Question 1

True or false: Joe Strummer was briefly a member of The 101ers before forming The Clash.

Accepted Answer

True. Strummer fronted the pub-rock band The 101ers, even playing a gig the night before his first Clash show in 1976.

Question 2

True or false: The Clash released a double album of punk covers as a surprise follow-up to 'London Calling.'

Accepted Answer

False. 'London Calling' was a double album, but their next release was 'Sandinista!', a triple album with original songs, not covers.

Question 3

True or false: The Clash's original drummer was Terry Chimes, who left before their first album was recorded.

Accepted Answer

False. Chimes played on the debut album and early singles, but left shortly after; he returned briefly for 'Combat Rock.'

Question 4

True or false: The Clash’s bassist Paul Simonon learned to play bass specifically for the band.

Accepted Answer

True. Simonon was a painter with no musical experience; Strummer taught him basic bass lines just before their first gigs.

Question 5

True or false: 'London Calling' was originally written as a reaction to a nuclear meltdown, not a flood.

Accepted Answer

True. Strummer said the title was inspired by a BBC news broadcast about the 1979 Three Mile Island accident.

Question 6

True or false: The Clash headlined the first-ever Glastonbury Festival in 1970.

Accepted Answer

False. The first Glastonbury was in 1970, headlined by T. Rex and others. The Clash didn't play until 1982.

Question 7

True or false: Mick Jones wrote 'Should I Stay or Should I Go' about his girlfriend at the time.

Accepted Answer

False. Jones wrote it about his frustration with band tensions and the possibility of leaving The Clash, not a romantic partner.

Question 8

True or false: The Clash once recorded a song with Bob Dylan, but it was never released.

Accepted Answer

False. No collaboration with Dylan ever happened. The myth may stem from their shared 1980s political themes.

The Clash Trivia Questions