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The Clash Nearly Reformed for 2003 Performance

3:09 p.m. · July 17, 2009 · by Kali Holloway

It's kind of mindblowing to imagine the possibility of seeing The Clash live, together, onstage, in any era really, but especially in 2003, so many years after their '86 demise. Topper Headon says the band was this close to maybe, possibly putting on a live performance at their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, but discussions came to an abrupt end following the unexpected death of Joe Strummer in 2002.

In an NME inteview, Headon says, "When we got inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Joe wanted us to do four or five numbers there. I said yes, Mick Jones said yes, Paul Simonon was um-ing and ah-ing but in the end the decision was taken out of our hands because Joe died."

It's a bummer to think that one of the world's greatest bands never had a chance to regroup for just one amazing night, but Headon takes solace in the fact that the legendary entity that is The Clash will never have the chance to burn out.

"I think Paul was probably right to be skeptical because the only pictures you see of The Clash now are of us as four young, good-looking men with full heads of hair," Headon says. "If we'd have played that show you'd have seen Mick being bald, Paul being bald, me being bald and wearing glasses and Joe with a bit of a paunch. It was better the old way." [Contact Music]