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Paul Simonon

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Paul Simonon is an English bassist and visual artist, born in 1955 in Thornton Heath, in south London. He grew up in Brixton and Ladbroke Grove and actually wanted to be a painter; with a scholarship he studied at the Byam Shaw art school. In 1976 the guitarist Mick Jones asked him to join a new band. Simonon had never played an instrument. Jones's guitar lessons came to nothing, and so he became a bassist. Half a year later The Clash was complete, with Joe Strummer as singer. Simonon is said to have come up with the name of the band and helped determine how the group looked.

Music and breakthrough

His bass playing came from reggae, which he had got to know through the Jamaican communities in London. Unlike many punk bassists, he played melodic lines that moved against the guitar. The best-known image of him is the photograph by Pennie Smith, in which he smashes his Fender bass guitar on stage during a concert in New York in 1979. That photograph became the sleeve of London Calling, with pink and green lettering as a reference to Elvis Presley's first album.

Influence

After the end of The Clash in 1986 Simonon started the band Havana 3am. Later he played bass in The Good, the Bad & the Queen, with Damon Albarn, and with Gorillaz, on Plastic Beach (2010) and during the tours. He is also an established painter with exhibitions of his own. In 2023 he made an album with the singer Galen Ayers.

Listening

Listening tip. In The Guns of Brixton, from London Calling, listen to the heavy reggae bass line: Simonon wrote and sang this song himself. Notice how the bass carries the melody and the guitar mostly plays short chords on the off-beat.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

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Categories: Artists