List of the Clash band members

The Clash
The most well-known lineup of the English punk rock band the Clash post breakup
The most well-known lineup of the Clash post breakup. Top: Joe Strummer, Mick Jones; Bottom: Paul Simonon, Topper Headon
Background information
OriginLondon, England
GenresPunk rock, post-punk
Years active1976–1986
Past membersJoe Strummer
Paul Simonon
Mick Jones
Terry Chimes
Keith Levene
Rob Harper
Topper Headon
Pete Howard
Nick Sheppard
Vince White

The Clash were an English punk rock band formed in 1976 initially consisting of Joe Strummer (lead vocals, guitar), Mick Jones (lead vocals, lead guitar), Paul Simonon (bass guitar), Keith Levene (guitar) and Terry Chimes (drums and percussion). Levene was dismissed in September 1976 and went on to form Public Image Ltd. Terry Chimes performed intermittently as drummer for the first year of the band's existence, playing on the debut album. Topper Headon was recruited in May 1977 as the band's permanent drummer, forming the classic Clash line-up which would remain together until 1982.

Headon was dismissed in May 1982 due to drug addiction problems and Chimes returned in Headon's place. Headon had often acted as a mediating force between the two strong personalities in the band, Strummer and Jones, and in his absence the band began to disintegrate. In May 1983 Chimes left once more and was replaced by Pete Howard. In September 1983, Mick Jones was dismissed due to continued conflict and infighting. Vince White and Nick Sheppard were recruited by band manager Bernard Rhodes as guitarists to replace the departing Jones. The recording of their final album Cut the Crap was chaotic and there was little chemistry between the new group members and the remaining core of the band. Strummer left before it was completed, leaving the final mixes to Rhodes. After a short tour in support of the album in January 1985, the band went on hiatus, which became permanent when the band officially dissolved in 1986.

Band members

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Classic line-up (May 1977 – May 1982)

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Images Name Time active Main instruments Occasional instruments Release contributions Notes
Joe Strummer May 1976–1986 (died 2002)
  • lead and backing vocals
  • rhythm guitar
  • piano
  • lead guitar
  • bass
  • harmonica
  • keyboards
all Clash releases Joe Strummer was a member of the original band formed in 1976, and remained with the band until they broke up in 1986, he died in 2002.
Paul Simonon May 1976–1986
  • bass
  • backing vocals
  • lead vocals
  • rhythm guitar
Paul Simonon was a member of the original band formed in 1976, and remained with the band until they broke up in 1986.
Mickjones.jpg
Mick Jones May 1976–September 1983
  • lead guitar
  • keyboards
  • lead and backing vocals
  • rhythm guitar
  • harmonica
  • piano
  • bass
all Clash releases except Cut the Crap (1985) Mick Jones was a member of the original band formed in 1976. He was dismissed from the band in September 1983 after his working relationship with Strummer stopped functioning.
Topper Headon May 1977–May 1982
  • drums
  • percussion
  • bass
  • piano
  • lead and backing vocals
Topper Headon joined the band after being a self-described "journeyman" drummer. He realised the potential of the band and remained with them for four albums and a B-side compilation. He was dismissed from the band when his heroin addiction affected his reliability.

Other members

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Image Name Time active Main Instruments Release contributions Notes
Terry Chimes
  • May–November 1976
  • February–May 1977
  • May 1982 – May 1983
drums
Terry Chimes was an on-off member of the initial line-up of the band. He left and then was recruited to record the debut album. He was omitted from the photo of it, because at that time he left. He was recruited again in 1982 when Topper Headon left because of drug addiction. He left the band the following year when he couldn't deal with infighting.
Keith Levene Metal Box in Dub.jpg
Keith Levene May–September 1976 (died 2022) lead and rhythm guitar None Keith Levene was a member of the original band. In early September 1976, he was dismissed from the Clash. Strummer would claim that Levene's dwindling interest in the band owed to his supposedly abundant use of speed, a charge Levene has denied.[1] (Levene and John Lydon, of the Sex Pistols, would form Public Image Ltd. in 1978.) He died in 2022.
Rob Harper December 1976–January 1977 drums Rob Harper drummed for a while during the December tour.
Pete Howard May 1983–1986 Cut the Crap (1985) Pete Howard was drumming for the band during the final twilight years.
Vince White 1983–1986 rhythm and lead guitar Sheppard and White joined the band after Mick Jones was dismissed.
Nick Sheppard
  • lead and rhythm guitar
  • backing and occasional lead vocals

Session members or groups

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Image Name Time active Main Instruments Release contributions
Blue Öyster Cult Lanier cropped.jpg
Allen Lanier 1978 piano Give 'Em Enough Rope (1978)
Stan Bronstein saxophone
Bob Andrews keyboards
Mick Gallagher Photo Ph.BRIZARD.jpg
Mickey Gallagher 1979–1980
  • organ
  • keyboards
  • synthesizers
The Irish Horns
  • Ray Bevis – tenor saxophone
  • John Earle – tenor and baritone saxophone
  • Chris Gower – trombone
  • Dick Hanson –
    • trumpet
    • flugelhorn
1979 horns London Calling (1979)
Tymon Dogg 1980–1982
  • vocals
  • violin
  • keyboards
  • piano
Norman_Watt-Roy_at_Water_Rats.jpg
Norman Watt-Roy
  • 1980
  • 1985
bass guitar
J.P. Nicholson 1980 Sandinista! (1980)
Davey Payne saxophone
Gary Barnacle - Rochester Castle 2011..JPG
Gary Barnacle 1980–1982
Arthur Edward Barnacle 1980 trumpet Sandinista! (1980)
Rick Gascoigne trombone
Lew Lewis harmonica
Ellen_Foley,_2014.JPG
Ellen Foley 1980–1982 vocals
Mikey Dread 1980
Band Sgt. Dave Yates Sandinista! (1980)
Den Hegarty
Luke & Ben Gallagher
Maria Gallagher
Ivan Julian guitar
Noel "Tempo" Bailey
Anthony Nelson Steelie keyboards
Style Scott drums
Jody Linscott percussion
Allen Ginsberg 1981–1982 vocals Combat Rock (1982)
Futura 2000
Kosmo Vinyl
Joe Ely 2017.jpg
Joe Ely backing vocals
Tommy Mandel keyboards
Hermann Weindorf 1985
  • keyboards
  • synthesizers
Cut the Crap (1985)
Michael Fayne
  • drum machine
  • vocals

Timeline

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Line-ups

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Period Members Releases
May–September 1976 None
September–November 1976
  • Joe Strummer – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Mick Jones – lead guitar, vocals
  • Paul Simonon – bass, vocals
  • Terry Chimes – drums
December 1976–January 1977
  • Joe Strummer – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Mick Jones – lead guitar, vocals
  • Paul Simonon – bass, vocals
  • Rob Harper – drums
February–May 1977
  • Joe Strummer – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards
  • Mick Jones – lead guitar, vocals
  • Paul Simonon – bass, vocals
  • Terry Chimes – drums
May 1977 – May 1982
(Classic lineup) 
  • Joe Strummer – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards
  • Mick Jones – lead guitar, vocals, keyboards
  • Paul Simonon – bass, vocals
  • Topper Headon – drums, percussion, vocals
May 1982 – May 1983
  • Joe Strummer – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards
  • Mick Jones – lead guitar, vocals, keyboards
  • Paul Simonon – bass, vocals
  • Terry Chimes – drums
May 1983–September 1983
  • Joe Strummer – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, piano
  • Mick Jones – lead guitar, vocals, keyboards
  • Paul Simonon – bass, vocals
  • Pete Howard – drums
none – live shows only
1983–1986

References

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  1. ^ Robb (2006), pp. 215–216; Savage (1992), p. 220.

See also

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