The Clash were a punk rock band from London, England, active from 1976 to 1… Read Full Bio ↴The Clash were a punk rock band from London, England, active from 1976 to 1985. One of the most successful and iconic bands from the first wave of punk in the 70s, they incorporated rock and roll, reggae, rockabilly, and many other music styles into their repertoire. They were legendary for their uncommonly intense stage performances.

From their earliest days as a band, The Clash stood apart from their peers with their musicianship as well as their lyrics, the passionate, left-wing political idealism in the lyrics by frontman Joe Strummer and guitarist Mick Jones contrasting with the lyrical nihilism of the Sex Pistols and the musical minimalism of the Ramones. Their 1979 album 'London Calling' is considered by critics as one of the greatest albums in the history of rock music. Rolling Stone declared it the best album of the 80s.

The Clash's attitude and style, as much as their music, has influenced countless bands, both within and outside the sphere of punk rock. Often lauded as "the only band that matters," The Clash were canonized as rock saints even before they broke up. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the class of 2003. Their first five albums, ('The Clash', 'Give 'Em Enough Rope', 'London Calling', 'Sandinista!', and 'Combat Rock') to this day, continue to earn a great deal of interest from rock fans and artists alike.

Mick Jones went on to form Big Audio Dynamite after being fired from The Clash, and he more recently has produced albums by artists such as The Libertines and Babyshambles. In 2004, he formed Carbon/silicon with musician Tony James (of Generation X and Sigue Sigue Sputnik fame). Exploring various genres such as alternative rock and electronic music, he continues to collaborate with other modern groups such as Gorillaz.

Joe Strummer went on to form and front Joe Strummer and the Latino Rockabilly War and then Joe Strummer and The Mescaleros. He also had a notable solo career that involved work in films and other endeavors, often earning critical acclaim. He died on December 22, 2002, the victim of an un-diagnosed congenital heart defect. Mourned by countless punk fans, his life has been subject to several tributes and was memorialized in the 2007 documentary 'Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten'.

Bass player Paul Simonon went on to form Havana 3 A.M., a group that released a self-titled album in 1991, yet he decided to quit music in the early 90s in favour of becoming an artist. In 2006, he returned to music as bass player in a musical project together with singer-songwriter Damon Albarn. The project is often referred to as The Good, The Bad & The Queen, the name of the groups first recorded album that came out in 2007. In terms of his paintings, his well-received work notably was in an exhibition at Thomas Williams Fine Art in London.

Drummer Topper Headon released a solo album, 1986's 'Waking Up', before leaving the music business to become a taxi driver and escape the heroin addiction that cost him his legacy in The Clash. Over the years, he's had sporadic involvement in various music-related endeavors, such as being a key part of the aforementioned 'The Future Is Unwritten' film. He's currently residing in the seaside town of Dover, England.

Members:
1976 Original line-up
Joe Strummer – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
Mick Jones – lead guitar, backing vocals
Keith Levene – lead guitar
Paul Simonon – bass guitar, backing vocals
Terry Chimes – drums, percussion

1977
Joe Strummer – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
Mick Jones – lead guitar, backing vocals
Paul Simonon – bass guitar, backing vocals
Terry Chimes – drums, percussion

1977-1982 Classic line-up
Joe Strummer – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
Mick Jones – lead guitar, backing vocals
Paul Simonon – bass guitar, backing vocals
Topper Headon – drums, percussion

1982-1983
Joe Strummer – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
Mick Jones – lead guitar, backing vocals
Paul Simonon – bass guitar, backing vocals
Terry Chimes – drums, percussion

1983
Joe Strummer – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
Mick Jones – lead guitar, backing vocals
Paul Simonon – bass guitar, backing vocals
Pete Howard – drums, percussion

1983-1986 Final line-up
Joe Strummer – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
Nick Sheppard – lead guitar, backing vocals
Vince White – lead guitar
Paul Simonon – bass guitar, backing vocals
Pete Howard – drums, percussion

Are You Red...y
The Clash Lyrics

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Are you ready for
Are you ready for
War
War
War

High above the satellites
View the Earth

? nights
Europe switches off those lights

Are you ready for
War, all in all this sentimental
War, wall to wall with the regimental
War, with all the things continental
Are you red

War
War
War

There's no use runnin' a mobile home
Everywhere is a target zone
Hell is ringing on the red, red phone

Are you ready for
War, all that is futuristic
War, all that is realistic
War, all that will be ballistic
Are you red

War
War
War

Are you ready for
Are you ready for

Vodka chilled in the Kremlin bar
Ride on the rocky (???) and hold my arm
Raise my glass and break it on the bar

Are you ready for
War, all in all this sentimental
War, wall to wall with the regimental
War, with all the things continental
Are you red

Are you ready for
War

War
War

Overall Meaning

The Clash's song "Are You Red...y" was released on their album "Combat Rock" in 1982. The title is a play on words, referencing the communist phrase "Are you red?" The lyrics of the song discuss the potential for war and the question of whether or not the listener is ready for it. The chorus repeats the word "war" three times, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. The first verse mentions satellites and Europe turning off their lights, suggesting a possible nuclear war scenario. The second verse mentions a "red, red phone" ringing, which could be a reference to the direct communication line established between the US and the USSR during the Cold War.

The lyrics also touch on the idea that there is no safe place to hide during a war. The line "there's no use runnin' a mobile home, everywhere is a target zone" emphasizes this point. The third verse mentions vodka being chilled in the Kremlin, Russia's presidential palace, and the singer riding on a rocky landscape, potentially referencing the Cold War arms race.

Overall, the song can be interpreted as a commentary on the tense political climate of the time, with the threat of nuclear war looming. The repeated question of whether or not the listener is ready for war is meant to be thought-provoking, asking listeners to consider their own preparedness for such a catastrophic event.

Line by Line Meaning

Are you ready for
Are you prepared to face the consequences of

Are you ready for
Are you willing to engage in

War
A state of armed conflict between two or more nations

War
A situation where violence is the solution to conflict

War
A display of military might and superiority

High above the satellites
The view from space, where humans can see the entire Earth

View the Earth
Observe the planet from a distance

? nights
The dark, ominous atmosphere that accompanies war

Europe switches off those lights
The removal of normalcy, safety, and comfort during times of war

There's no use runnin' a mobile home
There is no escape from the reality of war

Everywhere is a target zone
No place is safe during war