Joe Strummer’s Early Days Compiled in New Box Set

Before starting The Clash, Joe Strummer was a prominent figure on London’s pub-rock scene in the early mid-70s as leader of The 101’ers.

What constitutes pub-rock, you might ask. Well, it was a movement in the early ‘70s around urban England comprised of bands getting back to the basics of rock ‘n’ roll after the genre’s psychedelic journey in the late ‘60s, playing raw, unvarnished rhythm-and-blues songs in bar settings — albeit with a style that would shortly be fashioned into the sharp edges of early British punk. Bands like Dr. Feelgood, Ducks Deluxe and an Elvis Costello-led Flip City were among the acts who formulated the subgenre along with The 101’ers. 

“The Labour government introduced the Rent Act in 1965,” Strummer once said. “Its purpose was to protect tenants in rented accommodation. Unfortunately, it backfired as most laws do — and the result was landlords found a loophole and switched to short lets, which were not covered. There were thousands of empty houses in London and the councils actually employed gangs to come in and smash up these lovely Victorian houses, remove floorboards, rip out wiring, destroy the plumbing so squatters couldn’t live in them. Now being homeless, I ran into some old friends who were squatting on West 9. Within about a year I had formed a band in a squat. It was named ‘The 101’ers’ after our address (Walterton Road, Maida Vale). We ran a club every Wednesday in the upstairs room of a pub. Entry fee: 10p.”

To commemorate this era of Strummer’s career, Dark Horse Records announces the release of Joe Strummer 003: The 101’ers Years, featuring the first known recordings of the singer, capturing this period of time right before punk rock arrived in England.  

Produced by David Zonshine and remastered by Paul Hicks (The Beatles, David Bowie, Rolling Stones) and available on Nov. 20th, the 3CD deluxe edition features 48 tracks and is housed in a 48-page hardback book with slipcase. The book includes a foreword by Sex Pistols bassist Glen Matlock, a history of The 101’ers written by band member Richard Nother Dudanski along with illustrations and writings by Joe Strummer. 

Disc 1 collects the band’s studio recordings — which were originally released in 1981 as Elgin Avenue Breakdown (and later expanded and reissued by Astralwerks in 2005) —including select newly mixed tracks.

Disc 2 features basement tapes and demos, including one of Joe’s most intimate recordings, “Full Moon,” recorded alone at the band’s West London squat.

Disc 3 is dedicated to live recordings including first performances of “Junco Partner,” which he later went on to famously cover with The Clash and an early version of “Jail Guitar Doors” originally titled “Lonely Mother’s Son.” The demos and live recordings have been carefully restored by Paul Hicks from the original cassette tapes, including performances recorded directly from the soundboard, bringing recordings unheard for decades back to life.

A double LP edition is also available and includes the complete studio recordings on the first LP, with highlights from the basement tapes and demos on the second. 

The 101’ers’ brief run shines a light on a lost period of British rock sideswiped by the punk revolution that would follow. And this new box set offers the most comprehensive recount of a savage young Joe on the cusp of becoming the voice of a generation. 

 

Tracklisting : 3CD Deluxe Edition

CD1: Studio Recordings

Letsagetabitarockin’

Silent Telephone

Keys To Your Heart (2026 Mix)

Rabies (From the Dogs of Love) (2026 Mix)

Sweet Revenge

Motor Boys Motor

Steamgauge 99

5 Star R’n’R (2026 Mix)

Surf City (2026 Mix)

Keys To Your Heart (Single Version)

Sweety of the St. Moritz

Hideaway

 

CD2: Basement Tapes / Demos

Motor Boys Motor

Green Love

Keys To Your Heart

Gyrate To The Rhythm

Sweety of the St. Moritz

Bo Diddley 6 Gun Blues

Silent Telephone

Boo The Goose

Sha-La-La-La-Lee

Letsagetabitarockin’ (Acoustic Demo)

Full Moon (Acoustic Demo)

Sweet Revenge

Smokin’ & Jokin’

Jambalaya (On the Bayou)

Sweet Revenge (Acoustic Demo)

 

CD3: Live Recordings

Letsagetabitarockin’

Shake Your Hips

Back In The U.S.S.R.

Lonely Mother’s Son (Jail Guitar Doors)

Don’t Let It Go (Hold On To What You Got)

Motor Boys Motor

Keys To Your Heart

Boppin’ The Blues

Surf City

5 Star R’n’R

Too Much Monkey Business

Willie And The Hand Jive

Junco Partner

Silent Telephone

Promised Land

Rabies (From the Dogs of Love)

Keep Taking The Tablets

Steamgauge 99

Roll Over Beethoven

Gloria

Maybellene

 

Special Double LP Edition

Side A

Letsagetabitarockin’

Silent Telephone

Keys To Your Heart (2026 Mix)

Rabies (From the Dogs of Love) (2026 Mix)

Sweet Revenge

Motor Boys Motor

Steamgauge 99

 

Side B

5 Star R’n’R (2026 Mix)

Surf City (2026 Mix)

Keys To Your Heart (Single Version)

Sweety of the St. Moritz

Hideaway

 

Side C

Motor Boys Motor

Green Love

Keys To Your Heart

Sweety of the St. Moritz

Bo Diddley 6 Gun Blues

 

Side D

Silent Telephone

Sha-La-La-La-Lee

Letsagetabitarockin’ (Acoustic Demo)

Full Moon (Acoustic Demo)

Smokin’ & Jokin’

Jambalaya (On the Bayou)

Sweet Revenge (Acoustic Demo)