WEB SPECIAL: Interview with Clash legend Terry Chimes

Terry Chimes isn’t reluctant to talk about his part in the ’76 punk uprising, “it’s just that it was so long ago! I wrote down everything that happened recently for my book, The Strange Case Of Dr. Terry And Mr Chimes, but half of it I’ve forgotten again!
“The last thing you think when you’re 20 is, ‘I’m making history!’ You wake up and do what you have to do. The idea that one day I’d be 57 and looking back at my life… the self-analysis and reflection comes a lot later!”
How would he explain those heady days to people who weren’t around to witness it first-hand?
“You had the situation where all the top bands like Pink Floyd were living in mansions and flying around in private jets, hardly ever playing but when they did coming up with ever more ludicrous concepts,” Terry says reverting to angry Clash member type. “Nothing they said bore any resemblance to real life, which was why punk had to happen, and happen it did with a big bang. The Pistols blazed a trail and we came along just behind them and immediately got an audience. If you’re investigating punk, go beyond the Clash and Pistols though, and listen to bands like Vic Godard and The Subway Sect who were just as important as we were in their own way.”
Departing The Clash in 1977 after the recording of their debut album – he was invited back in 1982 when they toured the States with The Who – Terry hooked up with Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers, a bunch as renowned for their heroin consumption as they were their sleaze rock anthems.
“People were always expecting Johnny to die and he didn’t – well, not until 1991 when you’d stopped expecting it!” Chimes reflects. “There will always be those characters who just can’t help screwing up. He was a bit afraid of success I think and had to keep his guard up. Deep down he was a very nice man and totally in love with music.”
The ‘Dr.’ part of his book’s title refers to the fact that Terry is also a qualified chiropractor – his interest stems from a back injury sustained whilst drumming in 1987 for Black Sabbath – who recently sold his practice but still sees patients privately.
“Yeah, I pick and choose who I see now, which means I’ve time for my new band, The Crunch, which is me; Sham 69’s Dave Tregunna who was in a band with me called Cherry Bombz; Mick Geggus who’s still a member of The Cockney Rejects and Sulo who’s a bit of a legend back in Sweden where he’s from. What’s brilliant is that all four of us are doing it for the love rather than the money.”
Serrated of riff, pulverising of drum and histrionic of vocal, The Crunch will be doing their still punky thing in Thomas House, Dublin on December 14. Kick-off is 10.30pm to accommodate those going to see The Blades in the Olympia, with a limited number of tickets still available in person from the bar.
“It’s a small 60-capacity place? Great! The stadium gigs I did with The Clash and Sabbath were great but I prefer it when you can see people’s faces!”

Photo (l to r) Dave Tregunna, Mick Geggus, Terry Chimes, & Sulo

The Strange Case Of Dr Terry And Mr Chimes is available from [link]www.terrychimes.com/shop.html[/link]