The Clash Nearly Reformed

07/17/09 4:49pm

by Kate Harper (CHARTattack)

The Clash were considering playing a reunion show in 2003, but couldn't because former frontman Joe Strummer died.

Former drummer Topper Headon (real name Nicholas Bowen Headon), who was forced out of the band in 1982 because of his heroin addiction, told Britain's NME magazine the band were considering playing a reunion show as part of their Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction in March 2003.

At the time, rumours were rampant about whether the band would perform.

"When we got inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, Joe wanted us to do four or five numbers there," he said. "I said yes, [former guitarist] Mick Jones said yes, [former bassist] Paul Simonon was um-ing and ah-ing but in the end the decision was taken out of our hands because Joe died."

Headon says he's glad the band broke up in 1986 and stayed that way because otherwise they risked looking like aging rock stars. Rolling Stones, take note.

"I think Paul was probably right to be skeptical because the only pictures you see of The Clash now are of us as four young, good-looking men with full heads of hair.

"If we'd have played that show you'd have seen Mick being bald, Paul being bald, me being bald and wearing glasses and Joe with a bit of a paunch. It was better the old way."

Jones was later booted from the band for not being "punk" enough. The Clash released one more album, 1985's aptly titled Cut The Crap, before they split up the next year.