The Clash as young rebels, and entering the Hall of Fame
The Clash as young rebels, and entering the Hall of Fame
By Sean Coughlan BBC News Magazine What do you do next after you've been in one of the most celebrated bands on the planet? Become a chiropractor.
By Sean Coughlan BBC News Magazine What do you do next after you've been in one of the most celebrated bands on the planet? Become a chiropractor.
You've played the biggest stadiums, you've had Bob Dylan, Jack Nicholson and Eddie Murphy coming backstage to pay tribute. Rolling Stone magazine says your records are in the top 10 of all time. So where do you go now?
You've played the biggest stadiums, you've had Bob Dylan, Jack Nicholson and Eddie Murphy coming backstage to pay tribute. Rolling Stone magazine says your records are in the top 10 of all time. So where do you go now?
Terry Chimes, drummer with the Clash, literally turned his back on rock and roll - and became a chiropractor in Essex. His stage appearances are now limited to motivational seminars for doctors.
Terry Chimes, drummer with the Clash, literally turned his back on rock and roll - and became a chiropractor in Essex. His stage appearances are now limited to motivational seminars for doctors.
Terry Chimes: "Time to completely change"So how did he get from playing in a band to the treatment table?
Terry Chimes: "Time to completely change"So how did he get from playing in a band to the treatment table?
"I felt it was time to completely change - and over the time I'd been a musician, I'd already become a non-drinking, non-smoking, non-drug-taking vegetarian who does yoga."
"I felt it was time to completely change - and over the time I'd been a musician, I'd already become a non-drinking, non-smoking, non-drug-taking vegetarian who does yoga."
And that's not mentioning the triathlons.
And that's not mentioning the triathlons.
"People say how can you prefer treating patients to being on stage in front of 100,000 people? But if you can get someone healthy, there's a satisfaction in that which is much more profound."
"People say how can you prefer treating patients to being on stage in front of 100,000 people? But if you can get someone healthy, there's a satisfaction in that which is much more profound."
Instead of being an ex-rocker "always looking at their scrapbooks", the 51-year-old, who also played with Black Sabbath, is writing a book about well-being and health.
Instead of being an ex-rocker "always looking at their scrapbooks", the 51-year-old, who also played with Black Sabbath, is writing a book about well-being and health.
Rebel music
Rebel music
The story of the Clash has been in the news again with the publication of Redemption Song, a biography of the band's front man, Joe Strummer, written by music journalist, Chris Salewicz.
The story of the Clash has been in the news again with the publication of Redemption Song, a biography of the band's front man, Joe Strummer, written by music journalist, Chris Salewicz.
THE CLASH 1976 to 1986, albums included The Clash, London Calling, SandinistaJoe Strummer died in 2002His favourite song: White Man in HammersmithPalaisChimes replaced on drums by Topper HeadonPaul Simonon now a painterMick Jones now a record producer
THE CLASH 1976 to 1986, albums included The Clash, London Calling, SandinistaJoe Strummer died in 2002His favourite song: White Man in HammersmithPalaisChimes replaced on drums by Topper HeadonPaul Simonon now a painterMick Jones now a record producer
Chimes was in the drummer's seat when the Clash started. He left after the ground-breaking first album, returning for the big stadium tours at the end of the band's career.
Chimes was in the drummer's seat when the Clash started. He left after the ground-breaking first album, returning for the big stadium tours at the end of the band's career.
A self-taught musician, he joined the band before they even had a name, meeting up 30 years ago with Strummer, Mick Jones and Paul Simonon.
A self-taught musician, he joined the band before they even had a name, meeting up 30 years ago with Strummer, Mick Jones and Paul Simonon.
"When I met them, they were like a gang. They looked different, they were wearing clothes that no one else was wearing," he says.
"When I met them, they were like a gang. They looked different, they were wearing clothes that no one else was wearing," he says.
But what really set them apart was the idea that it wasn't just about music, but about radical politics and an alternative lifestyle.
But what really set them apart was the idea that it wasn't just about music, but about radical politics and an alternative lifestyle.
"It took on a life of its own. It was like joining a cult. I wanted to enjoyplaying music - and they wanted to suffer. It was serious from the momentyou got up in the morning, until the moment you went to sleep."
"It took on a life of its own. It was like joining a cult. I wanted to enjoyplaying music - and they wanted to suffer. It was serious from the momentyou got up in the morning, until the moment you went to sleep."
Fight for a cause
Fight for a cause
This intensity was a trademark of their live performances - Chimes says his hands used to bleed during a show.
This intensity was a trademark of their live performances - Chimes says his hands used to bleed during a show.
Strummer then played with the MescalerosStrummer's performances were particularly manic, described in the new biography as being "like a man possessed, veins bulging, in an almost transcendental state, like he was speaking in tongues".
Strummer then played with the MescalerosStrummer's performances were particularly manic, described in the new biography as being "like a man possessed, veins bulging, in an almost transcendental state, like he was speaking in tongues".
Chimes says this was also a reflection of the unhappiness that dogged Strummer off stage.
Chimes says this was also a reflection of the unhappiness that dogged Strummer off stage.
"He didn't let himself be happy. The problem with Joe was that he'd feelguilty if he was comfortable. You'd be on a sun lounger by a hotel poolhaving a drink and in five minutes he'd get distinctly uneasy and say weshould be doing something more purposeful.
"He didn't let himself be happy. The problem with Joe was that he'd feelguilty if he was comfortable. You'd be on a sun lounger by a hotel poolhaving a drink and in five minutes he'd get distinctly uneasy and say weshould be doing something more purposeful.
"He had a vision that his life should be about helping people, doingmeaningful, profound things. He thought he should be out there fighting fora cause."
"He had a vision that his life should be about helping people, doingmeaningful, profound things. He thought he should be out there fighting fora cause."
The west London-based Clash were influenced by local reggae musicAnd with the band's huge commercial success - particularly in the United States - it became even more of a challenge not to get sucked into the rock circus.
The west London-based Clash were influenced by local reggae musicAnd with the band's huge commercial success - particularly in the United States - it became even more of a challenge not to get sucked into the rock circus.
Chimes says that when the Beach Boys came across the Clash, what most appalled them about the English punk rockers was that they were still carrying their own suitcases.
Chimes says that when the Beach Boys came across the Clash, what most appalled them about the English punk rockers was that they were still carrying their own suitcases.
And he recalls Strummer's horror when he discovered that a safety-conscious Volvo taking them to a gig had the child-locks fastened - so "it looked like Joe Strummer had a chauffeur to open the doors for him".
And he recalls Strummer's horror when he discovered that a safety-conscious Volvo taking them to a gig had the child-locks fastened - so "it looked like Joe Strummer had a chauffeur to open the doors for him".
Chimes left the Clash for a second time 1983, when the feuding and in-fighting made it difficult to carry on. "I wasn't enjoying it, so I stopped."
Chimes left the Clash for a second time 1983, when the feuding and in-fighting made it difficult to carry on. "I wasn't enjoying it, so I stopped."
When he decided to retrain as a chiropractor, he didn't tell anyone else onthe course that he'd been in a band. "I didn't tell them in case they thought I was a crackpot," he says.
When he decided to retrain as a chiropractor, he didn't tell anyone else onthe course that he'd been in a band. "I didn't tell them in case they thought I was a crackpot," he says.
But then Should I Stay Or Should I Go was re-released and went to number one - and the other students spotted him in the video. "Then they thought I was even more weird for not talking about it."
But then Should I Stay Or Should I Go was re-released and went to number one - and the other students spotted him in the video. "Then they thought I was even more weird for not talking about it."
Alternative therapy
Alternative therapy
Does he miss the old days?
Does he miss the old days?
Not at all, he says. The chiropractor and alternative therapy business has boomed, with his firm becoming one of the biggest in Europe. And he's more interested in spiritual matters, saying how important his Catholic faith is to him now.
Not at all, he says. The chiropractor and alternative therapy business has boomed, with his firm becoming one of the biggest in Europe. And he's more interested in spiritual matters, saying how important his Catholic faith is to him now.
Strummer is commemorated by a charity, festival, forest and a trainIt's a long, long way from the Clash's angry songs that used to terrify the tabloids.
Strummer is commemorated by a charity, festival, forest and a trainIt's a long, long way from the Clash's angry songs that used to terrify the tabloids.
But the band's reputation shows no sign of disappearing  and Strummer's legacy is taking unexpected routes.
But the band's reputation shows no sign of disappearing  and Strummer's legacy is taking unexpected routes.
Strummer was one of the first performers to make his tourscarbon neutral, and was instrumental in promoting the idea of carbonoffsetting. There's a forest planted in his memory on the Isle of Skye.
Strummer was one of the first performers to make his tourscarbon neutral, and was instrumental in promoting the idea of carbonoffsetting. There's a forest planted in his memory on the Isle of Skye.
He is also remembered through a music charity, Strummerville  the forthcoming Babyshambles single will be a fundraiser. This summer saw a Strummercamp music festival in his memory. There's even a train named after him.
He is also remembered through a music charity, Strummerville  the forthcoming Babyshambles single will be a fundraiser. This summer saw a Strummercamp music festival in his memory. There's even a train named after him.
Salewicz, a veteran reporter of the fickleness of rock reputations,says the Clash are now ensconced in the top three of the most influentialUK bands, alongside the Beatles and Rolling Stones. "They haven't really faded away, if anything their stature has grown."
Salewicz, a veteran reporter of the fickleness of rock reputations,says the Clash are now ensconced in the top three of the most influentialUK bands, alongside the Beatles and Rolling Stones. "They haven't really faded away, if anything their stature has grown."
And if their backs are getting a bit stiff, they know where to get help.
And if their backs are getting a bit stiff, they know where to get help.
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