London SS

London SS was an early British punk rock group founded in March 1975 by Mick Jones and Tony James.

Related Topics:
British - Punk rock - March - 1975 - Mick Jones - Tony James

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The band spent most of its short history auditioning potential members. Besides Jones and James, however, Brian James (not related to Tony) was the only other semi-permanent member. Other musicians who played with them included Matt Dangerfield and Casino Steel, then of The Hollywood Brats, who would later go on to play in The Boys.

Related Topics:
Brian James - Matt Dangerfield - Casino Steel - The Hollywood Brats - The Boys

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Many other notable musicians tried out for the band but didn't make the cut including future members of The Clash Paul Simonon and Terry Chimes. Another future Clash member, Nicky "Topper" Headon was asked to join but declined. Rat Scabies, future drummer for The Damned played with the band even though he was in his own proto-punk band, Rot, at the time. Roland Hot also served as drummer.

Related Topics:
The Clash - Paul Simonon - Terry Chimes - Nicky "Topper" Headon - Rat Scabies - The Damned - Proto-punk - Rot - Roland Hot

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The London SS's only recording was a demo featuring James, Jones, James, and Hot. Musically they played straight foward rock 'n' roll and covered classic 1960s R&B although some former members felt the band's music was pretty poor.

Related Topics:
Rock 'n' roll - 1960s - R&B

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After Hot was kicked out in January 1976, Brian James left with Scabies to form The Subterraneans and later The Damned. The other James joined the band Chelsea with Billy Idol and the two later started Generation X. Jones, Simonon, and Chimes teamed up with Joe Strummer and founded The Clash. Chimes was later replaced by Headon and then Headon was replaced by Chimes again. Ultimately, the London SS was more famous for what its members did later on in life than it was for anything that happened during its existance.

Related Topics:
January - 1976 - The Subterraneans - The Damned - Chelsea - Billy Idol - Generation X - Joe Strummer - The Clash

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Another legacy of the group was its name. Although the reference to the SS was for shock value rather than a statement of Fascist political sympathies, it later came back to haunt The Clash, who became Britain's premier left-wing political band.

Related Topics:
SS - Shock value - Fascist - Left-wing

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