The Ballad of Joe Strummer

Soundcheck | May 3, 2010
As the frontman of the legendary band The Clash, Joe Strummer injected working-class politics into the punk movement. The band also tested punk's musical boundaries with explorations of reggae, rockabilly and even disco. When the group fizzled in the mid-1980s, fans and critics held Strummer accountable for breaking up a beloved band. We talk with Chris Salewicz, author of "Redemption Song: The Ballad of Joe Strummer," about Strummer's struggle with The Clash's legacy and his personal demons.

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