Topper Headon

Nicholas Bowen Headon (born May 30, 1955, in Bromley, Kent, England), better known as Topper Headon (because of his resemblance to the cartoon monkey), was the drummer for the English punk rock band The Clash. Before meeting Headon, the band went through several drummers, including Terry Chimes, who recorded on the UK version of the band's self-titled debut. Headon originally planned to have only a brief stay with the band, so his name would become known and he could move on. As time went on, he realized the full potential of The Clash and recorded a total of four studio and one B-side albums with them (in addition to several songs which would become the US version of the self-titled album). Download high resolution version (513x768, 53 KB)better pic of topper headon from a fan-site of Clash. ... May 30 is the 150th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (151st in leap years). ... 1955 (MCMLV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Bromley is the principal town in the London Borough of Bromley, England. ... Kent is a county in England, south-east of London. ... Royal motto (French): Dieu et mon droit (Translated: God and my right) Englands location (dark green) within the United Kingdom (light green), with the Republic of Ireland (blue) to its west Languages English Capital London Largest city London Area – Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population –mid-2004... The Topper was a UK comic that ran from (issues dates) 7 February 1953 to 15 September 1990, when it merged with The Beezer. ... Royal motto (French): Dieu et mon droit (Translated: God and my right) Englands location (dark green) within the United Kingdom (light green), with the Republic of Ireland (blue) to its west Languages English Capital London Largest city London Area – Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population –mid-2004... Punk rock is an anti-establishment music movement beginning around 1976 (although precursors can be found several years earlier), exemplified and popularised by The Ramones, the Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Damned. ... The Clash were a British rock group that existed from 1976 to 1986. ... Chimes on stage drumming with The Clash at the 100 Club Punk Festival Terry Chimes (also known as Tory Crimes) (born January 25, 1955 in London) was the original drummer of punk rock group The Clash. ... The Clash is the first full-length recording released by the English punk band The Clash. ...

Headon performed the hit song "Rock the Casbah" from the album Combat Rock almost entirely by himself, first writing it and then playing drums, piano, and bass. He also performed and sang lead vocals on "Ivan Meets G.I. Joe" from the album Sandinista!. Rock the Casbah, one of the most popular songs by The Clash, was released on their 1982 album Combat Rock. ... Combat Rock is a 1982 album released by The Clash. ... Sandinista! is the fourth album by the punk rock band The Clash, and their most experimental. ...

Tensions rose between Headon and his fellow bandmembers due to his growing heroin-addiction. Eventually it began affecting his drumming so much that the band gave him an ultimatum: kick the habit or be kicked out. Topper was unable to give up drugs and left the band at the beginning of the tour in 1982. The band covered up Headon's departure, claiming it was due to political differences. After Headon's departure the Clash re-hired original drummer Terry Chimes for the tour. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Addiction is chronic disorder proposed to be precipitated by a combination of genetic, biological/pharmacological and social factors. ... 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

After his work with the Clash, Topper was considered briefly for the drumming stole in Mick Jones' outlet Big Audio Dynamite and fans also expected them to reunite, but this failed to work out because of Topper's severe addiction at this time. Big Audio Dynamite (later known as Big Audio Dynamite II and Big Audio, and often abbreviated BAD) was a British rock band formed by the ex-guitarist and singer of The Clash, Mick Jones. ...

Headon subsequently focused on recording a solo album, which resulted in the mostly unnoticed Waking Up (1986) and a 12-inch recording "Drumming Man" and "DuKane Road" with his own composition "Hope for Donna". After this album Headon went to jail on drug supplying charges. He went to rehab and today is clean. Since the Clash broke up, he has rarely been heard from, with a notable exception being the Clash documentary Westway to the World, in which he is interviewed along with the other members of the band. During the movie, he frankly apologized about his addiction but speculated that had he not been kicked out, the band might have lasted longer and might possibly still be together. Given the chance to repeat the experience, however, he states that he would probably not have made any extra effort to end his heroin addiction, because that's the kind of person he was. Waking Up is the only solo album by Topper Headon, best known as the drummer of The Clash. ... 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Drug rehabilitation is an umbrella term for a variety of processes by which a person addicted to a drug stops using that drug. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... A documentary film about the British punk rock band The Clash. ...

Although he has mostly moved out of the public eye, he continues to play gigs; it was after one of his shows at a pub that he was informed of the death of Clash frontman Joe Strummer. He said with streaming eyes: "It's taken Joe's death to make me realise just how big The Clash were. We were a political band and Joe was the one who wrote the lyrics. Joe was one of the truest guys you could ever meet. If he said 'I am behind you', then you knew he meant it 100 percent." Headon also lamented the fact that the original Clash line-up had been considering a reunion at the time of Strummer's death. John Graham Mellor (August 21, 1952 – December 22, 2002) better known as Joe Strummer, was the co-founder, lyricist, rhythm guitarist and lead singer of the British punk rock band The Clash, and later The Mescaleros. ...

Headon has spent time in the Priory Psychiatric Hospital in North London to deal with his addiction; the hospital has an internationally-renowned Addiction Treatment Program drug clinic as part of its structure. North London is that part of London which is north of the River Thames. ...

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