Mick Jones and the Funk of Music

Mick Jones and the Funk of Music is a blog about the latest funk music. You can find news, reviews, and interviews with the biggest names in the genre.

Mick Jones- the man and the musician

Mick Jones is a name known by many in the music industry, but to most he is simply the guitarist of the legendary rock band Foreigner. Jones has been in the music business for over fifty years and has had a hand in creating some of the most iconic songs in rock history. However, there is more to Mick Jones than just his work with Foreigner.

His early life and musical influences

Mick Jones was born in London, England on 26th December44. His mother, Rita, was a doctor and his father, Algernon, was a diplomat. He was educated at Westminster School and then at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge. After a brief spell working in a bank, he became a professional musician. He played in various bands in the 60s including The Rolling Stones and Jeff Beck Group. He also played on thesoundtracks of several films including Performance (1970) and Get Carter (1971).

In 1973 he joined forces with Ian Dury to form the block-rocking band Kilburn and the Highroads. The band toured extensively in Britain and Europe but failed to make a significant impact on the record buying public. They disbanded in 1975.

Mick Jones’ next musical venture was with the punk rock group The Clash. He co-wrote many of their hits including “White Riot”, “London’s Burning” and “Complete Control”. The Clash were one of the most influential bands of the late 1970s and early 1980s. They combined elements of punk, reggae, rockabilly and ska to create their own unique sound. They were also known for their left-wing political stance and their support for the working class. The Clash disbanded in 1985.

Since then Mick Jones has continued to write and record music both as a solo artist and with various band line-ups including Big Audio Dynamite, Carbon/Silicon and Bad Company UK. In recent years he has been involved in producing records for other artists including Joe Strummer’s posthumous album Streetcore (2003) and Someday by Lisa Marie Presley (2005).

His work with The Clash

Mick Jones was born in London on 26 June 1955. He co-founded the seminal punk rock band The Clash in 1976, acting as lead guitarist, co-lead vocalist, and main songwriter for the group.Jones played a crucial role in developing the punk rock sound of The Clash, particularly on their debut album, The Clash (1977), which established the band as leading lights of the UK punk scene. He continued to work with The Clash throughout their heyday in the late 1970s and early 1980s, before leaving the group acrimoniously in 1983.

In the years following his departure from The Clash, Jones continued to be a prolific musician, both as a solo artist and as a member of various bands. He has released three solo albums – Ballad of a Well-Known Gun (1990), Carol (1998), and Trying to Write a Blues Song (2016) – and has also been a member of such bands as Big Audio Dynamite, General Public, and Carbon/Silicon. In recent years, he has been involved in various musical projects celebrating The Clash’s legacy, including reuniting with his former bandmates for one-off live performances.

The making of London Calling

It was the punk explosion of 1977 that first brought Mick Jones and Joe Strummer together in the group The Clash. They quickly developed a following and became one of the most influential bands of the punk movement. But it was their 1979 album, London Calling, that would cement their legacy.

The recording process

In early 1979, the Clash began recording their third album, London Calling. The album was recorded over a period of five months at Wessex Studios in London, and was produced by Guy Stevens.

The album’s iconic cover photo was taken by Pennie Smith, and shows Paul Simonon smashing his bass guitar on stage at the Palladium in New York City. The photo perfectly captured the raw energy of the band’s live performances, and has become one of the most iconic images in rock music history.

London Calling was a commercial and critical success, and is widely considered to be one of the greatest albums of all time. It reached #2 on the UK charts and #27 on the US Billboard 200, and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Album.

The album’s impact

London Calling is widely regarded as one of the greatest albums of all time. It was released to critical acclaim and commercial success, and is regularly featured on lists of the best albums ever made. The album’s impact can be seen in its influence on subsequent generations of musicians, as well as its place in popular culture.

The album has been credited with helping to revive rock music in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and is seen as an important early example of punk rock and new wave. The album’s mix of punk, reggae, ska and rockabilly would go on to have a significant influence on subsequent generations of musicians. London Calling was also an important early example of the way in which punk rock could be used to address social and political issues. The album’s themes of working-class struggle, racism, police brutality and social displacement resonated with many people at the time, and continue to do so today.

In terms of its place in popular culture, London Calling has been featured in numerous movies, TV shows and commercials. The album’s artwork has become iconic, and is often imitated or referenced by others. The album’s opening track, “London Calling”, has been used extensively in media, including as the theme music for the TV show The Wire.

Jones’ post-Clash career

After the Clash disbanded in 1983, Jones wasted no time in getting back into the music scene. He quickly joined forces with drummer Topper Headon, who had also been a member of the Clash, and the two began working onJones’ first solo album. The album, which was released in 1984, was a commercial and critical success. Jones’ post-Clash career had begun on a high note.

His work with Big Audio Dynamite

After the Clash disbanded in 1983, Jones immediately formed Big Audio Dynamite with Don Letts, who had been the Clash’s tour DJ. Jones used the name “Big Audio Dynamite” for the first time on a cassette compilation called Sunday at the Edge (1984) put together by Kate Bush’s brother, Paddy. The group’s first album, This Is Big Audio Dynamite (1985), charted on both sides of the Atlantic and spawned three hit singles. Despite initial diamond sales of 500,000 copies in North America, critical reaction was muted and soon after its release Elektra Records dropped the band.

His work as a producer and solo artist

After the Clash’s breakup, Jones worked as a producer for the bands Wilko Johnson Band, Big Audio Dynamite and Carbon/Silicon. He also released two solo albums, titled Mick Jones and Lucifer. In 2009 he reunited with his former Clash bandmates Paul Simonon and Terry Chimes for a series of concerts in London, New York City and Los Angeles.