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InkedMag

Inked Mag Staff

August 21st, 2020

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The Clash Tattoos for Joe Strummer’s Birthday

The one and only Joe Strummer was born 68 years ago.

The way that music sits within my memory can be a very funny thing. Joe Strummer was one of the world’s most prolific songwriters, an amazing musician and an astounding activist. Yet, despite knowing every word to at least 50 of his songs, when I think of him it isn’t a Clash lyric that pops into my head when I think of him. No, it’s a line from “Constructive Summer” by The Hold Steady. 

“Raise a glass for St. Joe Strummer, I think he might have been our only decent teacher.”

On the surface, it may seem counterintuitive to think of a different musician whilst remembering Strummer. But Craig Finn, as he often does, cuts to the core of what made Strummer such a giant in just one line. If you have even just a drop of punk in your blood, chances are you were profoundly influenced by his music, lyrics, activism and politics. 

Before we get to the gallery of tattoos featuring Strummer and The Clash, I want to go over just a few of the things I have learned about thanks to Strummer. 

Global Political Movements

Practically everything I know about the political climate of England in the 1970s and 1980s comes directly from Clash songs like “English Civil War.” Despite growing up in a country that went to war against the Sandinistas, I only learned about them from a punk record. How does a kid in the San Francisco suburbs learn about Basque separatist groups? From “Spanish Bombs” of course. This list could go on for days.

Systemic Racism

If you think that protests spurred on by systemic racism and mistreatment of Black people by the police is a recent development, let me tell you a little something about the 1976 Notting Hill Carnival Riot. Strummer and Paul Simonon were in attendance, and it was the inspiration for their first single, “White Riot.”

Punk Ideals vs. Capitalism

The Sex Pistols may have a more public fight against their record company, but The Clash’s tunes about it hold more than just snotty aggression, instead laying the groundwork for tearing the system down. 

Fighting the System

All it took was a public service announcement with guitar to let me know that I mattered. “Know Your Rights” is such a tremendously powerful song. While the points within it may seem obvious, it still hits hard every time. 

Don’t Get Put Into a Box

This is the one lesson that doesn’t come from Strummer’s lyrics, but from his music. Too many times in this world you are made to follow the rules, but a true creative won’t be boxed in like this. Over the course of his career, Strummer drew influence from reggae, ska, disco, calypso, rockabilly, jazz, gospel, funk, rap and so many other types of music. He was a musical sponge, and it shows throughout his discography.  

This only scratches the surface of Strummer’s influence on me, I’m sure I could go on forever. On what would have been his 68th birthday, throw on some amazing music, know your rights, get politically active and raise a toast to St. Joe Strummer. The future is unwritten.

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We went to Tompkins square park to get some references for this tattoo, Joe Strummer – “the Future is Written” Thank you to my awesome client who came from Australia to get this done! Tag on the comments any friend who loves the Clash! . . I have a couple of openings in August @gritnglory – Book now or forever hold your peace Sponsored @painfulpleasures @balmtattoous @mdwipeoutz Using @cheyenne_tattooequipment @intenzetattooink #joestrummer #theclash #theclashtattoo #joestrummertattoo #rubenbtattoo #rubenbarahona #rubenbarahonatattoo #nyctattoo #nyctattooartist #gritnglory #intenzepride #intenzetattooink #cheyennetattooequipment #balmtattooteam #balmtattoo #mdwipeoutz #painfulpleasures #gritnglory #fineart #finearttattoo #realismtattoo #tattoo #colortattoo #sullen #sullenclothing Thanks for sharing @megan_massacre @gritnglory @sullenclothing @unclejeremy @intenzetattooink @cheyenne_tattooequipment @makaniterror @claumk @balmtattoous @the.best.tattoo.page @ink.life @tattoodo @emmygrit

A post shared by RUBEN BARAHONA (@rubenbtattoo) on Jul 30, 2018 at 11:30am PDT

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REVOLUTION ROCK- Tiny Joe Strummer! Thanks Seany – – – – – #clashtattoo #joestrummer #joestrummertattoo #revolutionrock

A post shared by JayMf Roberts (@jaymfroberts) on Jul 16, 2020 at 2:02pm PDT

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…and I’ll keep listening to the great Joe Strummer cause through music, we can live forever.

A post shared by DAN SMITH (@dansmithism) on Oct 4, 2019 at 9:15am PDT

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The Clash hand healed except for some details I touched up and Ramones fresh, thank you @davide.jungleland #tattoo #tattoos #tattooed #handtattoo #musictattoo #tribute #musictribute #theclash #theclashtattoo #theramones #ramonestattoo #healed #fresh #tatuaggio #blackandgrey #varese #ink #inked

A post shared by Marco Gadda (@marco.gadda) on Apr 27, 2019 at 10:58am PDT

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#victorportugalneedles #theclash #theclashtattoo

A post shared by Federico Umbre Tattoos (@fede_umbre) on Apr 22, 2017 at 4:52pm PDT

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#torontoinsta #torontotattoo #flagtattoo #theclash #theclashtattoo #blacktattoo #tatuajebandera Tatuaje de ayer Para el colega @777tigre Gracias por la buena onda y el apañe bro!! Saludos y que siga corriendo la tinta!!!

A post shared by Marcos Silva (@marcos_silva_muhlenbein) on Jan 10, 2019 at 7:35am PST

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Know your rights! Awesome Joe Strummer piece by @lonerosetattoo from her last visit. Keep an eye out for her next dates #knowyourrights #joestrummer #theclash #theclashtattoo #joestrummertattoo #guestartist #harrietheath #lonerosetattoo #traditionaltattoo #oldschooltattoo #classtattoo #Glasgow #glasgowtattoo #forevermoretattoo #forevermoreglasgow #FMT #FMTGlasgow

A post shared by Forevermore Tattoo Family (@fmtglasgow) on Jul 12, 2017 at 1:00am PDT

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#theclashtattoo #traditionaltattoo #rockthecasbah

A post shared by Guillermo Aguirre (@guillegcf17_victory) on Jan 3, 2016 at 6:02pm PST

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New tattoo #whatwouldjoestrummerdo #theclash #joestrummer #theclashtattoo #joestrummer

A post shared by Lasse Lund Elmer (@mister_bigsby) on Aug 4, 2020 at 7:36am PDT

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• London’s borneeeenng! • Tattoo clashero para mi amigo @juanmanolo_gl Un placer hacer este tipo de cosas, aguante The Clash!! . . . . . . . . . . . . #tattoo #traditional #traditionaltattoo #theclashtattoo #londonsburning #punktattoo #knowyourrights #acab #1312

A post shared by (@emiwaynetattoo) on Aug 7, 2020 at 3:39pm PDT

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Outstanding portrait of @joestrummerofficial from @the_clash by @teo_papadopoulosart done using @holygrailtattoocartridges supplied by @tattooeverythingsupplies #joestrummer #theclashtattoo #joestrummertattoo #theclash #theclashtattoo #tatts #portrait #realism #colour #tattooedskin #tattoolife #tattoosnob #247ink

A post shared by Holy Grail Tattoo Products. (@holygrailtattoocartridges) on Feb 24, 2020 at 5:54pm PST

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Know Your Rights! Joe Strummer tat by @yastattoos! Yas is in the studio Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays. Email ahoy@yastattoos.com for bookings! ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ #melbourne #melbournetattoo #joestrummer #theclash #theclashtattoo #joestrummertattoo #hotcopper #coburg #punktattoos #1977 #punkrock #knowyourrights

A post shared by • Hot Copper Studio • (@hotcopperstudio) on Dec 21, 2019 at 4:42pm PST

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The Clash, Joe Strummer portrait from last weekends convention. Whites are still a bit bloody but pretty happy with the way it turned out. Thanks for looking! Done with @inkjecta @tattooreleaseformsapp

A post shared by ✞ AL GARCIA ✞ (@tattooalgarcia) on May 2, 2017 at 2:51pm PDT

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Photo realism done on the daily… by somebody else. #joestrummer #theclash #joestrummertattoo

A post shared by Adam Hathorn (@honkeykonger) on Mar 9, 2020 at 4:23pm PDT

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…healed joe strummer from five months ago…! …thanks, gerdsch… . #tattoostothemax #tattoostothemaxbadischl #traditionaltattoo #quickandsloppy #schnellundschlampig #boldwillhold #usemoreblack #blacklinesmatter #timewilltell #craftfordecades #knowyourcraft #noart #tattoopunks #punktattoo #joestrummer #joestrummertattoo #theclash #oldpunksneverdie #dowhatsnecessary #dowhatsimportant #doitright #atattooisatattoo #badischl #bad_ischl #salzkammergut

A post shared by MÄX (@maximator_stupidus) on Jan 7, 2020 at 7:45am PST

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Joe Strummer’s | The Clash | @the_clash My studio @goodtattoostudio Opening 14th February 2020 . . . . . #tattoo #tattoos #tatts #uk #nottingham #colourfultattoos #joestrummer #joestrummerguitar #guitartattoo #theclash #colour #uktattoos #nottinghamtattoos #inked #ink #colours #joestrummertattoo #floraltattoo #tattooideas #tattoodesign #details #tattoodetails #greenpower #green #detailedtattoos #microrealism #femininetattoos #delicatetattoos #guitartattoos

A post shared by Maiko Only (@maiko.only) on Jan 22, 2020 at 9:15am PST

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The future is unwritten. Joe Strummer is still alive in our hearts❤. I love make tattoo like this. @joestrummerofficial @joestrummerfoundation @tattoopunks #tattoo #tattoos #tatuaggio #oldschooltattoo #ink #inked #tattooed #tattoist #sestrilevante #tattooflash #instaart #instagood #brightandbold #bonelesstattoo #straightouttarivatrigoso #sestrilevantetattoo #photooftheday #instatattoo #bodyart #traditionaltattoo #tatuaggiotradizionale #amazingink #inkedup #joestrummer #theclash #punktattoo #clashtattoo #joestrummertattoo

A post shared by Borga (@borga_tattoo) on Apr 23, 2018 at 1:28pm PDT

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Stylised #joestrummer portrait from yesterday would love to do more stuff like this! #theclash #joestrummertattoo #clashcityrockers #punk #punkrock #portrait #tattooart #artwork #skinartmag #tattoodo #radtattoos #inkig #tattoostudio #tattooartist #melbourne #neotrad #neotradsub #musician #tattooed #inked

A post shared by Clint Patzel (@patztattooist) on Dec 18, 2015 at 2:25pm PST

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Here’s a toast to Saint Joe Strummer #jostrummer #theclash #the101ers #themescaleros #tattoo #blackandgreytattoo #ericmarcinizyn #JoeStrummer #JoeStrummerTattoo #TheClashTattoo

A post shared by Col Olly Leen (@0llyoxenfree) on May 3, 2012 at 5:47pm PDT

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