Strummer, Townshend, and Pearl Jam

Hugh Freaking Dillon
Hugh Freaking Dillon Posts: 14,010
edited November 2011 in The Porch
ok, class, open up your text books (Twenty) to page 258. The date was December 2002. The band had asked Joe Strummer, before he passed away, if he and his Mescaleros would accompany them on the last leg of the Riot Act tour. They had asked him before without success, but Strummer had then run the idea past Pete Townshend, who gave his support for the pairing.

Who can tell me why Joe needed Pete's blessing to tour with Pearl Jam?
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Comments

  • Lament
    Lament Posts: 294
    My guess is Pearl Jam probably wasn't really on Joe's radar at the time. He was very particular about who they'd take on tour with them/tour with (I could be wrong, but I think The Who may have been the only band the Mescaleros were ever even a support act for).

    To be honest, I would've hated to see Joe opening for Pearl Jam. It bugged me how little respect the Buzzcocks got from fans in some cities on that tour. It would've straight up infuriated me to see Joe in that situation. Joe Strummer shouldn't have been opening for anybody.
  • jimed14
    jimed14 Posts: 9,488
    Lament wrote:
    My guess is Pearl Jam probably wasn't really on Joe's radar at the time. He was very particular about who they'd take on tour with them/tour with (I could be wrong, but I think The Who may have been the only band the Mescaleros were ever even a support act for).

    ... to add to this, remember, for pretty much 10-15 years, Strummer was somewhat of a recluse ... and this was pretty much the time Pearl Jam was at their peek of popularity. Strummer was probably just reaching out for a respected opinion, someone who knew what PJ were all about.

    Lament wrote:
    To be honest, I would've hated to see Joe opening for Pearl Jam. It bugged me how little respect the Buzzcocks got from fans in some cities on that tour. It would've straight up infuriated me to see Joe in that situation. Joe Strummer shouldn't have been opening for anybody.

    I begrudgingly have to agree with this. As selfishly as *I* would have loved to see this happen, it may have gone over poorly. The Buzzcocks got no love from PJ fans ... hell, Sonic Youth received far less respect than they deserved from PJ fans.

    But damn, how nice would it have been if Joe came out and sang a Clash tune with PJ. :cry:

    There are rumors that Paul Tollet actually had a Clash reunion gig all but booked for Coachella 2003.

    :cry: x2
    "You're one of the few Red Sox fans I don't mind." - Newch91

    "I don't believe in damn curses. Wake up the damn Bambino and have me face him. Maybe I'll drill him in the ass." --- Pedro Martinez
  • Lament
    Lament Posts: 294
    jimed14 wrote:
    But damn, how nice would it have been if Joe came out and sang a Clash tune with PJ. :cry:

    I think maybe more than any Clash song I would've sold my soul to hear Ed sing Johnny Appleseed with Joe. Could you imagine the two of them harmonizing on "Buick '49" part?

    Seeing as though Pearl Jam seems to like mining the same artists for multiple covers, maybe someday we'll at least get lucky enough to hear them (or just Ed) cover that song. And while they're at it, perhaps a better Clash song than Know Your Rights as well...
  • jimed14
    jimed14 Posts: 9,488
    Had always hoped Ed would play this one during his solo tour ...

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbWdtlWmuLE
    "You're one of the few Red Sox fans I don't mind." - Newch91

    "I don't believe in damn curses. Wake up the damn Bambino and have me face him. Maybe I'll drill him in the ass." --- Pedro Martinez
  • Lament
    Lament Posts: 294
    jimed14 wrote:
    Had always hoped Ed would play this one during his solo tour ...

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbWdtlWmuLE

    Oh man, great call on Long Shadow!

    I remember getting goosebumps listening to that song in my friend's car on the way back from the midnight sale when it came out.

    Hard to believe this December marks nine years since he passed...

    :cry:

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