Strummer ad-libs

[Marky Dread]

Drugs' raids were a common enough feature in UK cities back then, particularly in the high rises. I'm sure Joe witnessed one or two in his time. I witnessed one myself in London in the late 80s and it was indeed "raining" drugs as all manner of packages were thrown out windows as the cop cars screeched to a halt outside. Apart from the obvious dramatisation of the murders, those lines are pretty evocative for me anyway.

Yep still a regular ocurrance in the flats right behind my home.

[Heston]

From all that I have heard, Joe Strummer did not use drugs

[Low Down Low]

Drugs' raids were a common enough feature in UK cities back then, particularly in the high rises. I'm sure Joe witnessed one or two in his time. I witnessed one myself in London in the late 80s and it was indeed "raining" drugs as all manner of packages were thrown out windows as the cop cars screeched to a halt outside. Apart from the obvious dramatisation of the murders, those lines are pretty evocative for me anyway.

Yep still a regular ocurrance in the flats right behind my home.

Oh really. I didnt think they bothered with that kind of stuff anymore, seems like a whole lot of fuss just to nab a bit of low hanging fruit.

[Marky Dread]

Drugs' raids were a common enough feature in UK cities back then, particularly in the high rises. I'm sure Joe witnessed one or two in his time. I witnessed one myself in London in the late 80s and it was indeed "raining" drugs as all manner of packages were thrown out windows as the cop cars screeched to a halt outside. Apart from the obvious dramatisation of the murders, those lines are pretty evocative for me anyway.

Yep still a regular ocurrance in the flats right behind my home.

Oh really. I didnt think they bothered with that kind of stuff anymore, seems like a whole lot of fuss just to nab a bit of low hanging fruit.

Sorry should be more clear less the police raids which still occur from time to time. But the amount of drugs being sold regularly at night, the guys who sell have a particular whistle and you can hear them in the rear alleyways making the deals. When I walk my two dogs late at night I've often spotted a guy lurking on the corner and seen the same guy on his toes followed by a blue flashing light.

[Aeneas]

Drugs' raids were a common enough feature in UK cities back then, particularly in the high rises. I'm sure Joe witnessed one or two in his time. I witnessed one myself in London in the late 80s and it was indeed "raining" drugs as all manner of packages were thrown out windows as the cop cars screeched to a halt outside. Apart from the obvious dramatisation of the murders, those lines are pretty evocative for me anyway.

Interesting portrayal.
Did any of these raids ever affect the availability of drugs
on the street ?
i.e. did they ask "tell us where" and go arrest all the drug kingpins,
leading to an absence of drugs on the street, for at least a period ?

It is pretty obvious that a crime involving substances which dogs can smell,
and which causes the people who use them to wind up in police custody
having committed robbery, prostitution etc,
would be the easiest crime for police to track, and
round up all levels of drug dealers all involved root and branch, including drug kingpins.

[101Walterton]

Joe lived in the squatting golden triangle of Walterton Road, Elgin Avenue and Shirland Road. Whole sections of the streets were squats and many were interconnecting. They were raided by Police on an almost daily basis.
This was the 1970's they weren't organised drug Surveilance operations, there were no search warrants, they were squats. The local Police would just kick the door in (if there was even a door that closed) and search for drugs, illegal immigrants, toms with unpaid fines etc.

[Aeneas]

From all that I have heard, Joe Strummer did not use drugs and
wrote this simply to dramatize the event.

Google the phrase "spliff bunker." Joe was no candidate for the Straight Edge life.

I meant hard drugs.
After all, the line "a spliff, a pound, a half a pint of brown"
is his early 1978 band confession.
Of course, even spliffs can cause brain damage.
And eventually Strummer ousted Mick Jones from the band around 1984
for spliffs.
i.e. in 6 years, Strummer learned something about all drugs.

[Low Down Low]

Drugs' raids were a common enough feature in UK cities back then, particularly in the high rises. I'm sure Joe witnessed one or two in his time. I witnessed one myself in London in the late 80s and it was indeed "raining" drugs as all manner of packages were thrown out windows as the cop cars screeched to a halt outside. Apart from the obvious dramatisation of the murders, those lines are pretty evocative for me anyway.

Interesting portrayal.
Did any of these raids ever affect the availability of drugs
on the street ?
i.e. did they ask "tell us where" and go arrest all the drug kingpins,
leading to an absence of drugs on the street, for at least a period ?

Nah, probably not I'd say. But busting down doors and cracking heads was likely good therapy for stressed out cops and pushed the right buttons in the right places. Just like they portrayed it in The Wire.

[Aeneas]

Joe lived in the squatting golden triangle of Walterton Road, Elgin Avenue and Shirland Road. Whole sections of the streets were squats and many were interconnecting. They were raided by Police on an almost daily basis.
This was the 1970's they weren't organised drug Surveillance operations, there were no search warrants, they were squats. The local Police would just kick the door in (if there was even a door that closed) and search for drugs, illegal immigrants, toms with unpaid fines etc.

There is no question that in almost all of the Clash songs in the first 3 albums,
there is some mention of some sort of drug epidemic in London.
And when Lennon, Bowie, Vicious, Idol, etc came to NYC, they had no trouble
finding heroin and other drugs.
A few years earlier, when police targeted the Rolling Stones for drugs,
the UK people sided with the drug users over the police.
Clearly that changed.

[muppet hi fi]

From all that I have heard, Joe Strummer did not use drugs and
wrote this simply to dramatize the event.

Google the phrase "spliff bunker." Joe was no candidate for the Straight Edge life.

I meant hard drugs.
After all, the line "a spliff, a pound, a half a pint of brown"
is his early 1978 band confession.
Of course, even spliffs can cause brain damage.
And eventually Strummer ousted Mick Jones from the band around 1984
for spliffs.
i.e. in 6 years, Strummer learned something about all drugs.

Joe didn't oust Mick for smoking weed; it was for Mick's work habits and the usual "artistic differences". Also because of his own ego and insecurities.

And Joe was - aside from being a speed freak early on and an inveterate weed smoker himself - a heavy alcohol drinker - the most dangerous of all widely available drugs.

[Marky Dread]

From all that I have heard, Joe Strummer did not use drugs and
wrote this simply to dramatize the event.

Google the phrase "spliff bunker." Joe was no candidate for the Straight Edge life.

I meant hard drugs.
After all, the line "a spliff, a pound, a half a pint of brown"
is his early 1978 band confession.
Of course, even spliffs can cause brain damage.
And eventually Strummer ousted Mick Jones from the band around 1984
for spliffs.
i.e. in 6 years, Strummer learned something about all drugs.

Joe didn't oust Mick for smoking weed; it was for Mick's work habits and the usual "artistic differences". Also because of his own ego and insecurities.

And Joe was - aside from being a speed freak early on and an inveterate weed smoker himself - a heavy alcohol drinker - the most dangerous of all widely available drugs.

Hence the song Drug-Taking Time.

[Low Down Low]

From all that I have heard, Joe Strummer did not use drugs and
wrote this simply to dramatize the event.

Google the phrase "spliff bunker." Joe was no candidate for the Straight Edge life.

I meant hard drugs.
After all, the line "a spliff, a pound, a half a pint of brown"
is his early 1978 band confession.
Of course, even spliffs can cause brain damage.
And eventually Strummer ousted Mick Jones from the band around 1984
for spliffs.
i.e. in 6 years, Strummer learned something about all drugs.

Joe didn't oust Mick for smoking weed; it was for Mick's work habits and the usual "artistic differences". Also because of his own ego and insecurities.

And Joe was - aside from being a speed freak early on and an inveterate weed smoker himself - a heavy alcohol drinker - the most dangerous of all widely available drugs.

Hence the song Drug-Taking Time.

Amphetamine Time, Uppers in Heaven (Not only here). Its all drugs with the Clash, Drugs on the Roof and on the brain!

[muppet hi fi]

From all that I have heard, Joe Strummer did not use drugs and
wrote this simply to dramatize the event.

Google the phrase "spliff bunker." Joe was no candidate for the Straight Edge life.

I meant hard drugs.
After all, the line "a spliff, a pound, a half a pint of brown"
is his early 1978 band confession.
Of course, even spliffs can cause brain damage.
And eventually Strummer ousted Mick Jones from the band around 1984
for spliffs.
i.e. in 6 years, Strummer learned something about all drugs.

Joe didn't oust Mick for smoking weed; it was for Mick's work habits and the usual "artistic differences". Also because of his own ego and insecurities.

And Joe was - aside from being a speed freak early on and an inveterate weed smoker himself - a heavy alcohol drinker - the most dangerous of all widely available drugs.

Hence the song Drug-Taking Time.

Oh yes. And the early demo from the Automat in San Fran proves this. Mick was so disgusted with Joe's glorification of all drugs that he grew his hair long in protest

[Aeneas]

From all that I have heard, Joe Strummer did not use drugs and
wrote this simply to dramatize the event.

Google the phrase "spliff bunker." Joe was no candidate for the Straight Edge life.

I meant hard drugs.
After all, the line "a spliff, a pound, a half a pint of brown"
is his early 1978 band confession.
Of course, even spliffs can cause brain damage.
And eventually Strummer ousted Mick Jones from the band around 1984
for spliffs.
i.e. in 6 years, Strummer learned something about all drugs.

Joe didn't oust Mick for smoking weed; it was for Mick's work habits and the usual "artistic differences". Also because of his own ego and insecurities.

And Joe was - aside from being a speed freak early on and an inveterate weed smoker himself - a heavy alcohol drinker - the most dangerous of all widely available drugs.

This is revisionism.
It was known at the time that Jones was having trouble focusing on
his music role in the band because of drugs.
In fact, Jones had lost weight and many at the time also thought he had
a cocaine problem.
It was at this time that Strummer publicly swore off all drugs,
amid the turmoil and inability to complete songs.

[muppet hi fi]

From all that I have heard, Joe Strummer did not use drugs and
wrote this simply to dramatize the event.

Google the phrase "spliff bunker." Joe was no candidate for the Straight Edge life.

I meant hard drugs.
After all, the line "a spliff, a pound, a half a pint of brown"
is his early 1978 band confession.
Of course, even spliffs can cause brain damage.
And eventually Strummer ousted Mick Jones from the band around 1984
for spliffs.
i.e. in 6 years, Strummer learned something about all drugs.

Joe didn't oust Mick for smoking weed; it was for Mick's work habits and the usual "artistic differences". Also because of his own ego and insecurities.

And Joe was - aside from being a speed freak early on and an inveterate weed smoker himself - a heavy alcohol drinker - the most dangerous of all widely available drugs.

This is revisionism.
It was known at the time that Jones was having trouble focusing on
his music role in the band because of drugs.
In fact, Jones had lost weight and many at the time also thought he had
a cocaine problem.
It was at this time that Strummer publicly swore off all drugs,
amid the turmoil and inability to complete songs.

Sheeesh. OK, young mang, whatever you say.