London Calling: Celebrating the Birthday and the Punk Ethos of Paul Simonon

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Today, we celebrate the 69th birthday of punk legend Paul Simonon—bassist for The Clash, artist, activist, and all-around badass motherfucker.

Just 20 years old when he joined the band in 1976, Paul was recruited more for his look and attitude rather than his bass-playing skills, because at the time, he didn’t know how to play bass, though he proved to be a talented quick study. He is also credited with coming up with the name of the band. The Clash made their mark with a ferocious live debut on July 4, 1976, at London’s Black Swan club, opening for the Sex Pistols who, at the time, had only been on the scene for about six months themselves.

The band’s emergence, fueled by rebellious defiance and a relentless critique of the status quo, would forever define the sound, attitude, and ethos of punk rock.

Paul’s love for reggae, shaped by his upbringing in Brixton, added a distinctive layer to The Clash’s sound. This influence is most evident in “The Guns of Brixton” off 1979’s London Calli…