The Ear That Made the Clash

8 months ago by Alan Cross | January 11, 2010 3:19 pm

Here’s the story of how the ear belonging to Pogues singer Shane McGowan gave the Clash their first important bit of exposure.  When the Clash was just starting out–this would be 1976–Shane was a major punk rocker. 

He’d show up at all the gigs, including virtually every single Clash show.  That summer he was at a Clash gig with his girlfriend—and she was a little crazy.

Depending on who you ask, they either (a) got into a fight during the set or (b) she began to passionately nibble on his ear.  Whatever the case, she actually bit off part of Shane’s ear. 

A photographer got a shot of the blood streaming down Shane’s neck—and that photo was picked up by newspapers around the UK, captioned with something about the horrors of punk rock fans and their bloodthirsty appetites.  Strangely, that was the first bit of major press coverage the Clash ever received.

Send to a friend Filed Under: Ongoing History of New Music
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  • GordZ06
    February 2, 2010 at 10:57 am

    The Clash, I’ve been a Fan my whole life, and will be til the day I die.
    R.I.P Joe Strummer.

    If it’s not The Clash, it’s Trash.

    GordZ06

    (Reply)

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