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
Capitol Radio One
The Clash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Show!
There's a tower in the heart of London
With a radio station right at the top
They don't make the city beat
They're making all the action stop
Beaming waves from the sea
But now all the stations are silenced
'Cos they ain't got a government license
Wanna tell your problems
Phone in from your bedsit room
Having trouble with your partner
Let us all in on the news
If you wanna hear a record
Get the word from Aiden Day
He picks all the hits to play
To keep you in your place all day
Capital radio
In tune with nothing
Don't touch that dial
The Clash's song Capitol Radio One is a commentary on the state of radio stations in London. It criticizes the government licensing of radio stations, which they believe disrupts the natural flow of music and culture. The opening announcement of the "Dr. Goebbels Show," a reference to the Nazi propaganda minister, sets the tone for the song's critique of the state's manipulation of media.
The song then introduces the tower in the heart of London with a radio station at the top, which is making all the action stop. This line suggests that the dominant government-appointed radio stations are inhibiting cultural progress by limiting the types of music and voices that are broadcast. The Clash then takes a historical approach, noting that in the past, pirates beamed their waves from the sea, but now all stations are silenced due to licensing laws. This line makes a comparison between pirates who took risks and challenged the status quo of dominant radio, while government-approved radio stations only operate within strict guidelines.
The rest of the song talks about the listeners who are "in tune with nothing" because they only hear what the government-sanctioned stations allow. This is further emphasized by the request to call in from a bedsit room to share their problems. The song's irony lies in its mention of Aidan Day, who picks all the hits to play to keep people in their place all day. The song's message is quite clear; the government has taken control of the radio waves, limiting the diversity of voice, music, and opinion of the people.
Line by Line Meaning
Yes, it's time for the Dr. Goebbels Show!
Introducing a propaganda machine that manipulates the truth
There's a tower in the heart of London with a radio station right at the top
A literal tower in central London with a propaganda radio station at its pinnacle
They don't make the city beat, they're making all the action stop
The radio station is preventing real people from expressing themselves
A long time ago there were pirates beaming waves from the sea
There used to be alternative radio stations that weren't government-controlled
But now all the stations are silenced 'cos they ain't got a government license
The government has shut down any competition to their propaganda machine
Wanna tell your problems, phone in from your bedsit room. Having trouble with your partner, let us all in on the news
The radio station claims to be a forum for people to voice their concerns, but it's a mere illusion of free speech
If you wanna hear a record, get the word from Aiden Day. He picks all the hits to play, to keep you in your place all day
The station carefully picks music to prevent any dangerous ideas from surfacing and to maintain the power imbalance in society
Capital Radio. In tune with nothing. Don't touch that dial
The radio station may claim to have public interest in mind but in reality, it's serving the interests of the government
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Seispistols
Got the cd back in 2003 still have it đź‘Ś
Thomas William
Yes, its time for the dr. goebbels
Show!
There's a tower in the heart of london
With a radio station right at the top
They don't make the city beat
They're making all the action stop
A long time ago there were pirates
Beaming waves from the sea
But now all the stations are silenced
'cause they ain't got a government license
Want to tell your problems
Phone in from your bedsit room
Having trouble with your partner
Let us all in on the news
If you want to hear a record
Get the word from aiden day
He picks all the hits to play
To keep you in your place all day
Capital radio
In tune with nothing
Don't touch that dial
Written by Mick Jones Joe Strummer