The band rose out of Strummer's work with Pablo Cook and Richard Norris. The three of them originally came together to write the soundtracks for two short films, Tunnel of Love, and Question of Honour. The song "Yalla Yalla" was originally written by this trio, and mixed by Antony Genn. Once Genn was brought on board, a new song "Techno D-Day" was recorded, at which point Strummer, at the behest of Genn, began recording a new record. The original drummer, Ged Lynch, left the band before recording on Rock Art & The X-Ray Style was complete and Smiley (Robbie Williams' former drummer) was brought in to finish recording. Shields and Slattery were recruited through a number of contacts with the band. Slattery had also appeared on Robbie Williams' Life Thru a Lens album, and Scott Shields was a friend of Slattery's. Oddly enough, in the initial lineup, only Smiley was playing the instrument which he knew best. Genn, although not a bad guitar player, reportedly did not have the ability to play sufficient lead guitar, hence Slattery was brought in. He, however, was trained in horns and keyboards, but had a natural ability with nearly all instruments. Strummer once joked that Slattery could play a hole in the windshield of the tour bus. Shields had previously been a drummer, but was recruited to play bass, and later guitar.
The Mescaleros first gig was in Antony Genn's hometown of Sheffield at The Leadmill on 5th June 1999. They toured extensively for the next six months, including playing the Glastonbury Festival, the U.S., and Europe. 2000 saw the band play Big Day Out in Australia & New Zealand, plus tour Japan.
The band signed with the Californian punk label Hellcat, and issued three albums. Following the release of the first, Rock Art and the X-Ray Style, they toured England and North America; sets included several Clash-fan favourites.
Singer-songwriter Tymon Dogg, a longtime friend of Joe Strummer, joined the band in 2000 playing violin and Spanish guitar. He contributed some of the tunes on "Global A-Go-Go" including "Mondo Bongo". Honorary Mescaleros include John Blackburn and Jimmy Hogarth, both of whom played bass in place of Scott Shields on the 2000 tour supporting The Who, which was also Tymon Dogg's first tour with the band. Following the departure of Genn and Smiley, Scott Shields moved to guitar, Simon Stafford was brought on board to play bass, and Luke Bullen was brought on board to play drums. Pablo Cook left in Aug 2001 to join Moby.
Following the release of Global A Go-Go, Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros mounted a 21-date tour of North America, Britain, and Ireland. Once again, these concerts featured Clash material ("London Calling", "Rudie Can't Fail"), as well as classic covers of reggae hits ("The Harder They Come", "A Message To You, Rudie") and regularly closed the show with a nod to Joey Ramone by playing The Ramones' "Blitzkrieg Bop".
The band is also the subject of a documentary by Dick Rude titled Let's Rock Again! which was released on June 27th, 2006. The single Mondo Bongo recently featured on the movie Mr and Mrs Smith. A version of Minstrel Boy (from 'Global-A-Go-Go') appeared during the credits in the movie 'Black Hawk Down'. The song Johnny Appleseed was used as the theme song to the HBO series John From Cincinnati.
Joe Strummer & the Mescaleros' last ever concert was on November 22, 2002, in Liverpool. This show is often overlooked however, in favor of citing the November 15 show at Acton Town Hall. It was this show, which was a benefit for striking fire fighters, that Mick Jones joined Strummer on stage for the first time in nearly twenty years, during the classic Clash song "Bankrobber." An encore followed with both "White Riot" and "London's Burning". The Last Night London Burned, a 64-page book written by George Binette, showing never before published pictures of Joe Strummer and Mick Jones, and a 26 minutes film by Gregg McDonald and Alan Miles, were released as a unique visual record of that last ever London concert by Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros. Following the conclusion of this tour, the band headed straight for the studio, but Strummer died of a congenital heart defect on 22 December 2002 after returning home from walking his dogs.
The band's final album, Streetcore, was released posthumously on October 20, 2003.
The band also made appearances on The Late Show with David Letterman, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, as well as touring on the Hootenany Festival in the summer of 2001.
Various Mescaleros have performed at numerous tribute concerts in both UK & Europe.
Minstrel Boy
Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the ranks of death you'll find him
His father's sword he hath girded on
And his wild harp slung behind him
"Land of Song!" cried the warrior bard
(Should) "Tho' all the world betrays thee
One sword, at least, thy rights shall guard
The Minstrel fell! But the foeman's chain
Could not bring that proud soul under
The harp he lov'd ne'er spoke again
For he tore its chords asunder
And said "No chains shall sully thee
Thou soul of love and brav'ry
Thy songs were made for the pure and free
They shall never sound in slavery
The Minstrel Boy is a song written by Thomas Moore in 1807 to honour Irish soldiers who fought fiercely in the wars for independence. It is said that the song was composed as a tribute to a young student who died while fighting for Irish independence. This song is played in both Ireland and the United States and has become an anthem of sorts, widely recognised as a symbol of freedom and courage. The Minstrel Boy refers to a travelling musician who is leaving his craft to fight for a cause he believes in. He has taken his father's sword and his harp in the hope of encouraging the troops to carry on fighting.
The singer describes the Minstrel Boy as a warrior bard who is determined to fight for his cause even in the face of betrayal by the world. The harp symbolises the love he has for his country and his belief in freedom. Even though he falls in battle, he does not allow himself to be captured and the chains of the enemy could not bring him down. The Minstrel Boy knows that his songs, which were created to celebrate freedom, would never be heard again if he were to be enslaved, and he chooses to destroy the chords of his beloved harp.
Line by Line Meaning
The minstrel boy to the war is gone
The bard has left his homeland to participate in the war effort.
In the ranks of death you'll find him
He has joined the army, ready to put his life on the line for his cause.
His father's sword he hath girded on
He has armed himself with the sword he inherited from his father.
And his wild harp slung behind him
His musical instrument, the harp, is carried with him as he goes to fight.
"Land of Song!" cried the warrior bard
The bard proclaims his love for his homeland and its musical traditions.
(Should) "Tho' all the world betrays thee
Even if every other nation were to turn against his home country...
One sword, at least, thy rights shall guard
...he will still be willing to fight and defend it with his sword.
One faithful harp shall praise thee!"
...while his harp will continue to sing praises for its land.
The Minstrel fell! But the foeman's chain
The bard eventually fell in battle, but even in death...
Could not bring that proud soul under
...he refused to be subjugated by his enemy.
The harp he lov'd ne'er spoke again
After his death, the bard's cherished harp could no longer make music.
For he tore its chords asunder
He destroyed the harp's strings so that they could not be used to play music again.
And said "No chains shall sully thee
The bard expressed his desire for his harp to remain free from oppression and enslavement.
Thou soul of love and brav'ry
He believed that the harp represented the spirit of love and bravery.
Thy songs were made for the pure and free
The bard felt that the harp's music was meant to be enjoyed by those who are pure and free.
They shall never sound in slavery
He vowed that his harp's music would never be heard under the chains of tyranny and captivity.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Bucks Music Group
Written by: Martin Slattery, Joe Strummer, Scott Shields, Richard Flack, Tymon Dogg, Luke Bullen, Simon Stafford
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind