The Mescaleros
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The Mescaleros were the backing band for Joe Strummer for three albums prior to his death in 2002. They took their name from the Mescalero Apache tribe. While band members played a great variety of different instruments, they generally consisted of Strummer on vocals, Scott Shields on guitar and bass, Martin Slattery on keyboards and guitar, Pablo Cook on percussion, and Tymon Dogg on violin and strings. Richard Flack also appeared on various effects and instruments. Luke Bullen later appeared on drums and Simon Strafford on bass.
The band signed with the Californian punk label Hellcat Records, and issued three albums. Following the release of the first, Rock Art and the X-Ray Style, they toured England and North America; sets included several Clash-fan favourites.
Following the release of Global A Go-Go, Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros mounted a 21-date tour of North America, Britain, and Ireland. Once again, these concerts featured Clash material ("London Calling", "Rudie Can't Fail"), as well as classic covers of reggae hits ("The Harder They Come", "A Message To You, Rudie") and regularly closed the show with a nod to the late Joey Ramone by playing The Ramones' "Blitzkrieg Bop".
Joe Strummer & the Mescaleros' last ever concert was on November 22, 2002, in Liverpool. The band's final album, Streetcore, was released after the death of Joe Strummer on December 22, 2002.