Fans wait outside CBGB on closing night
Photo: MTV News

NEW YORK — A throng of reporters, cameramen, middle-aged punks in bomber jackets and porkpie hats, celebrities like Chloë Sevigny, Elijah Wood and Ed Burns, cigarette-scrounging panhandlers, the Hungry March Band and a Segway-riding man in a pink trench coat flooded the sidewalk outside 315 Bowery Sunday night.

It was the last night for seminal punk club CBGB, which is closing this week after a lengthy rent dispute ended with the building's owner, the nonprofit Bowery Residents' Committee, opting not to renew 76-year-old owner Hilly Kristal's lease.

The media folk were gunning for just the right shot — which they got when punk legend Patti Smith, CBGB's final performer, stepped outside into the crush to snap some Polaroids of the club's faded awning. The aged punks — who seemed to feel it was their right to be there even if they didn't have a ticket for the gig — wanted to be a part of rock and roll history and kiss one of the city's most beloved musical landmarks goodbye. The rest of the mob just wanted to party.

The police showed up too. The cluttered sidewalk choked off the flow of pedestrian traffic, forcing the club's security to constantly ask revelers to move along until something dawned on them — if the club was issued a ticket, "We won't have to pay it," as one employee declared.

At that moment, reality seemed to finally hit everyone who'd been standing outside the grimy club for hours in the brisk fall cold like a brick to the forehead — this was it. Tomorrow, CBGB would be boarded shut, its contents packed up for the club's impending move to Las Vegas. Kristal, the club's owner for all of its 33 years, has to be out by Halloween (see "CBGB Owner Relocating Club — Urinals Included — To Vegas This Spring").

Despite this heavy truth, the mood inside CBGB wasn't one of mourning, but of celebration. For most present, Smith's closing concert was about honoring the bastion of punk's fabled past, its lasting impact on a still-vital genre and all the bands whose careers the decrepit place helped to launch, including the Ramones, Blondie, Television and Talking Heads. American punk rock may not have been born here, but Kristal — who is battling lung cancer — certainly gave the genre its first big break (see "Good Charlotte, Audioslave, Blink-182 Weigh In On CBGB's Plight As Deadline Looms").

			Remembering CBGB Watch Bono, Beck and more share their favorite memories as the seminal punk club closes its doors.

Still, that didn't stop reporters from asking Smith whether she considered the event to be the equivalent of a punk-rock funeral during a brief press conference that preceded CBGB's swan-song gig. And Smith's response proved she still possesses plenty of punk-rock attitude: "That's too much of a f---ing stupid question for me to answer."

Smith, punk's poet laureate, stood at the edge of the club's sticker-coated stage, the rim of which has been worn away from years of hearty slam dancing, and talked about her favorite CBGB memory (the first time she set foot in the venue, to see Television in 1974), the prospect of playing the Las Vegas CBGB ("We had a job in Las Vegas four years ago and we sold 85 tickets and they canceled the show — I vowed never to return") and what the institution's closure means for the future of underground music ("CBGB is a state of mind. and what's going to happen is young kids all over the world are going to have their own f---ing clubs and they won't care about CBGB because they're going to have the new places, and the new places are always the most important.")

Backed by her longtime guitarist Lenny Kaye, drummer/bassist Jay Dee Daugherty, multi-instrumentalist Tony Shanahan, and, for most of the night's second set, the Red Hot Chili Peppers' Flea on bass, Smith rocked the beer-swigging audience members, who were crammed uncomfortably close to each other in front of the stage and down the length of the club's bar. Television's Richard Lloyd took the stage for a rendition of his band's classic track "Marquee Moon." Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth of Talking Heads wandered the crowd, as did E Street Band guitarist Little Steven Van Zandt, who had battled to keep the club open amid a very public, venomous rent dispute (see "Public Enemy, Blondie Rally For Naught: CBGB Lease Expires").

Dozens of well-wishers approached Kristal at his private table to shake his hand and thank him for the musical legacy he's leaving, while Smith and friends ripped through two raw, impassioned 90-minute sets plus an encore. The night began with Smith's "Piss Factory," and included several apropos covers, including "Tide Is High," which was made popular by Blondie, the Velvet Underground's "Pale Blue Eyes," the Dead Boys' "Sonic Reducer," the Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter," the Who's "My Generation," and a medley of Ramones classics — "Blitzkrieg Bop," "Beat on the Brat," "Rock and Roll Radio" and "Sheena Is a Punk Rocker." Smith's voice was smoky, and the band was tight — but the show wasn't perfect.

Smith stumbled through several songs in the first set, cutting the band off and then taking it from the top after she forgot the words. She had to refer to lyric sheets, insisting, "It's not a result of old age. I had to do this 30 years ago. I'm not good at memorizing stuff. That's why I didn't become a mathematics genius."

During the second, stronger set, a newly energized Smith swayed back and forth and bounced across the grungy stage as the band tackled tunes like "Redondo Beach," "Free Money" and "Pissing in a River." The entire audience seemed to sing her words back at her, as they danced atop chairs and tables under the neon light of the beer signs hanging from the dingy ceiling.

Flea, who turned 44 at the stroke of midnight, was treated to a thunderous and heartfelt "Happy Birthday," supplied by Smith's band and the crowd. After a few political rants in which Smith implored the crowd to take action to change the world — specifically referencing the environment and the U.S. prison at Guantánamo Bay — she concluded with a high-voltage rendition of "Gloria," at times replacing the "Gloria! G-L-O-R-I-A!" chorus with "Hey ho, let's go!," a fitting homage to the Ramones.

Before she left the stage, Smith played a somber "Elegie," which concluded with a list of the many musicians who have died in the years since they'd played CBGB, including Joe Strummer, Johnny Thunders and Joey Ramone. The moment brought tears to her eyes, and many in the crowd paused to consider the gravity of the club's closing before they strode out the entrance for the very last time. Some tore mementos from the walls as they left.

This week, Kristal will pack up as much of the club as he can with plans of re-creating a CBGB franchise in Las Vegas this spring. CBGB's lease with the BRC expired on August 31, 2005, but the club continued to operate for several months before both sides reached an agreement that mandates Kristal vacate the premises by October 31, 2006 (see "CBGB Served With Eviction Notice").

Last week the Bowery Residents' Committee's executive director, Muzzy Rosenblatt, refused an interview request from MTV News to discuss what the future might hold for the CBGB space.

• Remembering CBGB

• Patti Smith, Punk Fans Bid Farewell To CBGB

• Patti Smith
• Flea
• Tony Shanahan
• Lenny Kaye
• Richard Lloyd

Hilary Duff (file)
Photo: Getty Images

Hilary Duff has yet to record the single for the soundtrack to her upcoming movie "The Perfect Man," but that's not stopping her from being "really excited" about it. "I've chosen a couple of writers and producers and I'm going to record four songs and pick my favorite from that," Duff said. "It's going to be a totally different sound, like nothing that anybody's ever heard from me before." After recording, Duff will launch a summer tour. ...

C-Murder has changed his stage name to C Miller, a shortened version of his real name, Corey Miller, The Associated Press reports. The rapper, who's serving time for a murder conviction, said he changed his name because he felt he was being misunderstood. "People hear the name C-Murder and they don't realize that the name simply means that I have seen many murders in my native Calliope projects neighborhood," he said in a statement. ...

The Black Eyed Peas have just been added to this year's Essence Music Festival bill, which had already included Destiny's Child, Kanye West and Alicia Keys. The festival, which takes place over July 4 weekend in New Orleans, also features Aretha Franklin, John Legend and Ruben Studdard on July 1; Teena Marie and Fantasia on July 2; and Maze, Mo'Nique and Lionel Richie on July 3, all on five stages within the Louisiana Superdome. ... Kabbalah adherents will be tying on more than a trendy red string with the launch of Kabbalah Energy Drink. Devotees like Madonna, Britney Spears, Ashton Kutcher, Demi Moore and Paris Hilton will be able to toss some of the blessed beverages down their gullets now that the $2 drink is hitting stores. Manufactured in conjunction with 7 Up and distributed by Kabbalah Enterprises, the citrus-flavored beverage is said to derive much of its metaphysical energy from the Kabbalah dynamic "living" water. Guzzling the concoction is supposed to lift you physically as well as spiritually, since the 16-ounce cans also contain taurine, B vitamins and a jolt of caffeine. ...

You're not going to hear the new Paris Hilton single in her upcoming movie "House of Wax," but don't worry, there will be plenty of mood music from more, um, established artists that are a bit more suited to the horror genre. My Chemical Romance, the Deftones, Disturbed, Har Mar Superstar, Joy Division, the Stooges, Marilyn Manson and the Prodigy all make appearances on the soundtrack, due in stores May 3 (the movie hits theatres on May 6). ... Will Smith isn't the only one in his house making music his focus. Wife and fellow thespian Jada Pinkett-Smith is taking a little break from acting to finish her debut album. "We've gotten a little harder," she said of her band, Wicked Wisdom. "We call it progressive/aggressive rock. We're just getting the sound together, but we'll be making some ears bleed in a minute." ...

If you're hungry, but low on cash — and your name happens to be Angus — well, you're in luck. You can head on over to the Hard Rock Cafe and grab a free Legendary Burger, and you've got AC/DC guitarist Angus Young to thank. According to The Sacramento Bee, the rock-themed restaurant chain is honoring the 50th birthday of everybody's favorite school-uniform-wearing-axeman by giving away a free burger (made from, of course, Angus beef) to any person who can prove their first, middle or last name is Angus. All you need is a valid government ID. ... Twenty rare tracks featuring the late Joe Strummer — which were recorded prior to his punk rock heyday with the Clash — will be released in early June through Astralwerks. Although there was a limited release of the album — called Elgin Avenue Breakdown (Revisited) — back in 1981, many of the tracks on the disc have never been heard before. All of the songs were recorded by the 101ers, Strummer's band up until 1976, the year he joined the Clash. The effort features all of the band's studio work including the sole 101ers single — the first song Strummer ever wrote — "Keys to Your Heart." Nine of the tracks have never been released, seven of those being live tracks recorded in pubs throughout London between 1975 and 1976. ...

The soundtrack to Jennifer Lopez's upcoming film "Monster-In-Law" boasts a surplus of emerging female artists. Due May 10, the album features Nellie McKay, Joss Stone, Tegan and Sara, Jem, Rachel Yamagata, Esthero and Ivy. The film, co-starring Jane Fonda and Michael Vartan, is due in theaters on May 13. ... Good Charlotte's Benji and Joel Madden have signed a new artist to their DC Flag label. "MC Chris, he's a rapper and he's hilarious," Joel said. "He's a really skilled MC. His record's out and he's just a great rapper." ...

04.04.2005

In the past weeks, it's become apparent that Coldplay update their Web site with all the tenacity of a 15-year-old blogger hopped up on too much Jolt! cola. After spilling the beans on the first single from their upcoming album, X&Y, and breaking news of a massive European tour on their official site, they've now posted the album's cover (lots of colored squares) and track list, too. Song titles on the album include "White Shadows," "A Message" and "Swallowed by the Sea." X&Y is due in stores on June 7. ...

Green Day, who recently sold out Milton Keynes Stadium in the U.K., have added three stadium dates to their North American tour itinerary. Tickets for the shows — September 1 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey; September 24 at SBC Park in San Francisco; and October 8 at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California — go on sale this weekend. Meanwhile, Green Day will perform this weekend on "Saturday Night Live." ...

Jermaine Dupri has announced the lineup for Atlanta's Midtown Music Festival Urban Stage, which he was tapped to curate this year. Ciara, Black Eyed Peas and Slim Thug will headline the stage on June 11; the day after will be dedicated to hip-hop's old school, with Biz Markie, MC Lyte, Doug E. Fresh, Slick Rick and Whodini scheduled to perform. ... Canada's equivalent of the Grammy awards, the Junos, had its televised ceremony Sunday night. Big winners included Avril Lavigne (Artist of the Year), K-Os (Single of the Year) and Billy Talent (Album of the Year). The highly touted Arcade Fire, who recently made the cover of Canadian Time magazine, were shut out. Other big winners included Feist (Best New Artist, Best Alternative Album) and Alexisonfire (Best New Group). ...

A cover of the David Bowie/ Queen collabo "Under Pressure" — recorded by goth-punks My Chemical Romance and dirt-punks the Used — will be available for download on iTunes beginning April 12. Why is this news? Because it's for a good cause: All proceeds from the sale of the single go to the Tsunami Relief Fund. ... "American Idol" second-season alums Ruben Studdard and Kimberly Caldwell are reuniting — as guest stars on the new FOX show "Life on a Stick." The singers play mall food-court employees who compete with the workers at Yippee, Hot Dogs, using songs to bait customers on the "Fish Song" episode, airing Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. ET. ...

Chingy is getting in the Final Four spirit by hosting a party Monday night (April 4) in St. Louis after the college basketball game. Chingy's Championship Celebration party at Velvet is part of a "Finest 4 Parties" series throughout the city. ... The Dave Matthews Band announced a whole host of support acts for their upcoming U.S. summer tour. Jurassic 5, Robert Randolph & the Family Band, Yonder Mountain String Band, Howie Day, Blue Merle, Drive-by Truckers, Galactic, G. Love and Special Sauce, Marc Broussard, O.A.R., Ray LaMontagne, Slightly Stoopid and North Mississippi Allstars will all take turns as openers. ...

Jewel's hitting the road for a string of acoustic shows, to road-test material she's currently working on in the studio for her sixth album, due out in September. Her 11-date trek, which primarily hits the West Coast, starts June 15 in Denver and wraps June 26 in Temecula, California. ... Sorta alt-country rockers Rilo Kiley are embarking on another North American tour in support of last year's More Adventurous. The jaunt begins on April 28 in San Diego and makes stops all across this great land before coming to an end June 19 in Los Angeles. Veteran indie rockers Nada Surf will provide support on some of the dates in May. ...

• Hilary Duff
• C-Murder
• Black Eyed Peas
• Jennifer Lopez
• Joe Strummer

The Joe Strummer mural on Manhattan's Lower East Side
Photo: MTV News

Nearly a year after he died in his home in England, Joe Strummer left his mark on New York on Sunday at a video shoot for the second single from his posthumous LP, Streetcore.

A mural in memory of the late Clash singer/guitarist remains on the wall outside the East Village bar Niagara, where the clip for "Redemption Song," by Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros, was shot. The clip, directed by Josh Cheuse, centers on the making of the spray-painted memorial, and the video features cameos by Rancid and many of Strummer's New York-based friends, including actors Matt Dillon, Cinque Lee (Spike's brother) and Cara Seymour (Gangs of New York's Hell-Cat Maggie), filmmakers Jim Jarmusch and Sara Driver, and singer/songwriter Jesse Malin, who owns the bar and volunteered its wall.

The video opens with classic images of New York. The Empire State Building and Chrysler Building blend with shots of speeding taxis and siren-blaring firetrucks barreling down the avenues to capture the feeling of the Englishman's home away from home. A few guys approach the blank brick wall with cans of spray paint and the idea to pay homage to the punk pioneer. As they start painting, a mixed crowd develops to observe the work-in-progress still too unfinished to be identified.

Archived footage of Strummer's past — from the Clash's 1982 show at Shea Stadium to him mingling with a group of break-dancers years later — stems from a sketchbook one of the artists consults for reference. Never-before-seen performance footage of the Mescaleros at London's Brixton Academy will also be used.

As the details of the mural come into view, it's clear the image is of Strummer, classic-looking with a slicked back 1950s hairstyle and dark shades. Below a red, gold and green flag emblazoned with the Lion of Judah, a symbol of power and mercy in the Rastafarian religion, are the words "Joe Strummer 1952-2002." The clip ends with passersby stopping to light candles and leave tokens at the base of the mural.

Of the known actors, most of whom are seen as members of the crowd, Lee, Driver, and actor Steve Buscemi appeared with Strummer in Jarmusch's 1989 film, Mystery Train.

The video for "Redemption Song" is expected to surface later this month. The song follows "Coma Girl" as the next single from Streetcore, Strummer's third album with the Mescaleros, which was released October 21.

Strummer died last December of a heart attack. He was 50 (see Autopsy Finds Joe Strummer Died Of Cardiac Arrest").

• Joe Strummer

"I ain't gon' front, this is the best party I been to in some years," P. Diddy said, gassing himself at his Supper Club "Bad Boys II" New York premiere party on Monday. Celebrities like Jay-Z, Busta Rhymes, Swizz Beatz and members of the Bad Boy family validated his words by grooving in the VIP section. Although the movie's stars, Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, were absent, rapper Hammer made his presence felt by standing onstage and dusting off his typewriter dance for the crowd. Before the party, Ja Rule, Macy Gray and "Boys II" co-star Gabrielle Union were among those who hit the Times Square Loews Theater to watch the action-packed flick. ...

	'Bad Boys II' soundtrack after party

After scrapping a handful of European festival shows in the wake of frontman Jack White's recent car accident, the White Stripes have now canceled their slate of U.S. dates set for July and August. The group hopes to reschedule them soon. ... Coldplay have already completed the video for their next single, "God Put a Smile Upon Your Face." Directed by Jamie Thraves (Radiohead, Travis), who helmed the band's previous clip "The Scientist," the black-and-white video intercuts performance footage with the story of a businessman who is humiliated and horrified to find that he's gradually disappearing after bumping into a mysterious stranger with no shoes. ...

Not that "Sex and the City" needs any help getting spiced up, but Geri Halliwell is adding her name to the list of guest stars populating the last season of the HBO show. The former Ginger Spice shot a spot at New York's Soho House in which she plays Phoebe Kittenworth, a member of a hip New York club that Samantha (Kim Cattrall) tries to join. Halliwell's episode airs on August 24, according to an HBO spokesperson. ... Meadow's had a name change. Since Jamie-Lynn Sigler married her longtime manager AJ DiScala Friday night, she's chosen to now be known personally and professionally as Jamie-Lynn DiScala. The ceremony took place at New York's Brooklyn Botanic Garden, while the reception featured performances from the bride, her fellow "Sopranos" star Dominic Chianese and Carly Simon. ...

The Matrix, the red-hot production team behind Avril Lavigne's biggest hits, are working with Shakira on her second English-language album. ... The Sprite Liquid Mix Tour just got sweeter with the additions of Aussie MC Jessy Moss, Slightly Stoopid, the Skillz, Spymob and Kelis, who will perform with N.E.R.D. The additions complete a lineup of previously announced artists that includes O.A.R., the Roots and Talib Kweli. The 20-city tour starts August 14 in Denver and wraps September 14 in Boston. ...

The Deftones added 46 concerts to the collection of bootlegs available to download for free on their Web site (deftones.com). The bootlegs, which now total 49, date back to 1992. ... Carlos Santana will donate at least $2 million from his recently completed U.S. tour to the fight against AIDS in South Africa. The tour made stops in 23 cities before ending at the Hollywood Bowl. ...

Statistics on the number of users of file-sharing networks seem to suggest that the RIAA's promise to slap big-time file pirates with multimillion-dollar copyright infringement lawsuits is working. According to figures by Nielsen/Net Ratings, in the week that began just days after the Recording Industry Association of America's late June announcement, the number of users of Kazaa and Morpheus were down 15 percent, which roughly translates to a million fewer Kazaa users and 41,000 fewer Morpheus users. The parent companies of the two networks, however, deny that their legions are waning. Streamcast, which owns Morpheus, denounced the stats, and Sharman Networks, Kazaa's parent company, attributed any dip to cyclical change. A clearer picture should come into view when numbers for the entire month of July are released. ...

While the former Megadeth frontman doesn't entirely rule out the possibility of his band reuniting, Dave Mustaine has a solo project in the works. "I don't plan on forming a new band," he said in the August issue of Guitar World. "I just want to find some players that are great, that want to go out with me and do some dates. ... Obviously, I want to be very particular about the people I play with, because I have played with some of the greatest guitarists in the metal community." A legal representative for Mustaine confirmed that the solo album was completed, but a spokesperson for Sanctuary Records said the album isn't on the label's list of upcoming releases. ... Kevin Richardson, who made his Broadway debut earlier this year in "Chicago," is joining the touring company of the musical production. The Backstreet Boy will reprise his role as the smooth-talking, tap-dancing lawyer Billy Flynn next month in San Francisco for a three-week stop that begins at the Golden Gate Theatre August 5 and runs through August 24. ...

Joe Strummer's final studio recordings, previously expected this past spring, now have a title and a firm release date. The album, called Streetcore, is in the final stages of mixing and includes material the late Clash singer/guitarist recorded with his band the Mescaleros, including covers of Bob Marley's "Redemption Song" (produced by Rick Rubin) and Johnny Cash's "The Road to Rock 'N' Roll." Streetcore is due out October 7, according to a spokesperson for Epitaph Records. ...

Rob Zombie is getting inked. He's neither signing a new record deal nor getting a new tattoo, but launching his own, self-starring comic-book series. The six-issue horror-based mini-series "Rob Zombie's Spook Show International" is set to hit bookstores October 29. ... Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony is hitting the sauce. Anthony has joined forces with the company Ring of Fire to produce a tongue-sizzling brand of hot sauce. The fiery flavors will be available this fall on Anthony's official Web site, Mad Anthony's Cafe, as well as the Ring of Fire site. ... 311's video for "Creatures (For a While)," which premieres this week, finds the band working its audience into such a frenzied mosh pit that is breaks through the wall of the venue and runs rampant throughout Los Angeles, destroying a yoga studio, crashing a basketball game and getting hit by cars. The Malloys (Blink-182) directed the clip. ...

He's No Stranger to Shame ... or the tour bus. Uncle Kracker will once again hit the highway for a four-month stretch to support his second solo LP. Aside from a few weeks here and there, Kracker, who scored massively with his cover of the Dobie Gray hit "Drift Away," has been on the road for almost an entire year. ... 98 Degrees' Jeff Timmons has placed clips from his upcoming solo album, Whisper That Way, on his Web site (jefftimmons.com). In a message, Timmons said to expect the CD soon. ...

07.14.2003

Alicia Keys has set a November 18 release date for her as-yet-untitled second album. "You will be hearing some new music by the beginning of September," she wrote on her Web site, referring to the first single. "The album is bangin'! And wait till we hit the road again!" ...

Drag-On's second album, tentatively titled Hell and Back and featuring the first single "Put Your Drinks Down," is due September 16 via a new partnership between Ruff Ryders and Virgin Records. The labels' second release together, Jin's Almost Famous, is due October 7. ...

Staind and Godsmack lead the pack with four nominations apiece for the 16th annual Boston Music Awards, while respective lead singers Aaron Lewis and Sully Erna pulled in additional nominations for Best Male Vocalist. Other nominees for the September 4 event include John Mayer, Aerosmith, American Hi-Fi and Powerman 5000. ... Metallica frontman James Hetfield has contributed the track "Don't You Think This Outlaw Bit's Done Got Out of Hand" to the Waylon Jennings tribute album I've Always Been Crazy, which comes out August 19. Other tracks were recorded by Kid Rock and Kenny Chesney ("Luckenbach, Texas"), Ben Harper ("Waymore's Blues") and John Mellencamp ("Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way"). ...

Josh Groban has recorded a version of the Linkin Park B-side "My December" for possible inclusion on his next album, according to the Los Angeles Times. The classical singer is also collaborating with ambient techno group Deep Forest and producer Walter Afanasieff (Mariah Carey). ... The All-American Rejects will drop a DVD, Live From Oklahoma ... The Too Bad for Hell, on September 30. Live footage for the disc was captured at a May 30 show in Tulsa, and bonus material includes the bandmembers showing off the sights of their hometown of Stillwater. ...

Sevendust will showcase material from their upcoming album during a five-week tour that begins July 19 in Nashville, Tennessee. Dates run through August 28 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The tentative title for the group's new record is Seasons, and it's scheduled for release in October. ... Coal Chamber have finally thrown in the shovel. In a post on the Web site for his new band Pinata, guitarist Meegs Rascon wrote, "My time with Coal Chamber was one of the most fun and rewarding times in my life. However, it was time for everyone to move on." Coal Chamber vocalist Dez Fafara has a new band called Devildriver, whose debut record is due later this year. ...

Rare studio tracks and concert cuts, including a cover of Cole Porter's "Night and Day," can be found on Norwegian troubadour Sondre Lerche's Don't Be Shallow EP, due September 23. Lerche begins a North American tour with Liz Phair July 30 in Denver. ... If a band called the Finger, with members Warren Peace, Irving Plaza, Rick O'Shea and Jim Beahm, and with a debut album entitled We Are F--- You/Punk's Dead Let's F---, sounds too cool to be real, it is. The Finger is really the goofy, but SST-style punk side project of Ryan Adams and Jesse Malin. The album is set for release September 23. ...

• Diddy
• Hammer
• Ja Rule
• The White Stripes
• Coldplay

Norah Jones
Photo: Wire Image

NEW YORK — For the second year in a row, a piano-playing singer took home the lion's share of Grammys.

Following Alicia Keys' five-Grammy pull in 2002, Norah Jones made good on all her nominations and generated eight wins, the most of any artist at the 45th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday at Madison Square Garden. (Click here for a list of winners.)

After Best New Artist Jones wowed viewers with a stirring, candlelit rendition of "Don't Know Why," she nabbed the second award given out, for Best Pop Vocal Album, beating Avril Lavigne's Let Go, No Doubt's Rock Steady, Pink's Missundaztood and Britney Spears' Britney. The song also received Record of the Year honors, while her debut LP, Come Away With Me, named was Album of the Year. (Click here to see highlights from the show.)

"I just want to say, in a world that's really weird, I feel very blessed," Jones said after winning Album of the Year, over competition from the Dixie Chicks (Home), Eminem (The Eminem Show), Nelly (Nellyville) and Bruce Springsteen (The Rising).

Before the telecast Jones picked up Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "Don't Know Why," which won songwriter Jesse Harris the prestigious Song of the Year award. Arif Mardin, who helmed Come Away With Me, picked up Producer of the Year, Non-Classical honors, while the Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical trophy brought the Jones camp's total wins to eight.

Although out to an early lead with three awards in the pre-telecast portion of the night, Springsteen and the E Street band would do no winning on TV, settling for wins for Best Rock Album with The Rising, and Best Rock Song and Best Male Rock Vocal Performance for its title track. Springsteen's trio of trophies brings his Grammy total to 10 over the course of his 30-year career.

The Dixie Chicks matched Springsteen's total, adding to their four previous Grammys with wins for Best Country Album (Home), Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal ("Long Time Gone") and Best Country Instrumental Performance ("Lil' Jack Slade.")

Even Eminem, whose third LP, The Eminem Show, was the best selling album of 2002, couldn't come close to Jones' appeal. Eminem won just two awards, for Best Short Form Music Video ("Without Me") and Best Rap Album. Accepting the latter award, the rapper eschewed thanking the usual laundry list of producers, engineers, managers and accountants, instead giving props to his influences.

"I made a little list of the MCs who inspired me and brought me where I am today," he said before giving shout outs to Run-DMC, the Beastie Boys, LL Cool J, Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, N.W.A, Tupac, Biggie, Jay-Z, Nas and KRS-One, among others.

The other four rap categories weren't televised, and Nelly nabbed half of them before the Garden filled up. The St. Louis rapper took home the 'phone for Best Male Rap Solo Performance with "Hot in Herre," while "Dilemma," featuring Kelly Rowland, picked up Best Rap/Sung Collaboration. Missy Elliott's "Scream a.k.a. Itchin'" was dubbed Best Female Rap Solo Performance, and "The Whole World" by Outkast featuring Killer Mike was named Best Rap Performance a Duo or Group.

A trend arose at this year's Grammy Awards in which several artists walked away with trophies immediately after their performances. Following their live sets, No Doubt, Jones, the Dixie Chicks and John Mayer, who scored for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, each picked up Grammys.

Coldplay, who performed "Politik" with members of the New York Philharmonic, won for Best Alternative Music Album (A Rush of Blood to the Head) and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal ("In My Place"), though both were announced during the pre-telecast.

Avril Lavigne took the stage only as a performer ("Sk8r Boi"), going zero for five in such categories as Best New Artist, Song of the Year and Best Pop Album With Vocals. Others with goose eggs on their Grammy scorecard included and double-nominees Pink, Britney Spears and 'NSYNC, who've all never won a Grammy.

A folk-inspired segment within the first hour continued the somber tone set by Simon and Garfunkel, who opened the show with their 1965 hit "The Sounds of Silence," performing together for the first time in nearly a decade. Introduced by Paul Shaffer, Vanessa Carlton's "A Thousand Miles" moved into John Mayer's "Your Body Is a Wonderland," which was followed by James Taylor's 1970 hit "Sweet Baby James," for which the singer/songwriter was accompanied by classical cellist Yo-Yo Ma.

Springsteen's performance of "The Rising" mirrored the gravity of the situation that inspired it, with images of tempestuous skies looming behind the Boss, whose face reflected a red light, as if illuminated by flames.

The mood didn't remain so reserved for long, however. Lavigne's performance was meant to be playful, but came off a bit lackadaisical; and Nelly's "Hot in Herre" elevated temperatures, and not just because of his use of pyrotechnics. Eminem, backed by the Roots, simply brought the house down with a more rocked-up version of "Lose Yourself" delivered without the aid of a backing track.

Following a medley of "Underneath It All" and "Hella Good," No Doubt picked up Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group for "Hey Baby." The Orange County quartet's "Hella Good" also provided the foundation for Roger Sanchez's club remix, for which the New York DJ won for Best Remixed Recording.

With rumors circulating that any mention of the conflict with Iraq would be censored (see "Guns N' Roses Songs, Chuck D's Call To Arms Highlight Rock The Vote Awards"), only Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst broached the subject of international policy.

"I think this war should go away," he offered, before announcing the Foo Fighters had won the Best Hard Rock Performance Grammy for "All My Life," from the band's fourth album, One by One.

An unidentified man joined Foo Fighters Dave Grohl and Taylor Hawkins onstage to accept the award, reviving memories of "Soy Bomb," the lunatic who bum-rushed Bob Dylan's Grammy performance in 1998. "Rock wouldn't be anything without B.B. King," the man said, before Grohl lightened an awkward mood by replying, "I was gonna say that."

'NSYNC, performing together for the first time in nine months, sang a mélange of Bee Gees tunes, following "60 Minutes" correspondent Ed Bradley's eulogy to Maurice Gibb and the presentation of the 2003 Legend Award to brothers Barry and Robin Gibb. The Gibb brothers dedicated the honor to their late bandmate and asked Maurice's son, Adam, to accept the award. As the young man made his speech, his immediate family in the audience and his uncle Barry onstage were visibly choked up.

The Clash's Joe Strummer was remembered by an all-star rendition of "London Calling" that featured Springsteen, Steven Van Zant, Elvis Costello and Grohl, each playing guitar and trading lyrics. Before the telecast, the Clash's "Westway to the World" won for best Long Form Music Video.

Recording Industry President Neil Portnow introduced a video montage of other musical contributors who were lost in the last year. Images of the Who's John Entwistle, country legend Waylon Jennings, Alice in Chains singer Layne Staley, Dee Dee Ramone, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes and musicologist Alan Lomax, who was given a brief remembrance of his own earlier in the evening, flashed onscreen. Run-DMC's Jam Master Jay was included among the faces of those lost, but he did not receive an homage of his own, even though his contributions to hip-hop are widely considered just as vital as Maurice Gibb's contributions to disco and pop or Strummer's contributions to punk.

Simon and Garfunkel, big-band conductor Glenn Miller and Latin jazz percussionist Tito Puente all received Lifetime Achievement Awards.

The majority of the night's 104 trophies were doled out before the awards show began. Among the notable winners, Mary J. Blige won for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance ("He Think I Don't Know"), while Usher's "U Don't Have to Call" picked up the gramophone for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance.

Ashanti's self-titled debut won for the Best Contemporary R&B Album; Erykah Badu featuring Common's "Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip-Hop)" took home the prize for Best R&B Song; and Santana and Michelle Branch's "The Game of Love" took home the award for Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals. Dirty Vegas nabbed Best Dance Recording with "Days Go By"; Korn's "Here to Stay" was named Best Metal Performance; and the Flaming Lips won for Best Rock Instrumental Performance.

After having been shut out of her seven nominations last year, India.Arie scored for Best Urban/Alternative Performance with "Little Things" and Best R&B Album with Voyage to India.

For more Grammy news, check out the MTV News Grammy Archive.

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• Bruce Springsteen
• Dixie Chicks

The Clash's Joe Strummer
Photo: Villiam Hruboucak

Joe Strummer's final studio recordings will be released on an as-yet-untitled album in May, and the disc may include material he recorded outside of his band, the Mescaleros.

The former Clash singer/guitarist died December 22 at age 50 (see "Joe Strummer Of The Clash Dead At 50"). He was in the process of recording a third album with the Mescaleros at the time of his death, according to a spokesperson for Epitaph Records, which puts out Mescaleros albums via its Hellcat imprint.

Strummer's bandmates are slated to enter a studio within the week to start sifting through the tracks with completed vocals and mixing the album. In addition to the Mescaleros material, Epitaph is considering including songs Strummer recorded without the band, including "Long Shadow," written and recorded with Beck guitarist Smokey Hormel.

Strummer released two albums with the Mescaleros, 1999's Rock Art and the X-Ray Style and 2001's Global a Go-Go. The group performed a number of new songs on a fall U.K. club tour, including the tentatively titled "Coma Girl," "Get Down Moses," "Guitar Slinger Man" and "Dakar Meantime." According to a Hellcat Records spokesperson, "the band was working on getting the songs in great shape by playing them live before going into the studio in December." It is still unknown how many songs were recorded prior to Strummer's death.

Just before his death, Strummer was also at work on "48864," a song slated to debut at a February 2 AIDS-awareness concert organized by former South African President Nelson Mandela (see "Bono, Shaggy, Macy Gray To Play AIDS Benefit In South Africa"). An all-star group of musicians including Ludacris, Coldplay, Eve, Macy Gray, Nelly Furtado and Shaggy will perform the song, which was written by Strummer with Bono and former Eurythmics member Dave Stewart. The 10-minute track — named after the prison ID number worn by Mandela during his 27-year Apartheid-era incarceration — features typically poignant, poetic lyrics from Strummer.

"When freedom rises from the killing floor/ No lock of iron or rivet can restrain the door/ And no kind of army can hope to win a war/ Like trying to stop the rain or still the lion's roar/ Like trying to stop the whirlwind scattering seeds and spores/ Like trying to stop the tin cans rapping out jailhouse semaphore," read a portion of the lyrics, as quoted in Rolling Stone.

• Joe Strummer

The Clash's Joe Strummer circa 1982
Photo: Sony

An autopsy conducted Tuesday on the body of Joe Strummer determined that the Clash singer/guitarist died of sudden cardiac arrest.

Somerset, England, coroner Michael Rose, who conducted the exam, said the 50-year-old punk icon's death was not drug related.

Strummer collapsed at his Somerset home on Sunday after returning from walking his dog. His wife, Lucinda, found him and tried to revive him but could not (see "Joe Strummer Of The Clash Dead At 50").

Strummer is survived by his wife, two daughters and a stepdaughter, who have requested that grieving fans send contributions to the upcoming Nelson Mandela SOS fund-raising concert in South Africa, which is raising money for the region's fight against AIDS. Strummer had planned to play at the February show on Robben Island, where Mandela was formerly jailed (see "Bono, Shaggy, Macy Gray To Play AIDS Benefit In South Africa").

The Clash, who helped shape the English punk scene in the late '70s, were announced as inductees to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last month, and Strummer had wanted to reunite with his former bandmates to play the March 10 induction ceremony — what would have been their for the first time onstage together since 1986 (see "Strummer Had Wanted Clash Reunion At Rock Hall Ceremony").

In addition, Strummer had recently finished touring the U.K. with his band the Mescaleros and had begun work on the group's third album. He had also shot a pilot for the MTV2 show "Global Boombox With Joe Strummer," which features clips from world, reggae, pop and punk acts, including Buccaneer, Capleton, Angélique Kidjo, Youssou N'Dour and Rancid.

Most artists had already taken off for the holidays when the news broke that Strummer died, but U2 frontman Bono, Moby, Audioslave's Tom Morello, Ramones guitarist Johnny Ramone and Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones were quick to pay their respects (see "Bono, Moby, Tom Morello, Others Remember Joe Strummer").

Wrote Morello in a statement: "Joe Strummer was my greatest inspiration, my favorite singer of all time and my hero. I already miss him so much."

(Read fans' reactions and share your remembrances of Strummer in You Tell Us.)

• Joe Strummer
• The Clash

The Clash's Joe Strummer
Photo: Villiam Hruboucak

As scores of musicians prepare to celebrate the holidays, many are heading toward the New Year with heavier hearts following the death of Clash guitarist and vocalist Joe Strummer.

"The Clash was the greatest rock band," U2 frontman Bono wrote on his band's Web site. "They wrote the rule book for U2. Though I was always too much of a fan to get to know him well, we were due to meet in January to finish our [Nelson] Mandela song with Dave Stewart. It's such a shock."

Strummer died Sunday at age 50 (see "Joe Strummer Of The Clash Dead At 50").

Clash bandmate Mick Jones posted a new song, "Sound of the Joe," on the Web site for his band Big Audio Dynamite, along with the brief message, "Our friend and compadre is gone. God bless you, Joe."

There's no question that Strummer was an explosive live performer and a strong songwriter, but he is equally remembered for inspiring a generation to try to make a difference through music.

"He was a brilliant lyricist and the electric focal point of the greatest live band of all time," Audioslave guitarist Tom Morello said. "He played as if the world could be changed by a three-minute song, and when I saw the Clash play, my world was changed forever. His idealism and conviction instilled in me the courage to pick up a guitar and the courage to try to make a difference. Joe Strummer was my greatest inspiration, my favorite singer of all time and my hero. I already miss him so much."

"It's worth remembering that Joe and the Clash made music that was emotional and political and challenging and experimental and exciting and wonderful," Moby wrote on his Web site. (Read fans' reactions and share your remembrances of Strummer in You Tell Us.)

One reason Strummer was so admired is because he and his bandmates stood behind their principles. After they broke up in 1986, they refused to reunite even though they were repeatedly offered buckets of cash to get back together.

"They were unique because, here they are, breaking up at the peak of their popularity and having plenty of offers to come back, and not doing it," said Ramones guitarist Johnny Ramone. "While other bands always come back for the money, they had a belief in what they were doing, and even though they could have used it, they never really cared about the money."

"He wasn't some phony," added Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones. "He was a big part of the whole punk movement."

As a member of that movement, Strummer ingrained his music with palpable rage and tension without relying on screaming or overblown volume.

"For another generation, Bob Dylan awoke some sense that you can sing songs that weren't just about crying in your beer," Third Eye Blind frontman Stephan Jenkins said. "For us, it was Sandinista! A song like 'Straight to Hell' remains totally ingrained of how you can create a whole other world, but another world that wasn't necessarily escapist. For me, he brought ferocity and relevance to music."

Ramone first met Strummer when the Ramones toured Europe in 1976. Although the Clash had just formed, Ramone bonded instantly with the passionate rocker. "We were friends right away," he said. "As soon as I heard 'White Riot' I knew they were a great band. It was the best band I've seen since 1979 and to this day. Of all the punk bands, I felt closest to him than anyone else from that era."

Even those who didn't know Strummer well spoke of his good nature.

"The last time that I saw Joe was in Los Angeles," Moby wrote. "We were dancing together in a nightclub, and I kept rambling on about how important his music was to me. He had such a big heart and was without question one of the most important musicians of the last 50 years."

The Who guitarist Pete Townshend wrote on his Web site, "That heart of his always worked too hard. He's been making great music lately. I will really miss him."

Although Boomtown Rats frontman Bob Geldof and Strummer didn't always see eye-to-eye musically or politically, the organizer of Live Aid said he admired Strummer's determination.

"He was a clear contemporary, and we were rivals," he told BBC News. "I believed we had to get inside the pop culture. He believed you should always stay outside and hurl things at it. We had endless arguments about it. As we all got older I realized what a nice person he was. He was a very important musician. The Clash will be endlessly influential."

Misfits bassist Jerry Only also praised Strummer's tireless work ethic. "Back when we first started playing punk music, the Clash had one of the most powerful sounds out there," he said. "Joe was the hardest working man in the business. He would be comparable today to James Hetfield of Metallica or Billy Joe from Green Day. He sang, he played and he didn't stop. He's someone to be admired. We all took a little bit of Joe. God bless him."

— Jon Wiederhorn, with additional reporting by Joe D'Angelo and Gil Kaufman

• Joe Strummer
• The Clash

Joe Strummer in his last interview Nov 2002
Photo: MTV

At a November shoot for a pilot hosted by Joe Strummer, the Clash guitarist found out from an MTV producer that his band had been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

"The hall of fame. Like Babe Ruth," he said dryly before smiling.

"This isn't a game?" he asked, looking serious for a brief moment.

When assured the Clash had been inducted, he said, "That's good. There was a short list, but I thought the Police would win."

The producer informed him that the Police were also inducted. "Good, so they're in too. Do you think everyone's gonna play?"

The question might have been sardonic, since the Clash had repeatedly refused to reunite despite lucrative offers. But this time Strummer seemed genuinely excited about the idea of returning to the stage with his former bandmates — guitarist Mick Jones, bassist Paul Simonon and drummer Topper Headon. Strummer and Jones had a good time playing together for the first time in 20 years on November 16 at a charity gig at London's Acton Town Hall.

"I think we should play [at the hall of fame ceremony]," Strummer said. "It would be sh--ty and snotty not to."

Strummer died of a heart attack before he had a chance to a experience a full-scale resurrection with the band that helped define the punk movement and influenced a myriad of artists musically and politically, including U2, Rage Against the Machine, Moby and Rancid (see "Joe Strummer Of The Clash Dead At 50")

Dressed for the pilot in a brown collared shirt, brown leather jacket and jeans, and sporting a hint of a five o'clock shadow, Strummer looked as friendly and approachable as a pub bartender and seemed eager to reminisce over the glory years of punk rock. He credited the political and social scene in Britain with spawning the anarchic movement.

"In '77 we had some ridiculous things in England," Strummer said. "Like the three-day week. Everybody thought that was a great idea, but it was supposed to punish us and the unions and stuff. There were chaotic times, and it made a lot of people free in their minds.

"Back in those days in England there were two channels on the TV shutting off at 11 p.m., and all the bars shut off at 11 p.m. So through the long, hot nights people were really moving around and talking to each other and writing tunes and getting into the whole thing in a big way. It was a fun time. Every night you could see something completely berserk."

Strummer's eyes glinted as he recalled the music scene that percolated with groundbreaking groups like the Buzzcocks, the Jam and Sex Pistols.

"In '77 something must have happened that affected everybody, whether it was in the air or in the water supply," he said. "I think everybody upped each other's standard because you had one good record and everybody tried to reach that, and it inspired everybody because everybody tried to reach for the furthest they could get to. It was a community feeling, and that helped too."

While the Buzzcocks were explosive and the Pistols volatile, it was the Clash who became known as the preeminent English live punk band. Musically gifted, creatively inclined and strengthened by raw determination, the Clash were capable of turning concerts into historic events.

"It was like a firework display going off," Strummer said of the band's shows. "It was like, 'Bang!' As soon as that first tune came in it seemed to us like three seconds before we hit the last chord of the last tune. It was like a psychedelic, kinetic blur. The energy in the hall [was crazy], not only from the band, but from the crowd. It just egged you on and it fed upon itself. It was like being on a rocket ship."

-- Jon Wiederhorn, with additional reporting by Alex Coletti and Bill Flanagan

Read fans' reactions and share your remembrances of Strummer in You Tell Us.

"Westway to the World," a two-hour documentary on the Clash, will air on MTV2 Tuesday at 11 a.m. ET/ 8 a.m. PT and Wednesday at 12 midnight ET/ 9 p.m. PT.

• Joe Strummer
• The Clash

Joe Strummer
Photo: Anton Corbijn

Joe Strummer, vocalist and guitarist of the pioneering punk band the Clash, was found dead in his home in southwest England Sunday, according to a police spokesperson. The cause of death is unknown, though authorities do not believe the circumstances to be suspicious. An autopsy has been scheduled for Tuesday. Strummer was 50.

Strummer's body was discovered Sunday afternoon in his Somerset home by his wife Lucy, who phoned police. They arrived around 4:45 p.m. and pronounced him dead at the scene. Officers believed Strummer died from heart failure. (Read fans' reactions and share your remembrances of Strummer in You Tell Us.)

Along with the Sex Pistols and the Ramones, the Clash ushered in punk's first wave, giving voice to a generation of restless youth that was too nihilistic for disco's feel-good vibe and the bloated corporate rock of the day. Unlike the Pistols, though, who reveled in the anarchy of their loutish behavior as much as the chaos of their music, Strummer and the Clash harnessed their rage and ferocity into reggae and dub-influenced political anthems about class and economic struggle such as "Death or Glory," "London Calling" and "The Guns of Brixton." The results were albums such as 1979's London's Calling, considered by many critics to be one of the greatest rock albums of all time.

Born John Graham Mellor in Ankara, Turkey, in 1952, the son of British diplomat Ronald Mellor, Strummer attended London's Freeman boarding school in Surrey as a child, visiting his parents in Teheran and in sub-Sahara Africa during school holidays.

He began his rise to musical prominence busking in the London subway and in the cover band the 101ers in the early '70s. After seeing a performance by the Sex Pistols in 1976, Strummer broke up the 101ers and set out in search of a more intense muse.

Joining forces with co-singer/guitarist Mick Jones, bassist Paul Simonon and drummer Topper Headon in West London in the mid-'70s, Strummer was instrumental in bringing his political, worldly view to one of the most influential and principled bands in the history of rock. The group performed its first concert in the summer of '76, opening for their idols, the Sex Pistols, in London. A slot on the Pistols' hectic Anarchy in the U.K. Tour that fall helped land the Clash a recording contract.

Though they trailed the Pistols in arriving at the punk party, the Clash far outstripped the sideshow antics of Sid Vicious and Johnny Rotten with fiery, passionate songs of righteous protest such as "I'm So Bored With the U.S.A.," "London's Burning" and "White Riot," from their self-titled 1977 debut, which was not released in the U.S. because the band's American label did not think the songs were fit for radio. The album was released Stateside in an altered form two years later.

In part because of Strummer's peripatetic childhood and his embrace of global music, the Clash augmented the usual three-chord punk blitz with reggae, dub, rockabilly, folk and a swaggering, Wild West style and bearing. His middle-class background mixed with Jones' working-class Brixton upbringing made for a volatile combination, which the band played to the hilt in its image, songs and interviews. For a time, the group's fearless embrace of political ideology and cultural diversity earned the Clash the distinction as "the only band that mattered."

That status was reinforced with the release of the band's third record, London Calling. The double-album is rife with searing, rocking, working-class politico-punk anthems such as the title track, but it also features a startling array of musical styles: loungey jazz ("Jimmy Jazz"), rockabilly ("Brand New Cadillac"), ska ("Rudie Can't Fail"), pop ("Lost in the Supermarket"), boozy R&B ("The Right Profile") and even some Stonesy blues rock ("Lover's Rock").

It's a staggering artistic statement from a group that had only been together for three years, but had already surpassed its peers in terms of growth and stylistic range.

Through it all, Strummer was the angry young man at the center of the storm. With a cigarette-scarred, throaty rasp, Strummer stumbled through the Clash's reggae cover of the traditional blues number "Junco Partner," croaking like a drunken street-fighter hitting daylight. The song sits alongside many of the classics written by Strummer and Jones on the band's 1980 magnum opus, the three-album set Sandanista!. Tracks such as "Somebody Got Murdered" and "Career Opportunities" decry the plight of England's youth with a passion and vigor, as well as a desperate hopelessness, that made Jones and Strummer the poet laureates of punk. Like London's Calling, the album, though packed with songs, was released at a fan-friendly discounted price.

Though the group's influence was on the wane in England, with the release of 1982's Combat Rock the Clash finally achieved the American success they long sought with the hits "Should I Stay or Should I Go?" and "Rock the Casbah." The Middle Eastern-themed video for the song made the mohawked Strummer an icon for the MTV generation. (The anti-war track was later played by the U.S. military as it bombed Iraq in the 1991 Gulf War.) The group, however, was frequently booed off the stage in the fall of 1982 as it made the rounds with the Who on the venerable English rock band's first farewell tour.

The Clash's appearance at the massive US Festival in the summer of 1983 would mark their last major concert, as the group disintegrated following the September 1983 firing of Jones, whom the others felt had strayed from the band's original ideals. A new lineup toured the U.S. in 1984 and released the poorly received Cut the Crap album before disbanding in 1986.

Jones and Strummer reunited in 1986 to write a handful of songs for Jones' band, Big Audio Dynamite, while Strummer began a second career as an actor. The singer appeared as "street scum" in "The King of Comedy" (1983), a baddie in Alex Cox's punk rock western, "Straight to Hell" (1987) and Cox's "Walker," (1987) and played bit parts in "Candy Mountain" (1987) and Jim Jarmusch's "Mystery Train" (1989). In the latter, he played the part of "Johnny" a.k.a. Elvis, in the film about a Japanese couple's obsession with 1950s America.

Strummer released his solo debut, Earthquake Weather, in 1989, which bore the signature Clash mash-up of dub, reggae, folk and punk rock. After a brief 1991 stint as the touring vocalist and rhythm guitarist for Irish rockers the Pogues, Strummer receded from the spotlight, performing on Black Grape's 1996 hit "England's Irie" and scoring the John Cusack comedy "Grosse Pointe Blank" (1997). Strummer lent his voice to "It's a Rockin' World" from the soundtrack to "South Park" (1998). He returned in 1999 backed by his new band, the Mescaleros, with Rock Art and the X-Ray Style, an eclectic album that added some dancey beats to Strummer's increasingly world music mix of exotic percussion and African influences. A second album, Global a Go-Go, followed last year, and Strummer had been working on a third Mescaleros LP. He had also recently completed a European tour with the band.

A punk to the end, Strummer had ignored lucrative offers for the Clash to reunite and steadfastly followed his musical and social conscience. Along the way, he influenced everyone from former Rage Against the Machine singer Zack de la Rocha to Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder and U2's Bono, with whom he collaborated on a song for an upcoming concert in South Africa to raise money to fight AIDS. Along with the Eurythmics' Dave Stewart, the pair wrote "48864" — named for former South African president Nelson Mandela's prison number — which will be performed at the benefit show on February 2 (see "Bono, Shaggy, Macy Gray To Play AIDS Benefit In South Africa").

Strummer recently filmed a pilot for an MTV2 show, "Global Boombox With Joe Strummer," which features clips from a number of world, reggae, pop and punk artists, including Buccaneer, Capleton, Angelique Kidjo, Youssou N'Dour and Rancid.

The Clash are scheduled to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 10 in New York (see ), and the drums had begun beating for a long sought-after reunion. Jones and Strummer performed together for the first time in nearly 20 years on November 16 at a charity gig at London's Acton Town Hall, playing the songs "London's Burning," "Bankrobber" and "White Riot," which raised hopes for an onstage set at the Hall of Fame induction.

Strummer is survived by a wife, two daughters and a stepdaughter, who are all requesting privacy at this time

[This story was updated on 12.23.02 at 3:25 p.m. ET.]

-- Joe D'Angelo and Gil Kaufman

"Westway to the World," a two-hour documentary on the Clash, will air on MTV2 Tuesday at 11a.m. ET/ 8 a.m. PT, and Wednesday at 12 midnight ET/ 9 p.m. PT. 

• The Clash
• Joe Strummer

• Joe Strummer

• Joe Strummer

• Joe Strummer