Bernard Rhodes
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| Bernie Rhodes | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Bernard Rhodes |
| Born | UK |
| Occupation(s) | Record producer, manager, songwriter |
| Years active | 1975 – present |
| Associated acts | The Clash Subway Sect The Specials |
Bernard Rhodes is the former manager of legendary English punk rock band The Clash.[1][2][3][4] He previously worked with Sex Pistols manager Malcolm Mclaren and once, notoriously, claimed to have "invented punk".[5]
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[edit] Management
Rhodes was responsible for spotting John Lydon (aka Johnny Rotten) in the Kings Road and getting him to audition as singer for the Sex Pistols in McLaren's shop SEX.
Rhodes was instrumental in the The Clash's formation in 1976, was fired in 1978 but then rehired in 1981 and managed them until their break-up in 1986.[1][2][3][4]
Rhodes also managed Subway Sect and ska band The Specials in 1979, shortly after these bands formed.
[edit] Cut the Crap
According to guitarist Vince White the working title of the 1985 Clash's last studio album was Out of Control, The title was changed to Cut the Crap by Rhodes shortly before its release without consulting the band. Rhodes also produced the record, using the alias of Jose Unidos (presumably to suggest Joe Strummer was the producer). He is credited, together with Joe Strummer, for all the tracks of that album, and played the drum machine programming.[1][2][3]
[edit] Reputation
The intro to the Specials song "Gangsters," Bernie Rhodes knows don't argue, was a reference to him getting their guitars and equipment back after they were confiscated by a hotel in Paris (even though the band had done nothing wrong). Also, the line "Now the king told his boogiemen/You have to let that raga drop" of the Clash's famous "Rock The Casbah" refers to Rhodes being angry that the track "Sean Flynn" from the Clash's album "Combat Rock" exceeded eight minutes in length - he reportedly said "Must everything be an Indian raga?". Rhodes is also mentioned in the Clash's song "All The Young Punks" on the album "Give 'Em Enough Rope": "Of course we got a manager/Though he ain't the mafia/A contract is a contract/When they get 'em out on yer."
[edit] Clash Culture incident
On May 2nd, 2007 Rhodes caused outrage at a London event, "Clash Culture" at Central St Martins College of Art and Design when he said "If you want to sort out crime in London, sort out the niggers in Peckham"[6]
In the July 2007 issue of Mojo magazine, Rhodes claimed he was taken out of context.
- He also said the offending statement was quoted out of context and was actually in relation to possible future government policy, [It was] saying that the government had a plan to solve crime in Peckham by linking with a potential call-up if the war goes bad, then they would be looking toward these people first. It's being discussed, it's not the fantasy of mad Mr. Rhodes...
[edit] Notable appearances
The music video for The Clash's hit "Rock the Casbah" features an Arab and an orthodox Jewish person skanking, to go with the Middle Eastern theme. The parts of the Arab and Jew were played by Bernard Rhodes (the Arab) and longtime Clash friend Mark "Frothler" Helfont (the Jew).[1][2][3]
[edit] Current activities
According to Rhodes' website he has authored a trilogy of books which will be published starting in 2008.
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b c d Gilbert, Pat [2004] (2005). Passion Is a Fashion: The Real Story of The Clash, 4th edition, London: Aurum Press. ISBN 1845131134. OCLC 61177239.
- ^ a b c d Topping, Keith [2003] (2004). The Complete Clash, 2nd ed., Richmond: Reynolds & Hearn. ISBN 1903111706. OCLC 63129186.
- ^ a b c d Gray, Marcus [1995] (2005). The Clash: Return of the Last Gang in Town, 5th rev. ed., London: Helter Skelter. ISBN 1905139101. OCLC 60668626.
- ^ a b Letts Don; Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, Topper Headon, Terry Chimes, Rick Elgood, The Clash. (2001). The Clash, Westway to the World [Documentary]. New York, NY: Sony Music Entertainment; Dorismo; Uptown Films. Retrieved on 2007-11-26. ISBN 0738900826. OCLC 49798077.
- ^ In a television interview, Joe Strummer of The Clash said, after drawing the camera to Bernard sleeping against a wall, "He invented punk...it was obviously too much for him", referring ironically to a statement of Rhodes himself. The scene and the statement are featured in the documentary Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten.
- ^ UNLIMITED / CMU Daily 04.05.07. CMU Daily - on the inside. CMU Music Network (2007-05-04). Retrieved on 2007-12-04. “Many in the audience, which included ex-Sex Pistol Glen Matlock and former Clash roadie Sebastian Conran, were seemingly outraged when Rhodes opened his mouth to utter the immortal words: "If you want to sort out crime in London, sort out the niggers in Peckham".”
[edit] Further reading
- Gilbert, Pat [2004] (2005). Passion Is a Fashion: The Real Story of The Clash, 4th edition, London: Aurum Press. ISBN 1845131134. OCLC 61177239.
- Gray, Marcus [1995] (2005). The Clash: Return of the Last Gang in Town, 5th revised edition, London: Helter Skelter. ISBN 1905139101. OCLC 60668626.
- Gray, Marcus (1995). Last Gang In Town: The Story and Myth of The Clash. London: Fourth Estate. ISBN 1857021460. OCLC 34258882.
[edit] External links
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| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Rhodes, Bernard |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Bernie Rhodes |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | English record producer, talent manager, and songwriterand |
| DATE OF BIRTH | |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | England |
| DATE OF DEATH | |
| PLACE OF DEATH | |
