He had started of in art school before gettin together with Mick Jones, Using art as a hobby.
Paul wanted to be the guy that gets to 'jump n throw his arms up' on stage. Mick tried tirelessly to teach Paul guitar but both frustrated after a while, they swapped to bass n Mick eventually learnt how to play by putting coloured stickers on the notes.
Though through the beginning Joe would have to go over n tell him 'o.k it's A now' etc!
This perhaps is his most famous pic....that was used on the cover of "LONDON CALLING' Alot of debate went on whether to use it or not as the photographer thought it was too out of focus but the band insisted and the cover to the lengedery LP was printed. It was not a 'put on shot' Simonon was in one pissed off mood that night!
Paul wrote The Guns of Brixton and was 'Told' to sing it, which what he did not have in mind as he wrote it. But now one cannit imagine any other than Paul singin it.
He was asked to sing 'career opportunities but at the time the lyrics included pension books n alike n Paul flatly refused to sing bout pensions. As it turned out no one was keen to sing those lyrics as the song has no trace of 'pension books' in it.
I think his most down time in the Clash was when Joe n Mick went to Jamaica without him, he was gutted to have not gone.
Safe European home came out of that visit and what a song that is!
Paul though did get his dream n went to Jamaica the home of Reggae! Paul next to Joe in my opinion was the most hard working n determined member. Startin off in 76 as a tall skinny lad soon turned into a well 6 pack skinny lad!!
He grew up in a poor neighbourhood n admits to 'nickin a few things here n there' He went to a school where he was taught nothin only to work in the factories around the corner n most of his mates did actually work there after they finished (goodness knows what/who they are now though).
Paul refused to play any part in that n ended up in squats, cookin the paste that they the Clash used to put up their posters with as he was that hungry.
Simonon was a lad back then that stood up for his rights but in a low self esteem way.....whether he started workin out to become well fit was a self esteem thing or something that he wanted to do ....who is to judge n who really cares it was his business!He stood up in ways of riots that he joined in with as he believed them or through his attitude in the band.
He was a true loyal member of the only band that ever mattered!
Paul is doing art full time and oddly enough music is his hobby.
Mick jones and Joe Strummer with Paul at a recent art exhibition
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