The Clash released London Calling in December 1979. The double album pushed the envelope for what a punk band could be. There was straight-ahead punk rock, but the band’s evolution was evident in the other elements that showed up. The Clash were embracing ska, jazz, rockabilly, reggae, and rock ‘n’ roll, and the results paid off with their first appearance in the Billboard Top 40. The band hatched a plan to release a single each month during 1980, but CBS Records nixed the idea and only one single was released. Let’s take a look at the story behind “Bankrobber” by The Clash.
My daddy was a bank robber
But he never hurt nobody
He just loved to live that way
And he loved to steal your money
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The Recording
In January 1980, The Clash embarked on the 16 Tons Tour of the UK. After a month of shows, the band went into Manchester’s Pluto Studios on February 1 and spent two days recording “Bankrobber.” Mikey Dread, who had been on the road with the band as an opening act, produced the track. In 2008, bassist Paul Simonon was quoted in The Clash by The Clash, “We decided that we wanted to release a single a month, and the first one we put forward was ‘Bankrobber.’ But the head of the record company didn’t like it. He said it sounded like David Bowie backwards, which I didn’t understand. So the UK record company wouldn’t release it. But the Dutch did, and it was then imported, which made the UK company release it. But it stopped our flow of putting out a single a month.”
Some is rich, and some is poor
And that’s the way the world is
But I don’t believe in laying back
Sayin’ how bad your luck is
Top of the Pops
“London Calling” had been the band’s biggest success on the charts when it reached No. 11 in the UK. “Train in Vain” was The Clash’s first appearance on the American charts, reaching No. 23. The band was always looking to defy the norms, hence the idea of releasing a single each month, not necessarily from an album. CBS Records did not have the same philosophy.
Said guitarist Mick Jones, “We had a big row at Heathrow Airport—I can’t remember where we were going—with the head of CBS, Maurice Oberstein, who was there with his dog and lady chauffeur. He didn’t want us to put out 12 singles in a year. But eventually, ‘Bankrobber’ came out in England—so we got one single out in 12 months—and it got to No. 12 in the charts.
“We’d never appear on Top of The Pops because it was rubbish, so they got their dance troupe, Legs & Co., to do a routine to it. They were all dressed up like bank robbers, wearing masks and hats, and did a hilarious dance.”
So he came to jazz it up
Never learned to shovel
Break your back to earn your pay
Don’t forget to grovel
Schoolgirls on a Bus
The Clash had experimented with different musical styles, but this was the first single to use the heavy, dub-style, tape-loop approach. Singer Joe Strummer said, “All summer long, that was the only record you heard on the radio and in the Grove. One day, I went up Ladbroke Grove to get a newspaper, and a bunch of black schoolgirls got off a bus, and one of them went, ‘There’s that guy who did “Bankrobber,”‘ and they surrounded me and stood looking, ‘cos they couldn’t believe that some weird-looking white dude had made this record. I’ll never forget it, they stood there staring at me, and didn’t say anything. They couldn’t compute it.”
He’s gone now
The old man spoke up in a bar
Said, “I never been in prison
A lifetime serving one machine
Is ten times worse than prison”
Music Video
Garry Baker, drummer Topper Headon’s drum technician, and road manager Johnny Green appeared in the music video to promote the song. Said Mick Jones, “We made a video to go with ‘Bankrobber’ and filmed part of it in Lewisham when we were playing there with Johnny and Baker. They were standing outside a bank in Lewisham High Street wearing hats, long coats, and masks like gangsters from an American movie, and the police pulled them because they thought they looked dodgy. As if robbers would be that stupid!”
Imagine if all the boys in jail
Could get out now together
Whadda you think they’d want to say to us?
While we was being clever
Someday, you’ll meet your rocking chair
‘Cause that’s where we’re spinning
There’s no point to want to comb your hair
When it’s grey and thinning
Christmas Debut
Joe Strummer composed most of the song himself. The original working title was “Bank Robbing Song.” The Clash debuted the song live in December 1979 during their three Christmas gigs in London.
Hey, my daddy was a bank robber
But he never hurt nobody
He just loved to live that way
And he loved to steal your money
Get away, get away, get away, get away, get away, get away, get away
Hey
Run, rabbit run
Brrrp, strike out, boys, for the hills
I can find that hole in the wall
I know that they never will
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