The Clash in a black and white group shot by Pennie Smith. They are in a row & smiling while wearing jackets and hats.

The Clash

Curated by
Michelle Bailey

The Only Band . . .

The Clash are a Punk band from London, England. They were active from 1976-1982.

They worked in many genres, including Punk, Rockabilily, Reggae, Jazz, Funk, & Rap.

They are best summed up by Rock Journalist Lester Bangs, who observed, "Here at last is a band which not only preaches something good but practices it as well, that instead of talking about changes in social behaviour puts the model of a truly egalitarian society into practice in their own conduct."

. . . That Matters.

The Clash Star Logo with the members' last names and dates of activity, 1976-1982

“People can change anything they want to, and that means everything in the world.”

- Joe Strummer

A closeup image of Joe with a quote that says his philosophy 'I think people ought to know that we're anti-fascist, we're anti-violence, we're anti-racist and we're pro-creative. We're against ignorance.'
Joe Strummer photographed by longtime collaborator Pennie Smith in black and white on a rooftop with a typewriter.
A black and white photograph by Pennie Smith of Mick Jones in a street in New York City holding a newspaper.
The members of The Clash in a black and white photograph, sitting in a hiddle on the railroad tracks. They are casual and have a comfortable feeling with one another, Joe is lighting a cigarette for Topper and they feel unified.





Joe Strummer

writing on a rooftop.

Photograph by Pennie Smith










'Just a quiet day'

Mick Jones

New York, 1979

Photograph by Pennie Smith







The Clash

during the Combat Rock (1982) album shoot.

Photograph by Pennie Smith