London SS

London SS

Infobox musical artist
Name = London SS


Img_capt =
Img_size =
Landscape =
Background = group_or_band
Origin =
Genre = Punk rock, rock and roll
Years_active = 1975–76
Label =
Associated_acts = The Clash, The Subterraneans, The Damned, Chelsea, Generation X, Big Audio Dynamite, Sigue Sigue Sputnik, Carbon/Silicon
URL =
Past_members = Mick Jones
Tony James
Brian James
Roland Hot

London SS were an early British punk rock group founded in March 1975 by guitarist Mick Jones and bassist Tony James.

The band spent most of their short history auditioning potential members. Besides Jones and James, however, guitarist Brian James (not related to Tony) was the only other semi-permanent member. Other musicians who played with them included Matt Dangerfield and Casino Steel, then of The Hollywood Brats, who would later go on to play in The Boys.

Many other notable musicians tried out for the band but didn't make the cut including future members of The Clash Paul Simonon and Terry Chimes. Another future Clash member, Nicky "Topper" Headon, was asked to join but declined. Rat Scabies, future drummer for The Damned played with the band even though he was in his own proto-punk band, Rot, at the time. Roland Hot also served as drummer. Punk poet Patrik Fitzgerald also claims to have auditioned for the band.

The London SS's only recording was a demo featuring James, Jones, James and Hot. Musically they played straightforward rock 'n' roll and covered 1960s R&B although some former members felt the band's music was pretty poor.

After Hot was kicked out in January 1976, Brian James left with Scabies to form The Subterraneans and later The Damned. The other James joined the band Chelsea with Billy Idol and the two later started Generation X. Jones, Simonon, and Chimes teamed up with Joe Strummer and founded The Clash. Chimes was later replaced by Headon and then Headon was replaced by Chimes again. Ultimately, the London SS were more famous for what their members did later on in life than they were for anything that happened during their existence.

The group's name caused disquiet in some quarters, because "SS" is generally understood to refer to the elite military force disproportionately involved in Nazi war crimes. This later came to haunt Mick Jones, when The Clash became Britain's premier left-wing political band. However, the members of London SS later claimed that it referred to their poverty at the time, and stood for "social security". Other accounts say that it was used for its ambiguity and shock value, rather than as a statement of fascist political sympathies.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • London —    The capital of the Empire and from early times an important centre of trade and commerce. On the northern bank of the River Thames.    The first authentic mention of Londinium, as it was called by the Romans, occurs in Tacitus, Annales, Lib.… …   Dictionary of London

  • London Records —    These are perhaps sufficiently indicated in the list of authorities set out at the commencement of this work, but it may not be amiss to deal with them somewhat more in detail.    London is rich in municipal records, and in spite of numerous… …   Dictionary of London

  • London Bridge —    Extends across the River Thames from Adelaide Place and King William Street to High Street, Southwark. Architect, J. Rennie.    Erected 1824 31. Opened by King William IV. in 1831.    It is made of granite, with 5 elliptical arches (Gent. Mag …   Dictionary of London

  • London Wall, Street —    West from Old Broad Street to Cripplegate (P.O. Directory).    A street on the line of the old Wall of London (q.v.). In Broad Street Ward, Bassishaw Ward, Coleman Street Ward and Cripplegate Ward Within.    First mention of the street : In… …   Dictionary of London

  • London House Yard —    1) North out of St. Paul s Churchyard, at Nos. 74 and 79, to Paternoster Row (P.O. Directory). In Castle Baynard Ward.    First mention: O. and M. 1677.    The site was formerly occupied by the Bishop of London s Palace (q.v.).    Converted… …   Dictionary of London

  • London Stone —    A rounded block of stone set in a large stone case, in which is an oval opening through which it can be seen. Built into the south wall of St. Swithin s Church on the north side of Cannon Street (O.S.).    Earliest mention: Stow says it is… …   Dictionary of London

  • London Bridge Wharf —    On the east side of London Bridge and the south side of Lower Thames Street (P.O. Directory). In Bridge Ward Within.    Earliest mention: O.S. 1848 51.    It occupies the site of the Waterworks of Old London Bridge …   Dictionary of London

  • London Prentice Yard —    East out of the Minories. In Portsoken Ward (Boyle, 1799).    Former name : Ship Yard (O. and M. 1677).    First called London Prentice Yard in Rocque, 1746.    When the Old Fountain Inn was pulled down in 1793, Fountain Court seems to Have… …   Dictionary of London

  • London and St. Katherine's Dock Co.'s Warehouses —    See Port of London Authority s Warehouses …   Dictionary of London

  • London Bibliography —    Many works on this subject have been produced from time to time, and valuable bibliographies are available at the present day in such works as the following : The General Catalogue of the British Museum, London Library Catalogue, and other… …   Dictionary of London

  • London Bridge Square —    On London Bridge, in Bridge Ward (P.C. 1732).    Not named in the maps …   Dictionary of London

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”