Musical icon Joe Strummer celebrated with Legacy Stone unveiling in North Paddington

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Musician and former lead singer of The Clash, Joe Strummer, has been honoured with a legacy stone to mark his musical career near to where he once lived in North Paddington.

The musician and his band’s music were an ever-present feature on the music scene in the late 70s and early 80s with The Clash alongside The Sex Pistols, the Jam and the Specials, producing the soundtrack of the era.

The legacy stone was installed as part of Westminster City Council’s project to revitalise the market and Market Hill Area which had been funded by the GLA. The wider North Paddington Programme and redevelopment has been funded by the council in close collaboration with residents, local businesses and organisations.

The plaque is situated in the newly refurbished Maida Hill Market on the corner of Walterton Road, the location where Joe Strummer squatted during the 1970s and his address of 101 Walterton Road inspired the name for the band the 101ers.

The stone is inscribed with lyrics sung by Strummer in the song Clampdown from The Clash’s 1979 album London Calling.  It reads: “the future is unwritten”, “No man born with a living soul can be working for the clampdown”. A nod to the band’s rebellious political awareness and passion for raising social issues and injustices of the time.

At the stone unveiling, Cllr Ryan Jude Westminster City Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Climate Action and Ecology said:

As a city we there is history on every street corner. Music is an intrinsic part of the Westminster’s DNA and it’s wonderful to celebrate Joe Strummer’s musical journey which began in Maida Hill and North Paddington.

We’re so proud to have played a part in unveiling this legacy stone to celebrate the music and work of Joe Strummer. I hope in doing so this inspires the next generation of young residents to show you can have a career in the arts and turn their passion into a profession."  

Dylan White, music promoter and fan of The Clash said:

It’s important to remember how an artist starts their career as often this is forgotten and just the success is remembered. In this case in the Joe, the 101’ers evolved from their squat at 101 Walterton Road and were a big part of the local area at that time playing in most of the nearby pubs.”

The Clash and punk were a long way in the future at this point, so we need to remember and celebrate his time in this part of London as he cut his teeth and learnt his stage craft.”

The Joe Strummer Fund is a joint undertaking between the Joe Strummer Estate and Single Homeless Project to support artists and creatives who have experienced of homelessness in creating new and original music and media.

Portobello Radio were instrumental in organising the event and provided musical entertainment throughout the day.