THE CLASH – Their Break-Up And Final Album ‘THIS IS ENGLAND’ Is 40 Today
5 November 2025
This wasn’t the original punk force that shocked the system, that
wanted a riot of their own, that made timeless music any more.
The band was falling apart. Joe Strummer and Paul Simonon
clashed with Mick Jones and Topper Headon who got kicked
out of the group.
Strummer went on to write all songs with manager Bernie Rhodes
for the final LP CUT THE CRAP. Unfortunately, most of the songs
were crap.
It ended up at #16 in the UK and #88 in the US.
Strummer said: “It was like when you’re younger and you’re trying
to make a date with a girl but she won’t have any of it. You keep going
back, trying to fool yourself that this time will be better.”
It was also Rhodes who titled the album, taking
the line “cut the crap” from a scene in the 1981
post-apocalyptic film Mad Max 2.
AllMusic/Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote: “Unfortunately, they sound like a parody of
a classic punk band with the exception of the surprisingly nervy “This Is England,” this is all formulaic, tired punk rock that doesn’t have the aggression or purpose of early Clash records, let alone the hardcore punk that the new band was now competing with. It’s a sad end to one
of the greatest rock & roll bands, not even offering much of interest for the dedicated fans.”
SINGLE
ALBUM