London S

London S is one of the first groups of the punk scene rock'n'roll English founded in March 1975 by the guitarist Mick Jones and the bass player Tony James.

Formation

The group passed the major part of its short existence to be auditioned of the potential members. At the sides of Jones and James however, the guitarist Brian James is one of the other about permanent members. The other musicians who played with them include/understand Matt Dangerfield and Casino Steel, then in The Hollywood Brats, which later will play in The Boys.

Cocktail of musicians

Several other notorious musicians cross London S but never integrate it really, among them, Paul Simonon and Terry Chimes, future founding members of The Clash. Even Nicky " Topper" Headon, which will be the principal beater of the Clash, is had a presentiment of but refuses the offer. Rat Scabies, future beater of The Damned, plays with London S even if it is always in its own punk group, Rot, at the same time. Roland Hot also prevailed as a beater. The punk poet Patrik Fitzgerald also affirms to have taken part in a hearing for the group.

History

The only recording of London S is a demonstration on which James, Jones, James and Hot are reproduced. From the musical point of view, they play a Rock “roll pêchu and take again standards R&B of the Sixties although certain ex-members find that the sound of the group was rather poor.

Once Hot ejected in January 1976, Brian James leaves in his turn with Scabies to form later The Subterraneans then The Damned. The other James joined Chelsea and with Billy Idol lance Generation X.

Jones, Simonon and Chimes, them, recruit Joe Strummer and form The Clash. Chimes is then replaced by Headon, which will leave in its turn its place to the Chimes ghost.

With final, London S is more known for than these members realized thereafter than by what occurred for this period.

A name polemizes

At the time, the name of the group causes problems in certain districts because " SS" is generally included/understood as referring to the S Nazi S. That will haunt Mick Jones thereafter when the members of The Clash assert like one of the English independent groups of left.

With time, the ex-musicians of London S will affirm that these two letters referred to the poverty of the time and meant ( social security ).

In the middle of the Seventies in England, the air of time being to the provocation, it seems this name was rather selected for its ambiguity and its whiff of scandal that for real fascistic political feelings.

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