John Graham Mellor (21 August 1952 – 22 December 2002), known by his stage name
Joe Strummer, was a British musician, singer, actor and songwriter who was the co-founder, lyricist, rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist of
The Clash, a
punk rock band that was formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Their music also incorporated elements of
reggae,
ska,
dub,
funk,
rap, and
rockabilly. The Clash were one of the most prominent of the emerging bands in the UK punk rock scene, with their second album,
Give 'Em Enough Rope (1978) reaching number 2 on the UK charts. Soon after, they began achieving success in the US, starting with
London Calling (1979), and peaking with 1982's
Combat Rock, reaching number 7 on the US charts and being certified 2× platinum there. The Clash's politicised lyrics, musical experimentation, and rebellious attitude had a far-reaching influence on rock, and
alternative rock in particular.