Paul Simonon of The Clash - The British Masters Season 4, Chapter 3

[@thecamerastoreguy1233]

As a lifelong Clash fan i was fortunate to meet Paul last year, what a lovely guy.

[@jacquiventurini7877]

I’d love to meet him too. 😍

[@OldWolflad]

I absolutely idolised Paul Simonen and still think he was the best looking punk of all the bands - the way he dressed, the way he looked, the way he moved...............and I loved the Clash! Fantastic bloke

[@marymary5494]

Me too, I used to drool over him. 😊

[@leyla.007]

And you still can't write his surname correctly. As a Ukrainian girl who became his fan only a week ago want to remind you that it's SIMONON

[@leyla.007]

@@marymary5494 i do this now, and tell all the musicians who know him and work with him that now he has a new fan girl from Ukraine who fell in live with him! And of course the Clash official page knows very well that i became band's fan only because of his beauty 😁

[@drexlspivey5828]

When he says "I've got a financial cushion from The Clash that allows me to do what I want" I love hearing stuff like that. You always worry that these musicians who were a huge influence on folk never got anything themselves so that's always good to hear.

[@ronnysterling7694]

lewis morrison paul and “joe” gave their money away because they’re communists, the soft kind well kinda, they’re hardscrabble commies

[@enriqueosorio3731]

@@ronnysterling7694 as far as I know, Joe wasn't a communist, he was a socialist, two different political ideologies. Joe has even criticized communism in his songwriting. I'm not sure about Paul though

[@drexlspivey5828]

@@ronnysterling7694 he couldn't have made it any clearer here that he doesn't give his money away, he said in the politest possible way that he's minted

[@davidwhite4874]

@@ronnysterling7694 Joe Strummer died a millionaire.

[@jam1ga]

Aka the Ramones.They had to tour their whole career in a van to get the cushion

[@mrpaulwright]

Lovely guy, deserves a lot of credit for the reggae influence on the clash.

[@DS-xk6yr]

True.

[@deerhunter2218]

To be fair Paul gets every credit from us Clash fans mate

[@johnnypunish]

"When they kick out your front door how you gonna come with your hands on your head or the trigger of your gun"

[@lucyllewellyn2850]

Love that song

[@thewhoman3182]

You can crush us you can bruise us but you'll have to answer to the guns of Brixton.

[@bill_case]

Paul is the coolest, most stylish, dude to ever come out of the punk scene. John Doe, from X, is a close second.

[@yassassin6425]

Burnel up there too.

[@AFormerClarity1]

Paul Simonon is the definition of cool

[@alondathomas293]

He still looks good for his age, too---he must have been taking care of himself all these years.

[@freebee8221]

Sid vicious was the coolest

[@ouFabLseK-LLangir]

@@alondathomas293 DNA...and oil of ulay...I don t think he's a yoga enthusiast

[@lptomtom]

Paul is an absolute legend, and I've dreamt my whole life of meeting either him or his legendary black&white "Paul" Fender Precision bass

[@joshs1533]

Exhibition at the Museum of London houses the bass he trashed on the cover of "London Calling"

[@frankstared]

The human being is light years more fascinating than any instrument.

[@izzygallegos2745]

He’s still incredibly handsome, love him! Thank you for this interview.

[@tonyhall3365]

whoever thought it would be a good idea to play a tiny level of music over them speaking needs to be stopped from working in media ever again

[@cob1965]

yes, have you noticed how they do that during radio news, radio 6 etc.

[@GilbertSyndrome]

Not to mention the fact that it's some weird, unsettling, Hitchcock-type tune, lol.

[@chrisjdgrady]

What do you do in "media"?

[@judasgoat4230]

@@chrisjdgrady The higher you go, the less you do.

[@Traumm9]

(Y) (Y)

[@BassToLife]

7:36 You can see him weathering a wave of emotion here thinking about his last message to Joe, I think there is a poetry to the fact their last words were essentially referring to the band's somewhat manifesto, which was keeping music about the music and nothing else matters.

[@theworldisavampire3346]

Since day one, 40 some years on... HUGE Clash fan. Love Paul. what a talent.

[@Tony-lv8uh]

Entwistle, Bootsy... so many great bass players but none had the stage style and presence like Paul. I’ve always had a man crush on him!

[@le9879]

I was IN LOVE with this guy when I was a teen. He still looks mighty good! I'd take him anyday

[@LouLou-bl7lw]

Me too he was a beaut

[@jacquiventurini7877]

The same 🤣 he is still hot!

[@marypoppins123]

Agreed. He has aged very well indeed!

[@leyla.007]

Im in love with him now and im doing everything possible in the social media to get in touch with him.

[@le9879]

@@leyla.007 if you do get in touch with him, please, please tell me what he says!!!!

[@gordieparenteau6555]

If there's any musician deserving of the title "master", it's Paul Simonon.

[@AnthonyMonaghan]

Simply, such a cool guy. He really inspired me at a young age to play an instrument. He has always been a dandy and his intellect is fierce. Great interview.

[@punkisinthedetails1470]

Unsung hero of modern music today. Humble genius.

[@refoliation]

What a cool dude. Thanks for everything Paul!

[@realityrealestate5755]

The Clash were the Beatles of punk. No other punk bassist had a huge song on the radio such as "Guns of Brixton". Some idiot below commented he had not played on London Calling, of course he did. God bless you, Paul!

[@downwarddonk]

I've heard that rumour about him not playing bass on Clash recordings - I think it was started or at least perpuated by Vince White who was one the guitarists who joined the band when Mick left. I read somewhere that White claimed this in his bitchy memoir. It's clearly untrue as we can watch Paul playing those songs in live footage. Don't think White thought that one through...

[@downwarddonk]

Also, why would they fire Topper who was too high to play drums but not a fire bass player who supposedly can't play when he's sober?

[@vincentkilpatrick3808]

Mick wrote almost every bass part and taught them to Paul. Or Mick just played them himself of overdubbed parts on Paul’s existing studio tracks. Facts.

[@realityrealestate5755]

@@vincentkilpatrick3808 Yes, Mick Jones definitely did that but Paul still had to learn how to play it when playing live.

[@nationaltrevor255]

@@downwarddonk Topper could still play perfectly well even when he had a habit. Not if he was sick obviously. He had become unreliable because that stuff has to take precedence plus Joe especially was concerned for his health. They had hoped he could clean up and start over.

[@OA-zis]

12/15/2018 ... HAPPY 63RD BIRTHDAY, DEAR PAUL!!! :-) The Clash Fans wish Lots of Happiness and Very Good Health to You on this special day, Punk Legend, The Most Coolest Bassist on Earth.

[@timmcPherrin]

didn't Doran talk shit about The Clash in the Lydon episode? Also, he wrote a piece in The Quietus years ago about how much he thought Oasis sucked, but then he interviews Noel as a British master?

[@andrewstanesby]

Just watched the Lydon interview. Your right, he did. How two faced. I'm sure the interview would have had a different tone if Simonon knew

[@thoseswellnachos]

Simonon did know

[@timmcPherrin]

@@thoseswellnachos dang! lol, thanks for sharing this

[@andrewstanesby]

@@thoseswellnachos interesting

[@edwinjamespope8118]

imagine knowing the interviewer slagged you off, then he asks you to sign some Clash vinyl..@@thoseswellnachos

[@BARTFUNKBASS]

One of the most underrated bass player! I love The Clash!

[@williamlegg7669]

Not underrated at all....he was never a good bass player.

[@RaiderfanCali]

Damn! How cool is that guy!

[@ustheserfs]

He radiated the ethos of the band.

[@DanielGarciaNYC]

Actually became a Clash fan because as a kid I saw the album London Calling and a dark sillouette smashing a guitar ( what I thought was at the time I later found out it was a bass) and I thought it was cool as hell. Remember back then there wasn't no streaming or snippets it was either buy it your friend had one and you made a copy but I brought allot of albums based on album covers and this was one and I loved the album and was obessed with it. That was the entry point to my love of the Clash

[@johnnobrega4767]

Daniel Garcia , cool I got that guitar smashing tattooed on my leg

[@barefootfrolick]

great mention of Stuart Sutcliffe - Paul Simonon connection/comparison x

[@riffraff2770]

Get rid of that horrible background music.

[@Charlito732]

Totally agree! Fucking music sounds like death therapy.

[@remlaps7074]

Yes! Please! I had to stop watching

[@dasguero9655]

Does not fit or even seem to serve any purpose

[@sonofboar13]

Bro this series is still going? Hell yes. I just saw a video of Paul, so glad we’re still celebrating Paul

[@ghostkid8324]

John mate, keep up the good work. Fantastic as always. Very envious of the musicians you get to “talk to” rather than conventionally interview. Much more interesting than more typical music journalism. Great series.

A real inspiration for real artist. A pirate, a legend.

[@gustavoalfaro1245]

Can't wait for a John Squire interview. Reni would also be great!

[@Happy.Jack818]

Clash , best show I ever saw or will ever see ! “A small cushion “ well deserved !!! The Music 🎶

[@pica6888]

I love Paul. What a great human being.

[@aliya.ayyyeee]

Forever the coolest human being.

[@WyattScott]

Hell yeah! nothin but the truth the from my favorite bass player from my favorite band

[@justinkline1294]

Dude that closing story about the narrowly-averted prison fight was one for the ages. This man is indeed a great human being.

[@justinkline1294]

@@Yoop678 Yours has been filled with prison fights?

[@omfug7148]

Terrible interview I wanted to hear more about how Paul shaped himself into being a musician since that was never his aspiration in the first place, unlike Syd Vicious, Paul actually did learn how to play I would have liked to have heard the process of that.

[@lucasrichards5793]

Tbf to him, sid never really got the chance to improve haha

[@Mike-bp2hh]

You can call me Al is one of my favorites

[@frankstared]

Not British, a citizen of the world. I adore him, as I adored them all.

[@rays2794]

Tremendous interview!

[@DirectorSkitsandBTS]

Great episode

[@antscott4922]

I'm 63 and got to meet the clash once or twice (don't matter) The thing that is important, is, we still care!!!!

[@murrayballard]

Great episode. Hopefully he'll interview Damon Albarn next.

[@fourkray4825]

Murray Ballard He did!

[@DJBFAD]

Make background noise stop please - I want to hear this legend speak, not that annoying tone...

[@davidpucciarelli9373]

Really touching that Paul talked about the influence of Stuart Sutcliffe

[@bigearedmouse17]

One of the coolest men on the Planet !

[@brunob.7737]

I´ve always known the Clash didn´t get together in 2002 because of Paul and this interview confirms it. Well done mate, great argument!

[@MrMonikerjay]

Guns of Brixton is my favorite Clash tune. Love everything about it.

[@deerhunter2218]

Was Guns of Brixton not a rip off from Beats International?

[@Le_Petomane]

Its funny looking back at the Lydon interview and his comments regarding the clash after this.

[@thomasandersen6719]

Paul will always be the coolest cat in the room

[@andchat6241]

The "band that were assassinated in Northern Ireland" were the Miami Showband.. The Clash 1st 'Northern Ireland trip' didn' t go to plan ..having posed in front of Soldiers ,Check points & any various other places the gig was cancelled .Making it seem they went there for some 'photo ops'..this wasn't helped when they used an image from Northern Ireland as part of their live backdrop in '78 . You can see the image in the live footage from the Music Machine used in 'Rude Boy' ... In fairness they soon realised living in Northern Ireland wasnt the same as Ladbroke Grove, London .. & the backdrop with the 'Northern Ireland' image quite quickly was removed from their stage set up..

[@kitwalker2968]

Would've liked to have seen them and Stiff Little Fingers on the same bill !!!

[@andchat6241]

@@kitwalker2968 if they could have done it in '79 it would have been a hell of a gig !....SLF were great live around the release of of their debut lp ( & Gotta Getaway 7" etc) but it only really lasted about a year & by '81 they were just a decent rock- punk - pop group- they couldn't replicate the intensity of their early days & unlike the Clash or the Jam didnt really progress in new musical directions. But many groups had that problem ,the last time I saw the Clash (in '82) they were just a good rock band.. If you're interested in SLF watch the 'South Bank Show 'programme that covered Rough Trade records & some of the groups ( inc SLF being interviewed & live footage) .it went out on a Sunday night in May '79 ... I was on holiday & the next day I found a record store that had 'Inflammable Material ' - I was that blown away by what I'd seen the previous evening ! (Only problem was no record player available! - so It was a couple of days before we went home & I could listen to it ).. If you type 'South Bank Show - Rough Trade' you'll find the 30min programme on KZbin.....

[@dfpguitar]

the irony of a many quizzing about style whilst wearing a suit with white socks, trainers and a jumper underneath a blazer.

[@cmortenson3647]

Pretty bad.

[@marymary5494]

Interesting interview. I loved the creativity of punk clothes. I made most of my clothes, yes some from second hand or Army and Navy Stores. Im still making my clothes in 2024.

[@marcgordon3239]

After Seeing Paul Smash His Bass Guitar On Stage ,,, Through Video & Poster Art Cover's For There Record's !!! I Knew Bass Guitar Playing Was My Calling ... Him ,,, Flea ,,, Brad Wilk ,,, Bootsy Collins & Stanley Clarke Has Been Sooo InFlential In My Love Of Music & Bass Playing ... I Can't Thank Him/Them Enough ...

[@danielelston7457]

This Man is a true legend ❤

[@benlawer7564]

Cool, interview Mick jones too!

[@Stella-mt2bb]

I just love him! ❤️👌

[@andreajeffries5502]

Great interviews but lose the background music.

[@professorpancakes6545]

Legend

[@et8352]

My love 😍

[@LawrieFamily]

That was a bizarre abrupt end to the interview 🤔

[@sitruk6120]

So thats why their channels called Noisey

[@hunterredday5988]

wow! still a legend gwaarn boss.

[@tonymack66]

Had never heard Simonon talk before. Interestin. Yeah.

[@renny5835]

Can u REUPLOAD the video WITHOUGHT THE BACKGROUND MUSIC, cause its pissing me off but good documentary tho :}

[@sspbrazil]

Really nice interview with Paul. Great bloke, great bass player and great artist.

[@yassassin6425]

Great bloke and great artist no doubt. Great bass player?....

[@sspbrazil]

@@yassassin6425 indeed he is.

[@yassassin6425]

@@sspbrazil Why?

[@sspbrazil]

@@yassassin6425 because he is! kzbin.info/www/bejne/raLGmq2QmseWl7c

[@yassassin6425]

@@sspbrazil Yeah, thanks for that, not exactly supporting your contention is it? I'm as familiar with his work as I am Brixton given that I too used to live there. Presumably you also think that he's a great vocalist?

[@hamupinhere]

The Miami Showband is the band he was thinking of that was murdered in Belfast. They were murdered by the U.V.F.

[@pinomiraglia8256]

Avevo letto che era stato a Siena con la sua famiglia per motivi di lavoro Paul ha raccontato in qualche intervista gj piaceva la pittura e andava anche a vedere musei e arte antica nelle chiese, questo ricordavo un po come ero io da giovane..

[@joaoclash4166]

stop playing that music in the background all of the time. You should know better that music sets moods.

[@sallie5321]

Can't say I'm surprised that Paul doesn't like him...

[@mariuspoppFM]

Who?

[@jonstamatiou9641]

What a character! He didn't write the basslines for the clash songs, he wrote only a few ,Guns of Brixton was one of them!

[@HeroesZeros]

He's turning into "Old Man Steptoe". "Harold!" ;)

[@giadac.8677]

Oh Paul

[@dfpguitar]

the irony of a many quizzing about style whilst wearing a suit with white socks, trainers and a jumper underneath a blazer.

[@shesawindup]

John Doran is like Dr.Who - each episode he looks different

[@andchat6241]

It's good to see Paul with 'the Gap in his front teeth' back... Although the Clash didn't have a Sex/Seditionaries style clothes shop at the start , they soon had a 'dedicated clothes designer' & the '5th Column' making t shirts ..

[@samuelblinne6040]

Love Paul simmon

[@markgullick1725]

Simonon beat me at table-tennis.

[@leyla.007]

I would have kissed him instead of playing tennis with him

[@samharvey3241]

An absolute gent..

[@killiangarvan2766]

I think the name of the band who were assasinated in Northern Ireland he was refering to was a band called The Miami Showband.

[@jameskelly2559]

zephyra there’s a really moving documentary about that senseless act of killing

[@markyncole]

I suddenly feel the need to brush my teeth.

[@zZEDMUIRZz]

Aphex Twin, massive attack, primal scream

[@patswayze7359]

Down to earth gentleman

[@rexcatajan1009]

More documentary about the noisey music. Please

[@leighfoulkes7297]

From my google search, I think the band killed in Belfast was Miami Showband.

[@k8lyndontsurf673]

Miami showband were killed in banbridge were they not?

[@ThomMillsDrums]

Whats the Definition of the program well its called British masters because "British cause your British and Masters cause it comes from my record collection" ! wow. Love the series but Doran is a bit of a sycophant.

[@atulyab561]

Did he just mention Mani from the Stone Roses at 7:21 ?

[@ronnysterling7694]

Paul’s hearing aide kept ringing like cellos, its crazy

[@rhinseout]

Ronny Sterling 😂

[@BedeLaplume]

Great Talent without him there would have been no : London Calling, Hitsville UK, Guns of Brixton, Lost in the superMarket and the list goes on..

[@iliketolkien]

Rock The Casbah and Magnificent Seven were actually played by other musicians

[@BedeLaplume]

​@@iliketolkien ​ You are right I double checked during the Magnificent seven recording he was out filming a movie. Same thing with Magnificent Seven who was also done by Norman Watt-Roy.. In any event Paul Simonon made so many great lines it's not too difficult to find something else.. Thanks .

[@RYx222]

@@iliketolkien Paul played on Rock the Casbah

[@paulbaker3465]

Just Paul ❤️

[@SPLENDIDZEN]

Thumbs up#600... one of my favorite bassists!...

[@duffbaker9554]

A great ploy to get your albums signed.

[@mellowado6184]

'Do you identify as British?' - 'I guess yeah, you could say I'm in English'.....Oh please in the name of God!

[@sleepleZZZV3]

When "The Prodigy"??

[@joeolney2356]

Do Andy Partridge or Colin Moulding.

[@vanishing_girl]

hell yesss

[@kellymacbus1]

A cool humble decent gentleman, bravo!

[@noestahechalamielparatuboca]

y bien pagado bravo

[@michaeljackson5914]

Been thinking about Nigel recently Paul

[@jimdread8743]

Hang on you were slagging off the Clash in the John Lydon video you said they were pissing in their lemon smelling pants in Jamaica

[@Nechepsos]

oi, the background music is bizzaro man....

[@MisAnnThorpe]

Simonon comes across as an ok geezer, even allowing for the supposed tension between him and Doran but I'd suggest he's about as worthy of being considered a "British Master" (whatever that's supposed to mean), as Tricky, the Gallaghers and Dizzee Rascal. What is he's supposed to have mastered, bass? If you're familiar with The Clash bootlegs, then you know that's not the same bass player that played on the like of Sandinista.

[@davidcunningham4424]

You don't wanna get hit by a bus wearing flares! Used to be dirty underpants:/

[@electricleg207]

Well you explain away the dirty underpants due to the fear of a dirty great number 52 bearing down on you ,but the flares ......