Da kažemo da je Džo Stramer bio fan Brusa Springstina, u najmanju ruku bi to bilo – čista istina. The Boss je imao iznenađujuće veliki uticaj na The Clash, kao i na Stramerov kasniji rad, a sve je išlo toliko daleko da je u jednom momentu Stramer čak napisao i lično pismo svom uzorui, priklasno naslovljeno: “Bruce is great”.
Prema knjizi “Passion Is A Fashion: The Real Story Of The Clash”, Springstin je imao veliki uticaj na mladog impresivnog “štrajkača” koji je tada svirao sa svojim pub rock bendom The 101ers, ali nakon što je video The Bossa u Hammersmith Odeonu novembra 1975. sve se ovo promenilo i nekoliko meseci kasnije on je formirao – The Clash.
Poštovanje je bilo obostrano. Springstin je odao počast Strameru posle njegove tragične smrti 2002, kada je izašao na binu na dodeli Grammy nagrada i zablistao sa vrhunskom izvedbom ‘London Calling’, u kojoj su mu se pridružili Stevin Van Zant, Dejv Groh i Stramerov stari prijatelj Elvis Kosltelo.
Springstin je još jednom odao počast pokojnom frontmenu Clasha 2009. godine, kada je otvorio nastup na Glastonburi’s Piramid Stageu pesmom Džoa Stramera “Coma Girl”, koja je bila na trećem albumu “Streetcore” Džoa Stramera i Mescalerosa, koji je objavljen ubrzo nakon njegove smrti.
Godine 1995. Mark Hagen iz Mojoa pitao je Stramera da li može da napiše nekoliko reči o Brusu Springstinu, jer je znao koliki je obožavalac. Ne iznenađuje što je Stramer odgovorio pozitivno i naveo sve razloge zbog kojih voli The Bossa.
Pismo vam prenosimo u originalu:
ATTN: MARK HAGEN
“Dear Mark – here’s my contribution
“BRUCE IS GREAT… IF YOU DONT AGREE WITH THAT YOU’RE A PRETENTIOUS MARTIAN FROM VENUS. BRUCE LOOKS GREAT… LIKE HE’S ABOUT TO CRAWL UNDERNEATH THE CHORDS WITH A SPANNER & SOCK THE STARTER MOTOR ONE TIME SO THAT A ENGINE STARTS UP – HUMMING & READY TO TAKE US ON A GOLDEN RIDE WAY OUT SOMEWHERE IN THE YONDER… BRUCE IS GREAT… BECAUSE HE’LL NEVER LAY DOWN & BE CONQUERED BY HIS PROBLEMS HE’S ALLWAYS READY TO BUST OUT the SHACK & HIT THE TRACK… HIS MUSIC IS GREAT ON A DARK & RAINY MORNING IN ENGLAND, JUST WHEN YOU NEED SOME SPIRIT & SOME PROOF THAT THE BIG WIDE WORLD EXISTS, THE D.J. PUTS ON “RACING IN THE STREETS” & LIFE SEEMS WORTH LIVING AGAIN… LIFE SEEMS TO BE IN CINEMASCOPE AGAIN. BRUCE IS NOT ON AN EGO TRIP… BRUCE IS ACTUALLY INTO THE MUSIC… WE NEED PEOPLE LIKE THIS… A LOT OF RECORDS TODAY ARE MADE BY PEOPLE JUST TO FEED THEIR FAME. BRUCE IS GREAT… THERE AINT NO WHINGING WHINING OR COMPLAINING.. THERE’S ONLY GREAT MUSIC, LYRICS & AN OCEAN OF TALENT. ME? I LOVE SPRINGSTEEN!!!
(Signed, ‘Joe Strummer’)
HL/Izvor: faroutmagazine.co.uk
