The Joe Strummer Foundation

Last updated

The Joe Strummer Foundation
FoundedDecember 2002 (2002-12)
FounderLucinda Mellor Tait
Type Registered charity
Registration no.1104165
FocusNew music development
Location
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Tom Heber-Percy, Anna Campeau, Crispin Chetwynd, Lola Mellor, Lucinda Garland
Website joestrummerfoundation.org

The Joe Strummer Foundation is a non-profit organisation which promotes the development of new music. It was established in memory of punk rock singer and guitarist Joe Strummer shortly after his death in December 2002. Strummer's widow Lucinda was the principal founder along with their daughters, Jazz and Lola Mellor, and English artist Damien Hirst. The organisation was known as Strummerville until December 2014. [1]

Contents

Organisation

Joe Strummer 11scenestrummer09.jpg
Joe Strummer

The Joe Strummer Foundation is a registered charity that supports aspiring musicians and funds projects which promote new music. The foundation's chief director, Trish Whelan, described it as an effort to cultivate interest and interactivity among young artists. "We are not a label, so there's no ulterior motive for us. It's not a training ground for pop stars, it's about helping people express themselves through music." [2]

The foundation extends encouragement and material support to all unsigned musicians. [3] The foundation operates the "Strummerville Studio", a free workshop and rehearsal space (decorated with handwritten lyrics by Strummer himself) at The Roundhouse in London. [3] [4] Other charitable facilities include two studios located in Belfast at the Oh Yeah music centre [5] and one in Bogota, built in partnership with the international non-profit Fairtunes. [6]

In 2007, the foundation began operating one of the stages at the Glastonbury Festival, the annual performing arts event that had become one of Strummer's passions in his later life, dubbing it The Strummerville Bandstand. [7] Also at Glastonbury is a small campsite named for Strummer that is the scene of intimate fireside performances. [8] [9]

The foundation has given support to hundreds of musicians including some, like Bastille and Anna Calvi, that have gone on to find wide audiences. [2] The first national tour by Strummerville bands – the "Westway Round the UK Tour" – was begun in Autumn 2010 with the headline artist Beans on Toast. [10] [11]

The organization is itself often the beneficiary of charity events. In December 2019, a New York City concert marking the 40th anniversary of the release of London Calling donated all its proceeds to the Strummer Foundation. Participants included Debbie Harry, Jesse Malin, Fred Armisen, and Eugene Hutz. [12]

A cover of The Clash's "Janie Jones", retitled as "Janie Jones (Strummerville)", was released by B-Unique Records in October 2006 as a charity single for Strummerville. The record was nominally credited to "Babyshambles and Friends" – in addition to the band Babyshambles, performers included Jamie T, Jeremy Warmsley, Kid Harpoon, Laura Marling, and Lisa Moorish, as well as members of Cazals, Dirty Pretty Things, GoodBooks, Guillemots, The Kooks, Larrikin Love, The Libertines, Macabees, Mystery Jets, Noisettes, The Paddingtons, The Rakes, and We Are Scientists. [13] It reached No. 17 on the UK Single Chart.  [14]

Filmmaker Don Letts, an old friend of Strummer, made a documentary about the charity, Strummerville , released in March 2010. [15] "Strummerville" is also the name of a tribute song to Strummer by Irish punk band Stiff Little Fingers.  [16] [17]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big Audio Dynamite</span> British musical group formed in 1984

Big Audio Dynamite were an English band, formed in London in 1984 by Mick Jones, former lead guitarist and co-lead vocalist of the Clash. The band mixed various musical styles, incorporating elements of punk rock, dance music, hip hop, reggae, and funk. After releasing a number of well-received studio albums and touring extensively throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Big Audio Dynamite broke up in 1997. In 2011, the band embarked on a reunion tour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Clash</span> English punk rock band

The Clash were an English rock band that formed in London in 1976 and were key players in the original wave of British punk rock. Billed as "The Only Band That Matters", they used elements of reggae, dub, funk, ska, and rockabilly, and they contributed to the post-punk and new wave movements that followed punk. For most of their recording career, the Clash consisted of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Joe Strummer, lead guitarist and vocalist Mick Jones, bassist Paul Simonon, and drummer Nicky "Topper" Headon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Strummer</span> British musician (1952–2002)

John Graham Mellor, known professionally as Joe Strummer, was a British musician. He was the co-founder, lyricist, rhythm guitarist, and lead vocalist of punk rock band the Clash, formed in 1976. The Clash's second studio album, Give 'Em Enough Rope (1978), reached No. 2 on the UK charts. Soon after, they achieved success in the US, starting with London Calling (1979) and peaking with Combat Rock (1982), which reached No. 7 on the US charts and was certified 2× platinum there. The Clash's explosive political lyrics, musical experimentation, and rebellious attitude greatly influenced rock music in general, especially alternative rock. Their music incorporated reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, and rockabilly.

<i>The Clash</i> (album) 1977 studio album by The Clash

The Clash is the debut studio album by the English punk rock band the Clash, released on 8 April 1977 through CBS Records. Recorded and mixed over three weeks in February 1977 for £4,000, it would go on to reach No. 12 on the UK charts, and has been included on many retrospective rankings as one of the greatest punk albums of all time.

The 101ers were a pub rock band from the 1970s playing mostly in a rockabilly style, notable as being the band that Joe Strummer left to join The Clash. Formed in London in May 1974, the 101ers made their performing debut on 7 September at the Telegraph pub in Brixton, under the name 'El Huaso and the 101 All Stars'. The name would later be shortened to the '101 All Stars' and finally just the '101ers'. The group played at free festivals such as Stonehenge, and established themselves on the London pub rock circuit prior to the advent of punk.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Babyshambles</span> English rock band

Babyshambles were an English rock band established in London. The band was formed by Pete Doherty during a hiatus from the Libertines. As of 2013 the band included Mick Whitnall, Drew McConnell and Adam Ficek. Babyshambles have released three albums—Down in Albion (2005), Shotter's Nation (2007) and Sequel to the Prequel (2013)—three EPs and a number of singles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Topper Headon</span> British drummer

Nicholas Bowen "Topper" Headon is an English drummer and multi-instrumentalist, best known as the drummer of punk rock band The Clash. Known for his contributions to the drumming world, Headon was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the rest of The Clash in 2003.

<i>Streetcore</i> 2003 studio album by Joe Strummer & the Mescaleros

Streetcore is the third and final studio album by Joe Strummer & the Mescaleros. The album was completed after the death of frontman Joe Strummer, primarily by Martin Slattery and Scott Shields, and released on 21 October 2003. The album marks the band's transition from their previous genre-bending work to a more straightforward rock album, reminiscent of Strummer's early work with the Clash. The album received a positive critical reception and is generally seen as a return to form and a high point for Strummer to have gone out on.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mick Jones (The Clash guitarist)</span> British musician and singer

Michael Geoffrey Jones is a British musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer best known as the co-founder of the Clash, and as that group's guitarist until 1983. In 1984, he formed Big Audio Dynamite with Don Letts. Jones has played with the band Carbon/Silicon along with Tony James since 2002 and was part of the Gorillaz live band for a world tour in 2010–2011. In late 2011, Jones collaborated with Pete Wylie and members of the Farm to form the Justice Tonight Band.

Marion Mitchell, better known by her stage name Janie Jones, is a former English singer. She became renowned for holding sex parties at her home during the 1970s, and was jailed for her involvement in 'controlling prostitutes'. She first achieved notoriety in August 1964, when she attended the film premiere of London in the Raw, wearing a topless dress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White Riot</span> 1977 single by The Clash

"White Riot" is a song by English punk rock band the Clash, released as the band's first single in March 1977 and also included on their self-titled debut album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais</span> 1978 single by The Clash

"(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais" is a song by the English punk rock band the Clash. It was originally released as a 7-inch single, with the b-side "The Prisoner", on 16 June 1978 through CBS Records.

<i>The Clash: Westway to the World</i> 2000 British film

The Clash: Westway to the World is a 2000 documentary film about the British punk rock band The Clash. In 2003 it won the Grammy Award for Best Long Form Music Video.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don Letts</span> British film director

Donovan Letts is a British film director, disc jockey (DJ) and musician. Letts first came to prominence as the videographer for the Clash, directing several of their music videos. In 1984, Letts co-founded the band Big Audio Dynamite with former Clash lead guitarist and co-lead vocalist Mick Jones, acting as the band's sampler and videographer before departing the band in 1990.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Clash discography</span>

The discography of the British punk rock band the Clash consists of six studio albums, two extended plays, two live albums and 31 singles.

"I'm So Bored with the U.S.A." is a song by British punk rock band the Clash, featured on their critically acclaimed 1977 debut album, which was released in the United States in July 1979 as their second album after Give 'Em Enough Rope. It was the album's third track in the original version and second in the US version.

"Janie Jones" is a song by the English punk rock band the Clash. It is the opening track on their debut album, The Clash (1977). The song is named after Janie Jones, a cabaret singer who organised sex parties at her Kensington home.

The Clash were an English rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk rock. Along with punk rock, they experimented with reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap and rockabilly. For most of their recording career, The Clash consisted of Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, and Paul Simonon, with Terry Chimes or Nicky "Topper" Headon on drums and percussion. The band features in several documentaries and other films.

"Garageland" is a song by English punk rock band The Clash featured as the final track for their 1977 debut album The Clash.

<i>Sound System</i> (album) 2013 box set by The Clash

Sound System is a box set collection by the Clash released in September 2013. The box contains the band's studio albums newly re-mastered by Mick Jones, with a further three discs featuring demos, non-album singles, rarities and B-sides, a DVD with previously unseen footage by both Don Letts and Julien Temple, original promo videos and live footage, plus an owner's manual booklet, reprints of the band's original 'Armagideon Times' fanzine and merchandise including dog tags, badges, stickers and a poster. The boom box packaging was designed by Paul Simonon. The set was released simultaneously with 5 Album Studio Set, which contains only the five studio albums, and a greatest hits package titled The Clash Hits Back.

References

  1. ↑ Strummerville is now The Joe Strummer Foundation
  2. 1 2 Burrell, Ian (4 January 2012). "Strummerville: A place where all the young punks can play to win" . The Independent (UK). Archived from the original on 18 June 2022. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  3. 1 2 "Our work and what we do". Strummerville.com. 2013. Archived from the original on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  4. ↑ "Roundhouse trusts and public supporters". Roundhouse.org.uk. 2013. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  5. ↑ "Oh Yeah Rehearsal Rooms". Ohyeahbelfast.com. 2013. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  6. ↑ "Fairtunes: Bogota, Colombia". Fairtunes.org. 2013. Archived from the original on 14 September 2014. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  7. ↑ "Extra fun in Glastonbury's Lost Vagueness field". Efestivals.co.uk. 30 May 2007. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  8. ↑ "Mumford & Sons play secret Glastonbury campfire show". NME. 25 June 2011. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  9. ↑ Ian Youngs (2015). "Hidden Glastonbury: The festival's best kept secrets". BBC News. Retrieved 4 July 2015.
  10. ↑ Dingwall, John (8 October 2010). "Glasgow Calling: Bands Pay Tribute to Clash Star Strummer". Daily Record . Glasgow. Archived from the original on 26 September 2017. Retrieved 16 November 2016.(subscription required)
  11. ↑ "Westway Round the UK Tour". Strummerville.com. 2013. Archived from the original on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  12. ↑ Rettig, James (15 December 2019). "Watch Debbie Harry & Jesse Malin Cover The Pogues' "Fairytale Of New York"". Stereogum .
  13. ↑ " Janie Jones (Strummerville) " at Discogs
  14. ↑ "Janie Jones (Strummerville)". Acharts.us. aCharts. 2013. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  15. ↑ "Strummerville: A Don Letts Film". Directorsnotes.com. 2010. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  16. ↑ "Strummerville" at AllMusic
  17. ↑ "Seventies punk stars Stiff Little Fingers play Gloucester Guildhall". The Gloucestershire Echo. Gloucestershireecho.co.uk. 2015. Archived from the original on 6 July 2015. Retrieved 4 July 2015.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.