I am a huge fan of The Clash. They were one of the seminal bands of the 70's and 80's and their music still has a timeless quality and a resonance that has influenced so many bands since then. I was fortunate enough to see them live and still remember how they left everything on the stage.
For me there are two simple messages that make what The Clash stood for so important today. The first was the brashness of their personal mission statement which was "The only band that matters." To this day when I hear that I find it so fitting because of their swagger and attitude showed that they believed it. The other message was pointed out to me by my high school friend Mark Smith, who showed me in the 'London Calling' album dead wax (the blank space in an album between the label and the actual recording) were the four words on each of the album sides "Tear Down The Walls." For me these four words were a rallying cry that still have meaning today. In this time of twitter and simple straightforward messaging, can you sum up your own brand in four words?
12/20/12 - Great update on the impact of Joe Strummer of The Clash on the tenth anniversary of his death.
