Solo career and soundtrack work (1986–1999) Joe Strummer

strummer, backing pogues in japan. photo: masao nakagami

a year later, strummer worked on several songs 1986 film sid , nancy, including love kills , dum dum club . strummer later worked mick jones , band big audio dynamite, contributing band s second studio album co-writing of songs producing album along jones.

in 1987, played small part in film walker, directed alex cox, character named faucet , wrote , performed on film s soundtrack. starred in cox film same year called straight hell, character simms. straight hell featured london-irish folk/punk band pogues, both actors , contributors soundtrack. strummer joined pogues tour in 1987/88, filling in ailing guitarist philip chevron, wrote (in may 2008) on band s online forum: when sick in late 1987, taught joe guitar parts in afternoon , on tour in usa deputy guitarist next day. joe wrote tabs in meticulously neat hand on long piece of paper taped top of guitar glance down when onstage. tour first of several collaborations band.

in 1989, strummer appeared in jim jarmusch s film mystery train drunken, short-tempered drifter named johnny (whom characters refer elvis, johnny s dismay). made cameo appearance in aki kaurismäki s 1990 film hired contract killer guitarist in pub, performing 2 songs ( burning lights , afro-cuban bebop ). these released promotional 7-inch single limited few hundred copies, credited joe strummer & astro physicians . astro physicians in fact pogues ( afro-cuban bebop got re-release on pogues 2008 box set). during time strummer continued act, write , produce soundtracks various films, notably soundtrack grosse pointe blank (1997).

in 1989 strummer produced solo record band latino rockabilly war in 1989. album earthquake weather critical , commercial flop, , resulted in loss of contract sony records. did soundtrack movie permanent record band.

strummer asked pogues, fracturing band, them produce next album, released in 1990 hell s ditch. in 1991, replaced shane macgowan singer of pogues tour after macgowan s departure band. 1 night of tour professionally recorded, , 3 tracks ( fought law , london calling , , turkish song of damned ) have seen release b-sides , again on pogues 2008 box set.

on 16 april 1994, strummer joined czech-american band dirty pictures on stage in prague @ repre club in obecni dum @ rock refugees , benefit concert people left displaced war in bosnia. although set appeared impromptu, strummer , band had spent days leading event rehearsing , hanging out in prague. show began london calling , without pause went brand new cadillac . in middle of song, power went out. once power on, strummer asked audience whether or not mind if band started over. began again london calling , continued on half-hour.

after these self-described wilderness years , strummer began working other bands; played piano on 1995 uk hit of levellers, 1 , appeared on black grape single england s irie in 1996. in 1997, while in new york city, worked noted producer , engineer lee perry on remixed clash , 101ers reissue dub material. in collaboration percussionist pablo cook, strummer wrote , performed soundtrack tunnel of love (robert wallace 1997) featured in cannes film festival in same year.

in 1998, made guest appearance on animated television show, south park , appeared on album chef aid: south park album featuring songs , inspired series.

during time, strummer engaged in legal dispute clash s record label, epic records. disagreement lasted 8 years , ended label agreeing let him record solo records label. if clash reunite though, have record sony. during nineties, strummer dj on bbc world service half-hour programme london calling. samples series provide vocals midnight jam on joe strummer , mescaleros final album streetcore.