Paul Simonon
Paul Simonon | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | Paul Gustave Simonon |
Born | citation needed] Thornton Heath, Croydon, England | 15 December 1955 [
Genres | Punk rock, new wave, post-punk, reggae, alternative rock, rock and roll |
Occupation(s) | Bass guitarist, visual artist, vocalist, songwriter |
Instrument(s) | Bass guitar, guitar, vocals, harmonica |
Years active | 1976–1993, 2006–present |
Labels | CBS, Capitol, Parlophone |
Paul Gustave Simonon (
Early life
Simonon was born in
Career
He met
Simonon played bass on almost all of the Clash's songs. Recordings that he did not play on include: "The Magnificent Seven" and "Lightning Strikes (Not Once but Twice)" on Sandinista! (played by Norman Watt-Roy), "Rock the Casbah" on Combat Rock (played by Topper Headon), and Cut the Crap (played by Norman Watt-Roy). Sandinista! featured bass played by Jones or Strummer, some but possibly not all of which Simonon later re-recorded once he rejoined the sessions after filming Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains.[9][13] Also, when performing "The Guns of Brixton" live he switched instruments with Joe Strummer, because it was easier for him to sing while playing guitar, instead of bass as he sings lead vocals on this track.
Simonon's
After the Clash dissolved in 1986, Simonon started a band called
In 2011, Simonon spent time aboard the
Actor Pete Morrow portrays Simonon in the 2016 film London Town.[18] The film was met with mixed reviews.
In 2023, Simonon announced a new album, Can We Do Tomorrow Another Day?, in collaboration with singer Galen Ayers. The project arose out of Simonon's time writing music in
Discography
- With the Clash
- The Clash (1977)
- Give 'Em Enough Rope (1978)
- London Calling (1979)
- Sandinista! (1980)
- Combat Rock (1982)
- Cut the Crap (1985)
- With Havana 3 am
- Havana 3 am (1991)
- With The Good, the Bad & the Queen
- The Good, the Bad & the Queen (2007)
- Merrie Land (2018)
- With Gorillaz
- Mick Joneson the album's title track.
- With Galen & Paul (Galen Ayers & Paul Simonon)
- Can We Do Tomorrow Another Day? (2023)
Art
Selected solo exhibitions
- From Hammersmith to Greenwich (2002)
- Paul Simonon Recent Paintings (2008)[20]
- Wot no Bike, ICA Nash and Brandon Rooms (2015). To accompany the exhibition, Simonon published a limited edition hardback publication also titled Wot no Bike.[21] Featuring 24 of the paintings, it includes an introduction by David Lancaster, a writer on classic bikes and culture and an interview between Simonon and Tim Marlow, Director of Artistic Programmes at the Royal Academy of Arts, London.
Selected group exhibitions
- John Martin Gallery (1996)
- Eyes of a Child (1998)
- Crusaid Edinburgh Art Centre (1998)
- Art Tube Exhibition London Underground (2001)
- Notting Hill Arts Exhibition (2001)
- Colony Room Show (2001)
References
- ^ Davies, Dean Mayo (6 December 2017). "The Clash's Paul Simonon on His Work as an Artist". AnotherMan. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
- ^ "Find My Past". Search.findmypast.co.uk. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
- ^ Mayo Davis, Dean (13 March 2019). "Exclusive: Paul Simonon Directs a Video for The Good, The Bad & The Queen". Another Man. Archived from the original on 8 October 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
- ^ Traynor, Cian (15 July 2019). "Ten quick questions with Damon Albarn & Paul Simonon The Good, the Bad & the Queen". Huck (magazine). Archived from the original on 8 October 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
- ^ OCLC 49798077.
- ^ Salewicz, Chris (February 1981). "The Clash: Home On The Range". The Face. Retrieved 21 December 2019 – via Rock's Backpages.
- ^ Presenter: Kurt Loder. "MTV Rockumentary". MTV Rockumentary. London, England. MTV. Archived from the original on 3 March 2001.
- ^ "MTV Rockumentary Part 1". londonsburning.org. Archived from the original on 3 March 2001. Retrieved 6 December 2007.
Mick Jones: One of the names that we had before we had the Clash was the Weak Heartdrops from the Big Youth song. Another I think was the Psychotic Negatives, but now neither of those worked.
Paul Simonon: It really came to my head when I start reading the newspapers and a word that kept recurring was the word "clash", so I thought "the Clash, what about that," to the others. And they and Bernard they went for it. - ^ OCLC 61177239.
- ^ Topping 2004, p.12.
- ^ Green 2003, pp.195–196.
- ^ Sweeting, Adam. "Death or Glory". Uncut. October 2004. p.70.
- ^ Deeth, John. "Turning Rebellion into Money: The Story of the Clash". jdeeth.home.mchsi.com. Archived from the original on 4 January 2004. Retrieved 18 February 2008.
- ^ Prato, Greg. Paul Simonon Biography. AllMusic. Retrieved 24 February 2008.
- ^ Snow, Mat (5 March 1991). "Havana 3 A. M. review". Q Magazine. 55: 68.
- ^ Fitzgerald, Brian. "Stories from the Rainbow Warrior: Jailhouse Rockstar". Greenpeace International. Retrieved 14 November 2011.
- ^ "The Clash's Paul Simonon arrested while working as undercover Greenpeace activist". The Guardian. 15 November 2011. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- ^ "See Jonathan Rhys Meyers Play Joe Strummer in 'London Town' Trailer". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
- ^ "Galen Ayers and Paul Simonon announce new project and debut album". NME. 25 February 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- ^ "Thomas Williams Fine Art". Thomas Williams Fine Art. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
- ^ "Wot No Bike – Special Edition Book with Print". Paul Simonon. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
Further reading
- OCLC 236120343.
- Gilbert, Pat (2005) [2004]. Passion Is a Fashion: The Real Story of The Clash (4th ed.). London: OCLC 61177239.
- Gray, Marcus (2005) [1995]. The Clash: Return of the Last Gang in Town (5th revised ed.). London: Helter Skelter. OCLC 60668626.
- Green, Johnny; Garry Barker (2003) [1997]. A Riot of Our Own: Night and Day with The Clash (3rd ed.). London: Orion. OCLC 52990890.
- OCLC 69241279.
- OCLC 53155325.
- OCLC 63129186.