Much has been written about Joe Strummer and although those devotees know he spent some time in Newport, I don't think people realise just how important his stay in the city was.
The first time I met Joe was in The Murenger pub in 1973. He'd just arrived in Newport and was being introduced to us as "Woody the bloke I picked up at Hammersmith Flyover".
John "Woody" Mellor had had enough of London and he decided to move out. It appears he decided to ask the first person he saw hitching where they where going if they were agreeable, he'd join them.
Woody had been at art college in London so naturally fitted in with us and within a short time had become part of the art student world of Newport.
Most nights he'd be found up at the Students Union on Stow Hill. He originally shared a flat in Clyffard Crescent with Mick Foote, a fine art student, who later went onto to produce The Clash's self-title debut album.
Later he moved to our house in Pentonville (pictured centre right, next to the shop) and it was here that he got together with a number of other students to form his first band, The Vultures.
Woody was very serious when it came to music and it was whilst living in Newport that he really learnt to play the guitar.
It was at The Silver Sands in Pill that he was introduced to a type of reggae that none of us had heard before.
This influence can clearly be heard on a lot of the Clash's material, particularly on White Man at Hammersmith Palais.
I have no doubt in my mind that when he left at the end of '73 what he took away with him helped to shape the forthcoming Punk Movement and probably one of the greatest rock bands ever - The Clash.
Richard Frame is Director of Newport Action for the Single Homeless
Read Chrissie Wilson's memories of Joe and Jivin' Alan Vultures roadie Peter Haywood remembers JoeJoe Strummer Obituary - 22 December 2002The BBC is not responsible for external websites
your comments
Steve Richards, Liverpool
I was at college in Newport with him - he slept on my floor. I sold him his 1st guitar for £12 and taught him his first chords.
Allen from Newport
One word - LEGEND.
Wayne from Penpedairheol
I never knew Joe personally, but felt as a massive fan of The Clash to post on here! I still collect to this day any vinyl of The Clash and have spent a small fortune in my pursuit of all things Clash! I have recordings from all over the world and treasure them all. Great band, never be another like it, keep your U2, REM etc, The Clash are the only important band to have graced this earth.
Max Arch
Joe Strummer was real gent, down to earth, a leftie and a blinding song writer. He obviously had good feelings for Newport even years after his stay there as one of the last gigs he ever played was at TJ's. I think he would have been bang into the Goldie Looking Chain, too!
Richard Frame from Newport
Pat Gilbert's recently published biography tells a story that when Joe was living in his flat in Pentonville in Newport he recorded the first song that he ever he wrote, "Crumby Bum Blues". For years I had a copy of this without realising it. I've just had permission from his wife to release this next and all proceeds will go to help homeless musicians. It will be produced on vinyl and we're doing a limited edition, on the B side will be a recording of an interview Joe gave at the last Glasonbury festival he attended.
More details will be revealed on our website soon www.solas-cymru.co.uk
Steve
While a student at Newport Art College, I lived in the same house, but in 1975-8, a few years after Joe had left.
Another of the residents in my time was Richard Chadwick, now drummer with Hawkwind.
When I met Joe Strummer backstage at Cardiff Top rank after a Clash concert, I mentioned that I lived at No 12 Pentonville, and he was gobsmacked.
He obviously had a lot of affection for Newport and mentioned the Silver Sands, which I recall was a great place to get to know Jamaican culture.
David Harvey
There's loads more on Joe and the Clash at www.onemickjones.com - a music and football website that appears to operate out of Merthyr or Cardiff given the amount of debates about the place on it.
John Moughton
When the Newport College of Art became part of the Gwent College the Student Union bar was in an ex school in Emlyn Street. The bar manager was a great bloke called Mick Carr, an ex Newport student, and he knew Woody very well and introduced us ordinary guys to him when he turned up from time to time - what a lovely person.
Don Whistance in Weymouth
My website www.theclash.org.uk has a section in it called "Joe Strummer - The Early Years". I came up to Newport one Sunday in early February 2002 and located Joe's college and abode...superb. My reason for the site on the Clash was due to going to school with Mick Jones.
Janet Waters from Newport
I do remember Woody. I lived at 5 Caerau Road in those days and he often hung out there - Footy and Terry Fitton, Jeff and poet. Woody played at the student union on Stow Hill. There was also a character called Jim Grim who wore a top hat.
Mark in Cardiff
I've seen The Clash fourteen times in all. I shook Joe Strummer's hand once backstage and in true teenage punk rock stylee, I didn't wash my hand for a week.The biggest regret of my life is seeing Joe Strummer on the London Paddington to Cardiff train a month before he died and not speaking to him.
I had my BBC suit on and I was listening to London Calling on my CD stereo but I didn't have the balls to say hello to the man who fronted the greatest English rock and roll band of all time.
