By 1982, the Clash had done the impossible for a British band: built a fanbase in America. Their fifth album, "Combat Rock," pushed them into mainstream success Stateside, with singles "Rock the Casbah" and "Should I Stay or Should I Go" still considered classics.
But the latter song soon took on new meaning. Over the previous five years, drummer Nick "Topper" Headon's drug use had escalated into a full-blown cocaine and heroin addiction. Although he was still effective in the studio — he played drums, bass, and piano and mostly wrote "Rock the Casbah" — on tour he had become a liability. At a gig in Amsterdam supporting the "Combat Rock" album, frontman Joe Strummer fired Headon, the Independent reports.
Strummer didn't stop there. While making "Combat Rock," guitarist and singer Mick Jones, who wanted to explore hip hop and synthesizers, had grown frustrated with Strummer's insistence on controlling the band's musical direction. Jones also argued with bassist Paul Simonon and notorious manager Bernie Rhodes. He even made his own mix of what became "Combat Rock," titled "Rat Patrol From Fort Bragg," but the rest of the band nixed it.
During a hiatus that dragged into 1983, the band was barely speaking. On September 10, Strummer and Simonon released a statement, effectively firing Jones. He and Headon were replaced, and a third guitarist added: but the Clash's final album, "Cut the Crap," literally failed to deliver on its promise, and the band disintegrated.
