The Clash’s former bass player Paul Simonon or, if you prefer, the successful formal painter, Paul Simonon, is never out of fashion. He gives his take on British music and style to Chris Sullivan.
CS: How would you describe The Clash's style?
PS: In the beginning it was very Modish with a lot of suits. Then, we had a Jackson Pollock phase where we splashed our clothes like his paintings. That was followed by a Robert Rauschenberg phase where we used stencils; and then we had stuff made up or customized gear from Laurence Corner – the surplus store. Eventually, we became rockers, which caused a lot of confusion as it was just after the Teds and the punk wars – and we were like punk Teds. But really, we only changed from punk rockers to rockers because we went to America and bought all this great original 50s gear for nothing at these second-hand shops. We’d buy all these 50s shirts and cut the sleeves off as it was so hot on stage.
CS: Why do you think Britain has such a great history of style?
PS: I think it’s because we have an edge and many of those who create great looks live on the edge of society – like the Teddy Boys, the early skinheads and the punks – or for that matter the black and Hispanic Americans. Brits tend to suck up other cultural influences and the Ted, Mod and the skinhead are great examples of how the British take from other cultures, mix them up and make the end result our own. When you’re skint you have to look your best. Not much comes from the upper or middle classes.
CS: Where do you find your clothes?
PS: I live near (London’s) Portobello Market and sometimes find a few gems. On a Friday it’s like a poor man’s version of the V&A, [London’s great museum of art and design] but the difference is you can buy the stuff. It’s great that such markets exist, as they drive youth culture.
'When you’re skint you have to look your best. Not much comes from the upper or middle classes'
CS: How did you get interested in style and clothes?
PS: I suppose my earliest memories would have been when I was a kid I heard the word c**t for the first time. It was shouted by these blokes hanging around at the end of my street. I asked my mum who are they and she dragged me off. I later discovered that these were Teddy Boys and they had the drapes and the combed-backed hair and to me were really interesting.
CS: That was back in Brixton, which has always been a centre of music and fashion?
PS: Yeah, growing up in Brixton, style was all around us. I was hanging around with the sons of those Jamaicans who had come over on the S.S. Empire Windrush. Their dad’s wore hats and sort of zoot suited, brightly coloured jackets with big shoulders. They had a certain swagger as if they’d just come from the OK Corral, while everyone else was in pinstripes. Then I lived in Italy for a while from when I was 10 (in about 1966) and took it all in – the sort of slim-suited, casual, Fred Perry mohair suit thing. I then came back to England to find that the mod/skinhead thing was taking off, which mixed the Jamaican style with the two-tone suits I’d seen in Italy – listening to ska and rock steady.
CS: What’s the golden rule of fashion?
PS: It’s all in the detail. The mod/skinhead thing was all about Ben Sherman and, if you couldn’t afford them, Brutus, Doc Martens or Monkey Boots and the braces had to be the slim ones and the back had to come a V to form a Y in the middle of your back and not an X. Those little details meant everything. Attention to detail that is at the centre of British style.
CS: Do you think those formative styles stay with you?
PS: Definitely. I wear pretty much the same now as I did as a kid; I’ve almost gone full circle. I had a tonic suit when I was about 15 off a mate of mine and I used to wear it in the early Clash days and now I’m wearing similar stuff.
CS: Why is personal style so important?
PS: People might consider that style is trivial but it really defines who you are in the eyes of other people. It tells people what you are about.
CS: I agree, just try getting a job if you go to the interview in just a pair of Y fronts.
PS: Depends on the job you’re after, I’d say.
You can connect with the stylish Mr Simonon on his MySpace page or visit The Clash’s official site. Check out The Good, The Bad And The Queen or just browse some of his paintings.
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