Ultimately, in an era wherein neo-liberalist politicians and commentators delight in attacking a vast myriad of radical political stances and campaigns under the auspice of the reverse propaganda flavoured ”woke” labelling, that’s what probably matters most.Īlongside that the appropriation and ‘theft’ of radical artists via perversion and distortion of their original messages by the political Right, is a defining characteristic of the contemporary ‘culture wars’. Whatever the variations of his own political journey – and the book takes an archaeological approach in ‘sectioning’ them via the different stages of his career – the unavoidable conclusion is that in broad terms, Strummer was always a man of the Left. But in an age wherein radical music and culture has attracted often baffling and sometimes deeply cynical appropriations, this in-depth analysis from Gregor Gall at least establishes one fundamental reality. Inside such volcanic moments, the relevance of a late 1970s Punk star’s political convictions may indeed appear somewhat irrelevant, other than to those influenced by them personally.
To call the current era ”tumultuous” is putting it way beyond mildly. As the western hemisphere’s leaders convulse in ‘gung-ho’ verbalised war salvos, the public stares on in ever increasing anger at the sordid ‘Last chance Saloon’ cabaret, of the most immoral man to ever hold sway in 10 Downing Street. This new academic study of Joe Strummer’s political beliefs, arrives at a timely moment. Drawing on Strummer’s lyrics, various interviews and bootleg recordings, as well as interviews with those he inspired, The punk rock politics of Joe Strummer takes the reader on a journey through the political influences and motivations that defined one of the UK’s greatest punk icons.
The punk rock politics of Joe Strummer examines Strummer’s beliefs on a range of issues – including socialism, alienation, exploitation, multiculturalism and humanism – analysing their credibility, influence and impact, and asking where they came from and how they developed over time.
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