Joe Strummer: The Future is Unwritten

Joe Strummer came to prominence as frontman of The Clash - something Strummer himself appreciated, but was also troubled by. Initially, Strummer was an enthusiastic exponent of hippiedom, studied at art school, took LSD and formed bands, before discovering punk. Impressed by The Sex Pistols, he joined The Clash in 1976, switching from a kind of rockabilly to punk. The Clash achieved world fame in no time and the band members' original punk ideals were put to the test. Arguments, drugs and clashing egos finally put paid to the group. Joe went in search of inner peace, spent time with his family, made music for some films and finally formed a new band. Just at the point where he seemed to have found some happiness at last, he was struck down by a sudden heart attack. Alongside material from interviews with Joe Strummer himself, friends, family and famous fans such as Bono talk about Strummer and The Clash. The interviewees are often clustered around a camp fire; Strummer was a great fan of the magic of the camp fire. They listen to old recordings of Strummer's radio programme , play his songs and talk about their friend. Strummer's life story is told in linear form, using interviews, news reports, music, animations and his old sketches.