Boing Boing the other day mentioned that the guitar company, Fender, had plans to issue a replica’s of Joe Strummer’s ’66 Telecaster. The guitar of the punk rock icon, according to Fender marketing materials, will be a “spot-on recreation of Joe’s, road-worn, battle-hardened” Telecaster, “right down to the worn-to-the-wood gray primer and black spray paint DIY ‘finish’.”
I’ve been on the Fender site for a few minutes now and I can’t find any mention of a price, but one has to imagine that it’ll be well out of the reach of anyone worthy of carrying the punk rock torch forward. One has to wonder what Joe, a man who once headlined a tour called Rock Against the Rich, would make of this idea that, for a price, anyone with the means could appropriate the genuine punk rock esthetic afforded by this guitar.
Those of you without much knowledge of the Clash, might be interested to know that, according to legend, Joe married a South African citizen, Pamela Moolman, so that he could buy his guitar. She paid him
7 Comments
Better to go to Elderly once every eight months and pretend your Joe Strummer for two minutes. Then place the guitar back on the shelf and hit the Mac’s on the way hone.
I guess it is understandable people would find this to be super lame, but it is a telecaster, and I assume they just treated a 60’s style tele with some solvents or whatever. Why don’t you go look up the price of a brand new american tele. Based on your outrage, you’d probably be surprised to find out that they also cost more than $900. Of course you can get cheaper teles, and that would be the punky thing to do.
What’s next the Sid Vicious Vintage Custom P-Bass? It doesn’t even have pickups or a cable jack and it comes complete with Glen Matlock to play it for you while you’re passed out.
So what do you make of the Jeff Beck model?
Nicely priced at $10,499.99.
This doesn’t have anything to do with Joe Strummer or The Clash but coming to DVD this October is the legendary Paul Lynde Halloween Special. Just thought you should know.
This is no different than how many of the bands from the 60’s and 70’s were commercialized in the 80’s when I was in High School. It could be a lot worse honestly. Someone could start selling Henry Rollins brand gym shorts, or HR approved bongs. “Punk rock” has been commercial for a very long time. Fortunately, there are people out there still sticking to their principles and doing what they believe is right (Ian MacKye, Steve Albini, et al.)
And let’s not forget this supposedly unofficial advertising campaign:
http://adsoftheworld.com/media/print/dr_martens_boots_joe_strummer_the_clash
I have no idea what kind of meaning one can find in purchasing such a guitar. It could be art (egads, I can see them hanging on the walls of your local Max and Erma’s).
We just had Elvis Fest. Maybe there are a good number of Clash impersonators who could really use an authentic-looking replica.
I have to say its a good tribute to Mr. Strummer but I think that its sad to see his name and image go into marketing like Bob Marley’s name and image have already.Im tired of corporations turning rebellion into money, and turning revolutionaries like Strummer and Marley into marketing gimmicks.
Joe Strummer wouldnt of wanted this. He bought the original Tele for 120 EURO!!!! not $900!!! I say it should be sold for ATLEAST $500. I’d hate to see some rich douche bags disgracing the Strummer Tele by playing “bubblegum punk”(Green Day)