1990]

What a fantastic musician Joe most certainly was,very sad and miss his music so much,still can't believe he has gone,RIP brother.

[@shawndavidclare294]

Imagine a big star today sounding like joe...half the talent a quarter of the heart...miss you man.

[@dansocha401]

How great is it that Joe was fighting for a vinyl release, even though it was going to be a double lp, years and years before it became a hipster thing to do? He knew that to listen to music that "don't come in a file," was worth fighting for. Punk Rock Warlord

[@billymercury3897]

2 Months after I was born... Joe Strummer ♥♥♥♥

[@selkirk8385]

Miss you, Joe.

[@danny355]

Nice to check in once in a while with Joe interviews from this era, often they're like this one...you're basically just having a coffee with Joe

[@Stonecutter334]

Such a huge loss. RipJoe. Miss you!! Need you more now than ever.

[@wwbuirkle]

We do?

[@MrMarckeedee]

Truly down to earth guy and had a good attitude. He liked to rile people up on stage...but down inside a nice guy and someone you could sit around and chat with and not feel intimidated or feel being put down by a pretentious ass, something he got accused of. RIP

[@asGstywdeyascddqybaq]

Joe is my hero it is a legend!! I miss him sooo much he was a good man R.I.P. joe we will never forget you my friend

[@beavis4play]

so scary that he seems fine - and yet he has very little time left. i'm 55 and it makes me think.

[@versioncity1]

Indeed. I'll be 50 this year; you just don't know, so get on with the things that are important to you.

[@NotEventheChairProductions]

It was an undiagnosed heart defect. Nothing he could've done about it. Maybe if he wasn't a vegetarian and had had to see a cardiologist for some other reason they would've found it. We'll never know.

[@TheHawaiiandude77]

I wish I had a chance to have a beer with him. Such an amazing soul. Aloha Joe!

[@speedtripleish]

My friend did just that. In a pub in Cornwall. His daughter was playing with joes daughter. My mate started chatting to him and then realised he knew him some how. So he asked. "How do I know you" Joe said. "I used to be in a band" how understated was that! True legend. My mate had a pic of him with Joe behind his bar in his home. He used to ask everyone who came around if they knew who it was. No one knew joe. Until I went around and was totally dumb struck. My mates wife was shocked at me being in total awe of this person no one knew. LoL

[@Watts660]

What a top bloke he was. I really miss him and his music.

[@Danortegz101]

This made me quite emotional, I wish he would have seen a heart doctor 😭😢

[@arbogash1852]

Who knows though. Some congenital heart diseases have no cure. Had he known, he might have lived too cautiously.

[@ruthgraham4313]

@@arbogash1852 he knew and still smoked

[@polystonehorse]

thanks for sharing!

[@longregrets6184]

one of the best frontmen ever , joe I hope you found peace .

[@MrJvandal]

Joe was a great man. He went through some difficult times with the Clash but he generally remained humble and stayed on a level through out his later career. He's sorely missed in the landscape of modern music. RIP

[@jjmalone1966]

It's good that Joe came from the background he had, it helped to enlarge his perspective. And yes, diplomacy is necessary, even in "Punk".

[@jsnbkr66]

"Each of us has a different bent, a different fascination." Lennon couldn't (and didn't) say it any better than this. As important as Lennon for sure.

[@fregwich]

I deeply miss this man.

[@Prousto]

God bless Joe Strummer.

[@nongnongtv8268]

We miss you a lot 😍😍😍

[@r.b.somers2052]

R.I.{. Joe - we love you.

[@darrylwiggins4799]

The Ramones,Iggy Pop,and David Bowie,these are were my Gods until I heard Joe Strummer belting out White Riot.When I did ,I realized I had a new God.And I believe in him still.

[@paulconnolly3189]

In Memory of Joe Strummer 🕯️🙏

[@johnsmith-wc8gs]

Elvis, Beatles and the Rolling Stones. And then the Clash. Rocknroll has had many greats and in my opinion it all led to the Clash. Everything had been done before by the greats and rocknroll had to progress because that's what it does. The Clash was the penultimate of what rock could become and since their demise it has been dead.

[@maxweissberg5679]

Thanks for posting!!! I love this. Is there a way to see what was excerpted? Did you cut anything of Joe talking? Thanks!

[@NotEventheChairProductions]

Thanks for watching!!!

[@jewelzb1402]

On December 22, 2002, Joe Strummer took his dog for a walk around the neighborhood of his Broomfield, Somerset home. He came home, had a heart attack, and died. He was found by his wife, Lucinda Tate. He was only 50. RIP Joe. 🙏🏻

[@DCUPtoejuice]

BEAST

[@mauriziogozzelino4632]

Always cool

[@bstroh20]

He had a way, didn't he? He had a great way of expressing himself.. So interesting.. Wish he were still around..

[@erinkwalsh]

joe was the BEST!!!!!!!!!

[@dollarrecordswithjosh795]

Joe is one of my all time heroes, and I grew up in the neighborhood where this hotel is. Thanks for the upload. Was this one of his last interviews?

[@Danortegz101]

Yes

[@alexbehr1393]

What hotel is this, Iroquois?

[@Punkatit]

Great stuff....

[@NotEventheChairProductions]

+Peter Gerard Woodhouse thanks for watching

[@jeromemorrow9923]

+byRShapiro How did you get this gig?

[@deerhunter2218]

John Graham Mellor will always be a God, see you up there Joe x

[@garyjenkins6398]

Rock In Peace Joe

[@cocoygranada9403]

He did a magazine interview just like Spin's 2001 issue of 25 Years of Punk. Sound tips in making good music like being yourself with all your experiences and integrating all your influences creating a SUMMATION or Sigma.

[@NotEventheChairProductions]

I remember that interview!

[@BicycleJoeTomasello]

The Gramercy has a bit of history for the Clash it was their home base when they played. Bond's Casino, they camped out there every night I think there was 17 shows. We were back there after every show and then up on the roof.

[@frankpaisley6799]

miss joe...

[@fasthracing]

So so missed

[@rayman17578]

I was 2 when he died hes my favorite front man next to Chester Bennington and The Clash is my favorite band next to Linkin Park

[@wildbill2122]

WOW,Joe was gone in a FLASH, glad I got to see him a couple of times w/The CLASH !.. I met Lemmy @ the same Bar, a lot of ROCKER's stay at that Hotel, been there forever, still is ?

[@alexbehr1393]

Is that the Iroquois?

[@wildbill2122]

@@alexbehr1393 IDR what the name of the Bar(s) inside is called,probably changed few times, but The Gramercy Park Hotel has been @ 21st ST & Lexington Ave for 100 years.A NYC Landmark/Luxury Hotel.

[@wakefordnicolas2824]

Nice Guy

[@consiglidiviaggio4502]

8 months before is death. I remember, i was living in London at that time. I remember i went into my room, the tv was on, and i heard the news of his death. I immediately called i friend of mine in italy...... The only band that matters!

[@AnnieBoBannie421]

Dammit john

[@beavis4play]

someone should have told everyone in the bar to shut the hell up - joe strummer is talking!

[@revol148]

he had barely eight months to live when this was recorded....

[@ruthgraham4313]

John Graham like as in Dundaff klumpen

[@michaelmac1798]

I wonder if he had chest pains? I'm always getting chest pains but me Doctor says it's not my heart? Career opportunities...

[@McGrogansSchool]

He was some KID!!!

He only played one song when he was little “ride your donkey”. His Dad knew that he was smart though. His Dad was correct.

[@emilyustick3738]

John Lennon, Elvis, Kurt Cobain, Jim Morrison, George Harrison...And HIM. Who else are we going to lose?

[@alicewinters4302]

Everyone

[@ListedMia-sm4xm]

Bradley

[@GilbertSyndrome]

+TRIPLESEVENSIX I was supposed to go to the Liverpool show but didn't want to risk blowing off work, in hindsight, I should have gone, shame.

[@DCUPtoejuice]

5:23 Spinal Tap moment.

[@samporter7018]

Sad he died so young an idiol of mine

[@paulgrahamedwardspencer5161]

He looks a lot olde than a guy in his late 40s early 50

[@michaelvitiello9960]

Does anyone know who's actually interviewing joe here????

[@NotEventheChairProductions]

I am. The person who shot the video and uploaded it.

[@michaelvitiello9960]

@@NotEventheChairProductions what all was involved in setting this up and being able to interview him, especially what looks to be a bar.

[@NotEventheChairProductions]

@@michaelvitiello9960 I had worked with his record label, Hellcat, before and when I asked for a photo pass to one of his show's at St. Ann's Warehouse that week they asked if I wanted to interview him. The bar is the bar is in his hotel - the Gramercy Park Hotel, which has since had a major renovation that he would HATE. We were supposed to talk for 15min, but it went much longer. Different times... and talking to people was what he loved most in life.

[@alexbehr1393]

@@NotEventheChairProductions is this filmed in the hotel restaurant, maialino?

[@NotEventheChairProductions]

@@alexbehr1393 the old hotel bar, it was to the right of the lobby back in the day

[@VictoriaBitter1976]

What did Joe die from? :(

[@NotEventheChairProductions]

+Brandon Quatro - Joe had an undiagnosed congenital heart defect. According to his wife, he took his dogs for a long walk in the afternoon, came back, sat down on the couch and died.

[@justmadeit2]

The scary thing is, any one of us could have an undiagnosed heart condition. Ive recently turned 42, and am more aware of my health. How would you know if you had this condition ??

[@stressbelden5869]

Hey Brandon.......Let's don't sugar coat reality. I've never heard of the heart problem before. How about his continual use of every drug known to man?? Especially uppers/speed. Look at all his early pics......his arms were like toothpicks. His death was in a way self-inflicted.

[@debbiepage6542]

@@stressbelden5869 Stop talking shit that you know nothing about. It was not drugs.

[@ruthgraham4313]

@@debbiepage6542 he told me about his heart and expectation of dying early

[@pointblank6]

He aged quite well, was he not hard on the drugs?

[@davidryan9496]

A well-educated and civilised Englishman, driven to an early death by a degenerate culture. He was raised for something else entirely.: The future of England.

[@cocoygranada9403]

FREEWOLF TRADEERF

[@TheDudeMeister69]

Is this Joe's last interview...?

[@NotEventheChairProductions]

+TheDude He passed in Dec of 2002. He was such a prolific man, and loved speaking with people. I am sure he did many more interviews that year.

[@cathfrom2776]

We can see how he was tired, can we ?