Joe Strummer, lead singer from 70s punk band the Clash, is to have a square named in his honour in Granada. The singer, who died in 2002, was a frequent visitor to the town and a Facebook campaign to recognise this received nearly 2,400 likes – enough to convince the local council to go ahead and identify a square to rename.
Strummer first went to Granada in 1984 as the Clash began to disintegrate, when he and bandmate Paul Simonon fell out with the group’s singer and songwriter Mick Jones. Strummer choice Granada as he had met various Spanish people from the city back in London, including members of the group 091. Strummer went on to produce a record for 091 in Madrid.
Granada was mentioned in the track Spanish Bombs from the 1979 double album London Calling at a time when the Basque separatist group ETA was carrying out a violent campaign in Spain. The song also mentioned Spanish poet Federico García Lorca who was executed at the start of the Spanish civil war and whose grave Strummer tried to dig up years later.
The Facebook campaign was started by a local journalist, keen to have Strummer’s name recognised for his contribution to Granada. Although the council has earmarked a square to be renamed, it first has to be approved by its honours and distinctions committee.
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