The Clash need no introduction. They are iconic many times over, and are still being celebrated and cited today. The band's golden age spanned from the late 1970s to the early 1980s, and for many, a big part of why was the input of guitarist Mick Jones.
Jones was a co-founder of the Clash in 1976, and remained a vital part of their lineup through the release of Combat Rock, their commercial breakthrough, in 1982. It was during this time, however, that Jones' desires strayed from the rest of the band. He wanted to take time off from touring and rest after a hectic, multi-year period. Joe Strummer and Paul Simonon, the Clash's lead singer and bassist, respectively, wanted to double down and get even bigger.
Mick Jones was fired from the band in 1983
Jones reluctantly went along with the desires of his bandmates, but his heart was not in it. In the documentary Westway to the World, Strummer claimed that the guitarist became a thorn in the side of the band, and often refused to show up to concerts on time. "Mick was intolerable to work with by this time," he said. "He wouldn’t show up. When he did show up, it was like Elizabeth Taylor in a filthy mood."
Jones' behavior led to a falling out between him and Strummer, and he was eventually fired from the Clash in 1983. The guitarist later admitted that he was not acting maturely, and regrets the behavior that led to his dismissal. "I was just carried away really, I wish I had a bit more control," he admitted. "You know, you wish you knew what you know now."
The Clash may have axed Jones in an attempt to continue their commercial ascent, but it did not pan out. The band only released one more album, the critically maligned Cut the Crap, before breaking up in 1986. Jones, meanwhile, co-founded the band Big Audio Dynamite with Don Letts, a man who rose to fame by directing multiple Clash music videos.
Jones briefly considered a Clash reunion
Big Audio Dynamite ran from 1984 to 1997, with a brief reunion in 2011. Jones was also a founding member of the punk band General Public, which included band members from the Beat and Dexy's Midnight Runners. There were talks of an official Clash reunion in the 00s, and Jones and Strummer even reconvened to write music for a new release, but Strummer's death in 2002 put a permanent end to the band.
Despite the acrimonious split, Jones remains a beloved member of the Clash, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside Strummer, Simonon and drummers Terry Chimes and Nicky "Topper" Headon in 2003. Jones continues to record with acclaimed bands like the Flaming Lips and the Avalanches.