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
Death is a Star
The Clash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I followed him through hard jungles
As he stalked through the back lots
Strangling through the night shades
Oh, the thief of life
Moved onwards and outwards to love
A storm bangs on the cheapest room
The phantom slips in to spill blood
Even on the sweetest honeymoon
The killer of love
Caught the last, late Niagara bus
By chance or escaping from misery
By suddenness or in answer to pain
Smoking in the dark cinema
See the bad go down again
And the clouds are high in Spanish mountains
And a Ford roars through the night full of rain
The killer's blood flows
But he loads his gun again
Can make a grown man cry like a girl
To see the guns dying at sunset
In vain, lovers claimed
That they never had met
Smoking in the dark cinema
See the bad go down again
The song "Death is a Star" by The Clash tells a story of a deadly phantom or killer who takes life without any remorse. The lyrics describe how the singer is gripped by this phantom and follows him through hard jungles and back lots, where he strangles his victims through the night shades. The phantom is referred to as the "thief of life" who moves onwards and outwards to love, which suggests that he takes life as it comes and does not discriminate.
The song then takes a turn to describe a motel where the phantom slips in to spill blood, even on the sweetest honeymoon. The killer of love catches the last, late Niagara bus, perhaps suggesting that the phantom is on the run or escaping from something. The lyrics continue to describe how smoking in a dark cinema, the singer sees the bad go down again, suggesting that the cycle of violence and death continues.
The final verse describes the Spanish mountains with high clouds and a Ford roaring through the night full of rain. The killer's blood flows, but he loads his gun again, emphasizing the vicious cycle of violence. The lyrics end with the powerful line "In vain, lovers claimed that they never had met," suggesting that even love cannot triumph over death.
Line by Line Meaning
And I was gripped by that deadly phantom
I was in the clutches of death itself
I followed him through hard jungles
I went through treacherous terrain with the grim reaper
As he stalked through the back lots
He moved swiftly through the murky alleys
Strangling through the night shades
Killing in the darkness
Oh, the thief of life
Death, the stealer of souls
Moved onwards and outwards to love
Death comes for everyone, even in the midst of love
In a one-stop only motel
In a shabby, single-purpose motel
A storm bangs on the cheapest room
There's a violent storm outside the cheapest room
The phantom slips in to spill blood
Death sneaks in to take a life
Even on the sweetest honeymoon
Even in the happiest of moments
The killer of love
Death, which ends romance
Caught the last, late Niagara bus
Death took the final journey with them
By chance or escaping from misery
They might have left this world by accident or to end their suffering
By suddenness or in answer to pain
They may have departed suddenly or because of their pain
Smoking in the dark cinema
Watching a movie, smoking cigarettes in the dark
See the bad go down again
See the villain fall once more
And the clouds are high in Spanish mountains
The sky is grey and foreboding over a rugged mountaintop
And a Ford roars through the night full of rain
A car speeds through the rain-soaked night
The killer's blood flows
The blood spilled by Death
But he loads his gun again
Death is always ready to take another life
Can make a grown man cry like a girl
The sight of death can bring anyone to tears
To see the guns dying at sunset
To witness the end of violence with the end of day
In vain, lovers claimed
It was no use, the lovers still perished
That they never had met
Trying to convince death that they were strangers, to no avail
Smoking in the dark cinema
Once again, enjoying a movie and cigarettes in the shadows
See the bad go down again
Witnessing the villain's final defeat once more
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Joe Strummer, Mick Jones
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@비정한세상
And I was gripped by that deadly phantom
I followed him through hard jungles
As he stalked through the back lots
Strangling through the night shades
The thief of life
Moved onwards and outwards to love
In a one stop only motel
A storm bangs on the cheapest room
The phantom slips in to spill blood
Even on the sweetest honeymoon
The killer of love
Caught the last late Niagara bus
By chance or escaping from misery
By suddenness or in answer to pain
Smoking in the dark cinema
You could see the bad go down again
And the clouds are high in Spanish mountains
And a Ford roars through the night full of rain
The killer's blood flows
But he loads his guns again
Make a grown man cry like a girl
To see the guns dying at sunset
In vain lovers claimed
That they never had met
Smoking in the dark cinema
See the bad go down again
@herobr1ne32
One of their more underrated songs but beautiful in its own way. Ending the album, and the clashes carrer, in a saddening bliss
@davidablaza503
An incredibly haunting song! So beautiful! Tymon Dogg's atmospheric piano playing touches me deeply!
@mariuspoppFM
Tymon really gave a special dimension to the Clash every time he played with them
@aekriege
Hell yeah. I've been feeling that way since summer 1994, when I discovered the record.
@RiverCityPC
I was just a kid the first time I heard this record. I didn't understand 90% of it. But it made me feel something; it transported me to other countries and times in a way that nothing else ever had (or really has since).
Combat Rock was simply one of the best albums ever.
#TheOnlyBandThatMatters
@mmothersead
My first cassette tape... It change my world...
@catsofthecourt
me 2
@Oliver-i7q7f
Saying goodbye to The Clash fandom feels like closing a chapter on a significant part of my musical journey. The energy, passion, and rebellious spirit that The Clash infused into their music have left an indelible mark on me. Songs like "Rock the Casbah" will always resonate in my heart, reminding me of the times when their anthems felt like a personal rallying cry. Though I'm stepping away from the fandom, I'll carry the band's influence with me, forever grateful for the moments of connection and the inspiration they've provided. Keep rocking, Clash fans—this isn't the end, just a new beginning for me.#TheonlyBandThatMatters
@비정한세상
And I was gripped by that deadly phantom
I followed him through hard jungles
As he stalked through the back lots
Strangling through the night shades
The thief of life
Moved onwards and outwards to love
In a one stop only motel
A storm bangs on the cheapest room
The phantom slips in to spill blood
Even on the sweetest honeymoon
The killer of love
Caught the last late Niagara bus
By chance or escaping from misery
By suddenness or in answer to pain
Smoking in the dark cinema
You could see the bad go down again
And the clouds are high in Spanish mountains
And a Ford roars through the night full of rain
The killer's blood flows
But he loads his guns again
Make a grown man cry like a girl
To see the guns dying at sunset
In vain lovers claimed
That they never had met
Smoking in the dark cinema
See the bad go down again
@kamran66
You have to be reminded that this is a Punk Rock band that wrote and performed this song. Amazing range and depth.