Which punk band was fronted by Joe Strummer?

Joe Strummer fronted the punk band The Clash.

Born John Graham Mellor, Strummer became the group’s lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and principal lyricist after joining Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, and the band’s other early members in 1976. Before The Clash, he played with the pub-rock group the 101ers, but seeing the Sex Pistols perform helped convince him to move toward the emerging punk scene.

The Clash quickly became known for combining punk’s speed and anger with reggae, rockabilly, funk, dub, and politically charged songwriting. Strummer shared the vocal spotlight and much of the writing with guitarist Mick Jones, while bassist Paul Simonon remained another central figure in the band’s identity.

The group’s major songs included “London Calling,” “Should I Stay or Should I Go,” and “Rock the Casbah.” Strummer later worked with the Pogues and formed the Mescaleros, but his name remains inseparable from The Clash. A common mistake is treating him as the band’s sole songwriter; The Clash’s sound was a creative partnership.