Who's your musical hero? Mine's John Mellor.

I think it's fair to say that each and every one of us can trace our musical heritage back to the records we listened to as kids.  How we've taken those influences and used them throughout our musical lives is a completely different story.

I also think that it's fairly safe to say that many of the people who read and respond to this won't do so in the way that most of us would like - giving not only the name of their hero but giving also context to that meaning.

In the hope that some of you buggers out there will do the same, I'm going to bare my soul (click away now if you're easily bored).

I come from a small market town 15 miles from Oxford and, growing up here in the '70s meant that we had the New Theatre in Oxford or we had to travel.  The New Theatre is an all-seated venue so the band I loved the most would never play there.  They wouldn't play ANY venue with fixed seating after their gig at the Hammermith Apollo when their fans tore out the seats. I had no chance of seeing The Clash. Not at 14.

But something about Joe Strummer stuck with me.

I can't pinpoint exactly what it was that drew me to  the Clash, and particularly Strummer.  Perhaps it was Paul Simonon's stencilled shirt designs, I have no idea now, but there was something different and unique about The Clash.

But even at that age, I knew Joe Strummer was not just a name on a record sleeve, but an aspiration.

Joe Strummer is, was, and throughout it all, will remain my hero.

It isn't something that's easily definable, nor something that makes much sense as the years progress, but there was something about the way he was simply so steadfast in his approach to life, music and other people that actually inspires me to treat people better and with more understanding, to take interest in the minutiae of the everyday, and to celebrate the differences between us all. To approach other musical, cultural and ethnic diversities with an open ear and an open heart.

Although I never saw them live, I somehow manage to define life, even now, through their aesthetic. I may need help, but actually, I think I'm doing fine.  It's more to do with  their DIY sensibility, I think.

I never got to see the Clash, though I did see Joe perform with the Latino Rockabilly War and later, the Mescaleros, and I caught B.A.D. a couple of times too and enjoyed every second I was basking in the radiance of former Clash members.

From being a young and open punk Rocker, I've welcomed so much more into my life than so many people I know who are younger than me and I'm so eternally thankful for being that age, then.

I didn't have the good fortune to meet Joe, either, but the friends I have that did assure me that he was a man of sincere integrity.  I did have the opportunity to meet his former writing partner Mick Jones and a more humble and welcoming soul I couldn't have hoped to have met. 

Joe Strummer is my hero.  I'm knocking 50 and not afraid to say it either, as I know I'm one amongst many.

I'm a Clash City Rocker.  

That's my story - what's yours?