Topper Headon

Nicholas Bowen "Topper" Headon (born 30 May 1955) is an English drummer, best known as the drummer of punk rock band the Clash. Known for his instrumental contributions to the drumming world, Headon was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the rest of The Clash in 2003.

He joined the Clash in 1977 and became famed for his drumming skills. He received his nickname owing to his resemblance to Mickey the Monkey from the '' Topper'' comic.

Early life

Headon spent his early childhood in Crockenhill, northwest Kent, before attending Dover Grammar School for Boys. He started playing drums at an early age and was a jazz fan, citing Billy Cobham as a strong influence. In 1973, he joined the cult progressive rock outfit Mirkwood. He appeared with them for a year and a half, and they supported major acts such as Supertramp. He later played with a band which opened for American R&B legends the Temptations and admits to falsely claiming that he played with the Temptations.

The Clash

Originally Headon joined the Clash in 1977 with the intention of establishing a reputation as a drummer before moving on to other projects, but he soon realised their full potential and remained with them for four-and-a-half years. His first live performance was at Le Chartreux Cinema, Rouen, France on April 26, 1977. Headon appeared on the albums ''Give 'Em Enough Rope'' (1978), ''The Clash'' (1979 US version), ''London Calling'' (1979), ''Sandinista!'' (1980) and ''Combat Rock'' (1982), as well as several landmark singles the Clash recorded during their early period. He performed lead vocal on "Ivan Meets G.I. Joe" from ''Sandinista'' and composed most of the music and played drums, piano and bass guitar on the hit single "Rock the Casbah" from ''Combat Rock''. He also appeared on ''Super Black Market Clash'' (1993), which included B-sides from the band's single releases.

Clash singer/guitarist Joe Strummer is quoted as saying Headon's drumming skills were a vital part of the band. Tensions rose between Headon and his fellow band members due to his addiction, and he left the band on 10 May 1982, at the beginning of the ''Combat Rock'' tour. The band covered up the real reason for Headon's departure, the apparent growing use of heroin, claiming Headon's exit was due to exhaustion. Strummer had even asked Headon once: "How can I be singing anti-drug songs with you sitting behind me?"

In a later interview for the rockumentary '' The Clash: Westway to the World'', he apologised for his addiction and speculated that, had he not been asked to leave the Clash, the band might have lasted longer and might possibly still be together. He also lamented that the best known Clash line-up had been considering a reunion at the time of Strummer's death, after the positive reunion during the ''Westway to the World'' rockumentary.

After the Clash

After leaving the Clash, he was considered as drummer in Mick Jones's post-Clash band Big Audio Dynamite and played in a short-lived group called Samurai, with bassist Pete Farndon, guitarist Henry Padovani, organist Mick Gallagher, and vocalist Steve Allen (formerly of Deaf School). Headon subsequently focused on recording a solo album, ''Waking Up'' (1986), which featured Mick Gallagher, Bobby Tench and Jimmy Helms. He also released a cover version of the Gene Krupa instrumental "Drumming Man" as a single, which featured Headon's "DuKane Road" on the B-side. His own composition "Hope for Donna" was included on the Mercury Records sampler '' Beat Runs Wild'', in the same year. During the 1980s Headon produced albums for New York band Bush Tetras

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