If The Clash were “The Only Band That Matters,” then by that logic, Joe Strummer was “The Only Frontman That Matters.”
The late Strummer would’ve turned 67 today (August 21), and his voice and insight are incredibly missed. The fact that he left this world a mere month before The Clash were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame makes his loss all the more heartbreaking.
But today, we do not mourn; we honor. By far, one of the best tributes to Strummer came at the 2003 GRAMMYs when Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello, Dave Grohl, Steven Van Zandt, Pete Thomas and Tony Kanal joined forces for an all-star jam of “London Calling.” As far as GRAMMY tributes go, it’s certainly one of the best.
In fact, it’s the only one that matters.
Erica Banas is a rock/classic rock news blogger who's well versed in etiquette and extraordinarily nice.