Last Friday (August 21), would have been Clash legend, Joe Strummer’s 68th birthday, and to celebrate the punk pioneers' avid spirit, singer-songwriter Jesse Malin, Strummer’s estate manager David Zonsine, and radio DJ Jeff Raspe joined forces to bring us A Song for Joe: Celebrating the Life of Joe Strummer. The Livestream fundraiser event was filled an all-star lineup of live performances – including Tom Morello, Bob Weir and Bruce Springsteen – birthday wishes, and never-before-seen footage of Strummer himself in action.
The two-hour special opened with Strummer’s voice narrating his personal ethos of punk over a montage of photos: “Music is not the point. What matters is how much spirit you put into it, how much intelligence you put into it. Does it have any meaning? Will it communicate to other people? When you really communicate with other people, that’s when they say you’re the greatest rock and roll band in the world. ‘Cause we’re doing, really, is trying to communicate something.”
Malin spoke about Strummer’s legacy, both as a musician and humanitarian, while the high-profile lineup of artists delivered blazing covers of Strummers’ songs, including Queens of the Stone Age frontman, Josh Homme with “Train in Vain,” Rage Against the Machine guitarist, Tom Morello performing “Bankrobber,” former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist, Josh Klinghoffer playing “Rudy Can’t Fail,” and Grateful Dead's Bob Weir with “Death or Glory” – among many others. Watch the full event below.
A Song For Joe: Celebrating the life of Joe Strummer
Sadly, Joe Strummer died suddenly on December 22nd, 2002 at the age of 50, due to an undiagnosed heart condition.
“To see so many musicians and artists come forward to honour Joe is really touching,” Joe Stummer’s wife, Lucinda Tait, said in a statement. “Community was always important to him. Whether it was playing music with friends, organizing all night campfires, or hijacking festivals, Joe was always focused on bringing people together. Even though we can’t all be in the same room together, I cannot think of a better way for us all to feel united. Joe would have loved this.”
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