"Trash City" is a single released by Joe Strummer in 1988, credited to Joe Strummer & The Latino Rockabilly War.
The song was recorded for the soundtrack of the film Permanent Record, which starred Keanu Reeves and explored teenage angst and tragedy.
Musically, "Trash City" blends punk attitude with Latin and rockabilly rhythms, marking a departure from Strummer's classic Clash sound. Critics and fans noted its raw energy and driving beat.
Strummer himself described the single as, "the best 45 I've been associated with since, oh, 'Straight to Hell'-a bouncing bumpabilly furnished with all the usual JS clutter, hot dogs from the nightmare zone!" (NME, Discogs).
The track was promoted during Strummer's Rock Against the Rich tour and reflected Strummer's renewed enthusiasm for playing live and experimenting with new sounds.
Discussing the single and his approach at the time, Strummer said: "I just felt like playing. There's a limit to what you can learn in four days so we just go in there, bash hell out of it and try to rock it up."
The single's lyrics and style showed Strummer's willingness to blend political commentary with streetwise imagery.
Though not a chart hit, "Trash City" remains a cult favorite among Strummer's post-Clash output, emblematic of his restless creativity and refusal to conform (Discogs).
Trash City – Release Details
“Trash City” by Joe Strummer & The Latino Rockabilly War was released in the UK on 13 June 1988 by CBS/Epic Records. The single appeared on 7", 12", and CD formats, with “Theme from Permanent Record” as the B-side. It peaked at #76 on the UK Singles Chart later that month. Discogs Release Page, Official UK Chart
Dundee Courier - Thursday 30 June 1988, Page 16
RockTalk
JOE STRUMMER'S new single must have people wondering why the Clash ever split up. "Trash City" (C.B.S.) is the kind of rumbling rockabilly epic that perhaps the group might have knocked out between their "Give Em Enough Rope" and "London Calling" L.P.s. It's the complete antithesis of Stock, Aitken And Waterman's squeaky clean pop, and thus will probably never even scrape the charts.
But it's great to see good old Uncle Joe back in form, and bodes well for his forthcoming Dundee appearance at the Caird Hall.
Meanwhile, Strummer's ex-Clash associate Mick Jones has a new single out with his group, Big Audio Dynamite. B.A.D.'s "Just Play Music" (C.B.S.) is not as slick as the band's fledgling material which took them into the charts, and is closer to the Clash circa "Combat Rock." Rock'n'roll meets funk in a noisy showdown that creates a few sparks but not really enough to start anything too dangerous.
Perhaps Strummer and Jones should get back together-as they did on B.A.D.'s second L.P. and see what happens. Now that would definitely be worth a listen!
Staffordshire Newsletter - Friday, June 24 1988, Page 29
Pop Spot
Ex-Clash man Joe Strum-mer, about to embark on a Rock Against The Rich tour, has a new 45 out called Trash City. Clearly no changes here. Trash City is taken from Joe's sound track to the film Permanent Record which will be out here as an album on July 4.
"JOE STRUMMER — Trash City (Epic): Review." Telegraph and Argus, Sat, 11 Jun 1988, p. 25. By Chris Maguire.
JOE STRUMMER – Trash City (Epic) Review
JOE STRUMMER — Trash City (Epic): If you mourned the demise of The Clash you will be happy to hear Joe Strummer has continued their latter day sound on his own. Great raw production. ★★★
