Bernard Rhodes

Rhodes born in 1944 in Stepney, London. He says he never knew his father. He was placed in a Jewish orphanage in South London where he remained until he was 15. His mother worked long hours for Huntsman's tailors in Savile Row making suits for people like Cary Grant and later Hawes & Curtis where Rhodes' friend John Pearse who co-owned Granny Takes a Trip was her apprentice.{{Sfn|Gilbert|2005|p=81}}

In the early 1960s Rhodes and Pearse shared a flat at 68 Hamilton Terrace, St Johns Wood, London. Mick Jagger, Marc Bolan, musician Mickey Finn, the Small Faces and Guy Stevens (who Rhodes later brought in to produce The Clash){{Sfn|Gilbert|2005|p=81}} were regular visitors.

Towards the late 1960s Rhodes won a Design Council award for a children's educational toy he designed using newly developed plastic techniques.{{Sfn|Gilbert|2005|p=82}} In the early 1970s Rhodes had a shop in the Antiquarius Market, Chelsea selling his hand printed silk screen designs on shirts and T-shirts, plus a selection of rare vintage reggae records.{{Sfn|Letts|2007|p=50}}

During this period he became re-acquainted with an old friend, Malcolm McLaren and his girlfriend Vivienne Westwood who were operating out of Let It Rock boutique at 430 Kings Road. Finding they shared a similar philosophy, Rhodes and McLaren went into business collaborating on the T-shirts which were sold in the shop. Westwood wanted to expand the sleeveless T-shirt clothing line and Rhodes was an ideal colleague with his silk screen printing skill and whose 'complex meandering discourse threw up many new ideas'.{{sfn|Savage|1991|p=83}} The T-shirt 'You're Gonna Wake Up One Morning and Know What Side of The Bed You've Been Lying On'{{cite web |title="You're Gonna Wake Up One Morning" T-shirt |url=https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/185213 |website=Metropolitan Museum of Art |access-date=10 March 2025 |date=1976}}{{cite web |title=SEDITIONARIES "SEX" Shirt |url=https://risdmuseum.org/art-design/collection/seditionaries-sex-shirt-20174 |website=Rhode Island School of Design Museum |access-date=10 March 2025 |language=en}}{{cite web |title=What side of the beard you've been lying on |url=https://www.freelyassociating.org/2007/04/what-side-of-the-beard-youve-been-lying-on/ |website=freelyassociating.org |access-date=10 March 2025 |date=April 10, 2007 |quote=It carried a list of hates on the left side and loves on the right.}}{{cite web |title=Punk before punk: 'You're gonna wake up one morning...' |url=https://blogs.bl.uk/sound-and-vision/2016/05/punk-before-punk-youre-gonna-wake-up-one-morning.html |website=Sound and vision blog |publisher=British Library |access-date=10 March 2025 |language=en |date=19 May 2016}} was created and printed by Rhodes and uses his handwriting.Rimmer, Dave. New Romantics: The Look. Omnibus Press, 2003. ASIN: B00GS97DIY McLaren explained that Rhodes' idea was 'to create a dialogue'.{{Cite book|title=The Look|last=Gorman|first=Paul|publisher=Adelita|year=2006|isbn=0-9552017-0-5|location=London|pages=137}} Rhodes has described the difference between himself and McLaren: 'Malcolm [McLaren] likes to titillate but I get down to substance'.{{sfn|Savage|1991|p=102}}

By 1975, SEX had become a hangout for a bunch of teenagers from whom the Sex Pistols would emerge. Rhodes took the group under his wing while McLaren was in New York looking after the New York Dolls.{{sfn|Strongman |2008|pp=84–85}} Original Sex Pistols member Glen Matlock describes Rhodes' contribution as making them understand the importance of being clear cut. "He (Rhodes) had a real ability for making people decide exactly what they were trying to do."{{Cite book|title=I was a teenage Sex Pistol|last=Matlock|first=Glen|publisher=Omnibus Press|year=1990|isbn=0-7119-1817-1|location=London|pages=32}} John Lydon states that he was wearing a 'I Hate Pink Floyd' T-shirt when he was spotted by Rhodes on the Kings Road. Rhodes insisted he meet McLaren, Steve Jones and Paul Cook in the local Roebuck pub that evening. After this get-together, Rhodes had Lydon come back to the shop to audition for the role of singer.{{sfn|Lydon|1993|p=75}} As a result, Lydon became lead singer of the group.

Lydon says that Rhodes 'was important to me in so many ways.... He would indicate to me where the problems with the Pistols would be in the future. He would sow a seed and then wait to see if I would pick up on it.'{{sfn|Lydon|1993|pp=117–118}}

After his offer to co-manage Sex Pistols was rejected by McLaren, Rhodes was instrumental in The Clash's formation in 1976. Mick Jones was wearing one of Rhodes' Wake Up T-shirts when he approached Rhodes after a Sex Pistols gig thinking he was a keyboard player. They started talking about groups and the relationship was the starting point for what would eventually become The Clash.{{Sfn|Gilbert|2005|p=60}}

Strummer credits Rhodes as his mentor, stating "He constructed The Clash and focused our energies and we repaid him by being really good at what we did".{{sfn|Clash |2008 |p=88}} Rhodes told them to write about social issues occurring at the time, i.e., the housing problems, lack of education, dead-end futures.{{sfn|Clash|2008|p=88}} Strummer said that Rhodes was the only one who understood how one should go about getting known.{{sfn|Clash|2008|p=88}}

Paul Simonon stated that Rhodes "set up the whole punk scene basically. He saw how non-musicians like myself and John (Lydon) could contribute".{{Sfn|Gilbert|2005|p=78}} Rhodes called his friend Guy Stevens in, to produce the Polydor recordings in 1977.{{Sfn|Gilbert|2005|p=117}} The group later used Stevens to produce London Calling. He also sought out Lee 'Scratch' Perry to produce the single "Complete Control".{{sfn|Clash|2008|p=88}}

On 25 January 1977, Rhodes signed The Clash to CBS Records with CBS Records UK chairman Maurice Oberstein who promised to allow the group to do what they wanted on record and CBS would promote it. After a couple of albums, including their first, which Rhodes helped produce with Mickey Foote, he felt the group were drifting away from their street ideals and they parted company in late 1978.

From his Rehearsal Rehearsals studio, Rhodes nurtured and managed groups Subway Sect, The Specials, Dexys Midnight Runners, JoBoxers, The Black Arabs and other musical projects. The intro to The Specials' version of "Gangsters" released in 1979 begins with the line: "Bernie Rhodes knows: don't argue!".{{Sfn|Adams|2009}} Dexys Midnight Runners' single "Dance Stance" was released in 1979 on the Oddball Productions label owned by Rhodes.{{Sfn|White|2007|p=205}} He later signed the group to EMI Records.

The first album by Subway Sect, What's the Matter Boy, was produced by Rhodes and released by Oddball in 1980."[https://recordcollectormag.com/articles/subway-sect-2 Subway Sect]". Record Collector, 14 April 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2021 Rhodes also introduced the idea of using a Burundi drum beat to Malcolm McLaren{{Sfn|Vermorel|1987|p=236}} who gave it to Adam Ant. This led to the sound of Kings of the Wild Frontier (1980) by Adam and the Ants.{{Sfn|Vermorel|1987|p=[https://archive.org/details/sexpistolsinside00verm/page/236 236]}}

During the late seventies he opened Club Left in Wardour Street Soho.{{Sfn|G Spot|1993|p=39}} Club Left performances included Dig Wayne, Anne Pigalle, Tom Cat, Lady Blue, Johnny Britton, Sade, Bananarama, Georgie Fame and Slim Gaillard. The regular house band was Vic Godard and the Subway Sect.

Sean McLusky said that Rhodes gave him a break at Club Left in 1981 and then got a deal and success for his band JoBoxers, who enjoyed mainstream success on both sides of the Atlantic with their single "Just Got Lucky". McLusky says, "Bernard never got the credit for things that were his. He has been the undefined force".{{Sfn|G Spot|1993|p=39}}

Strummer said if Rhodes did not come back and manage the Clash he would quit.{{sfn|Gilbert|2005|p=286}} Once back, Rhodes decided to remix "Magnificent 7". A 12" single dance remix "Magnificent Dance" was released on 12 April 1981. Production was credited to 'Pepe Unidos', a pseudonym for Strummer, Rhodes and Paul Simonon.Martin, Gavin. "[https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/joe-strummer-good-ol-joe Joe Strummer: Good Ol' Joe]". New Musical Express, 26 July 1986 – via Rock's Backpages {{subscription required}} Pepe Unidos also produced "The Cool Out", a re-mix of "The Call Up".Andersen, Mark. Heibutzki, Ralph. We Are The Clash. Akashic Books, 2018

Mick Jones said 'Bernie came back on the scene because people thought that we'd gotten out of control and the first thing he wanted to do was book us for seven nights in New York'.{{Sfn|Clash|2008|p=290}} The residency at Bond International Casino in the first two weeks of June 1981 was organised by Rhodes on his return as manager of The Clash. Support acts included Grandmaster Flash, The Sugarhill Gang, Dead Kennedys, Bad Brains, Texan bad boy Joe Ely, Lee Perry and Funkapolitan. Rhodes states that it was because of these Bonds NYC shows that the public became more interested in hip hop. 'I endeavoured to get these guys on like Grandmaster Flash, not that most of the audience liked them but that led to a helluvalot'.{{sfn|Gruen|2001|p=241}} The record company were not behind the triple album Sandinista! recorded in Rhodes's absence{{sfn|Gruen|2001|p=240}} but Kosmo Vinyl states that with the Bonds NYC residency, The Clash 'clawed their way back into the Premiership'.{{sfn|Gruen|2001|p=242}}

Paul Simonon states that Rhodes was not aware he and Joe were going to sack Mick Jones nor was he in favour of that action. (The sacking took place in 1983). However, Simonon says Jones did not know this until the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction after Joe Strummer's death.{{Sfn|Salewicz|2006|pp=373-375}}

{{main|This Is England (song)}}

The Clash's last album, Cut the Crap (1985), (originally Out of Control)Jucha (2016), p. 334 was produced by Rhodes under the name of 'Jose Unidos'. He also co-wrote all of the songs with Strummer.Gehr, Richard; Greene, Andy; Harris, Keith; Johnston, Maura; Newman, Jason; Weingarten, Christopher R. "[https://www.rollingstone.com/music/pictures/22-terrible-songs-by-great-artists-20160615/the-clash-we-are-the-clash-1985-20160615 22 Terrible Songs by Great Artists]". Rolling Stone, 15 June 2016. [https://web.archive.org/web20190105094247/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/22-terrible-songs-by-great-artists-20368/the-clash-we-are-the-clash-1985-32110/ Archived] from the original on 5 January 2019. Retrieved 7 January 2017

The standout track, “This Is England”, was co-written by Strummer and Rhodes and described by Strummer as the 'last great Clash song'.Spencer, Neil; Brown, James. "[https://www.theguardian.com/music/2006/oct/29/popandrock Why the Clash are still Rock Titans]". The Guardian, 29 October 2006. [https://web.archive.org/web/20190419212603/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2006/oct/29/popandrock Archived] from the original on 19 April 2019. Retrieved 10 February 2019Popoff (2018), p. 226 Critic Samuels Lennox described it as a "tuneful, beautifully crafted overview of social decay in England, where political philosophies joust for hegemony while the country sinks into ignominious decline and millions of youths turn to the dole."Samuels, Lennox. "The Clash's New Album Proves Musically Apt, Politically Irrelevant". The Dallas Morning News, 24 November 1985 In 2017, the journalist Bill Wyman praised Rhodes' production, writing that his "sound collage and the gentle, troubled synth lines undergird the song unerringly, and for once the group-shouted chorus, though still over-loud, conveys some wan meaning."Wyman, Bill. "[https://www.vulture.com/2017/10/all-139-the-clash-songs-ranked-from-worst-to-best.html 139 the Clash Songs, Ranked from Worst to Best]". Vulture, 11 October 2017. [https://web.archive.org/web/20171011193355/https://www.vulture.com/2017/10/all-139-the-clash-songs-ranked-from-worst-to-best.html Archived] from the original on 11 October 2017. Retrieved 10 February 2019

The song has inspired many other artists, including Shane Meadows who used the title for his movie and TV show centering on young skinheads and Oi! punks in England in the 1980s, in reference to the Cut the Crap song.

In 1990, Rhodes relocated from Los Angeles to Atlanta, Georgia where Doug Watts, lead singer of the band Naked Truth, asked him for help. Rhodes brought in a new bass player and rehearsed the band over several months. He independently produced the album 'Green with Rage', and secured a deal for the band with Sony Records.{{Sfn|RiffRaff | 1992}}

In 2014 Rhodes designed a range of biker T-shirts for Lewis Leathers, Britain's oldest motorcycle clothing company.

In May 2016, the British Library invited him to give a talk entitled Me, Punk and the World as part of its Punk 1976-78 exhibit.

Rhodes launched the website cancerclash.com in June 2022 to ‘dynamically demystify the world of cancer’{{cite news |title=Former manager of The Clash Bernard Rhodes announced new cancer website that aims to demystify the disease |url=https://louderthanwar.com/former-manager-of-the-clash-bernard-rhodes-announced-new-cancer-website-that-aims-to-demystify-the-disease/ |work=Louder Than War |date=2 June 2022}} and provide a cultural space to deal with the impact of the disease. Rhodes was diagnosed with cancer in 2016.{{URL|cancerclash.com}}

{{Reflist}}

;Books

{{refbegin|40em}}

• {{Cite book |last=Clash |first=The |title=The Clash |year=2008 |publisher=Atlantic Books |location=London |isbn=978-1-84354-788-4 }}
• {{Cite book |last1=Coon |first1=Caroline |author-link1=Caroline Coon |title=1988: The New Wave Punk Rock Explosion |url=http://homepage.mac.com/blackmarketclash/Bands/Clash/Clash%20gigography/1976%20DATES.html |access-date=19 September 2011 |year=1977 |publisher=Hawthorn |location=London |isbn=0-8015-6129-9 |oclc=79262599 |archive-date=26 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071026052834/http://homepage.mac.com/blackmarketclash/Bands/Clash/Clash%20gigography/1976%20DATES.html |url-status=dead }}
• {{cite book |last=Gilbert |first=Pat |title=Passion Is a Fashion: The Real Story of The Clash |orig-year=2004 |edition=4th |year=2005 |publisher=Aurum Press |location=London |isbn=1-84513-113-4 |oclc=61177239 }}
• {{cite book |last= Gruen |first=Bob |title=The Clash Photographs by Bob Gruen |year=2001 |publisher=Omnibus Press |location=London |isbn=1-903399-34-3 }}
• {{cite book |last=Gray |first=Marcus |title=The Clash: Return of the Last Gang in Town |orig-year=1995 |edition=5th revised |year=2005 |publisher=Helter Skelter |location=London |isbn=1-905139-10-1 |oclc=60668626 }}
• Jucha, Gary. The Clash FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the Clash City Rockers. Milwaukee, WI: Backbeat Books, 2016. {{ISBN|978-1-4803-6450-9}}
• {{cite book |last=Knowles |first=Chris |title=Clash City Showdown |location=London |publisher=PageFree |year=2003 |isbn=978-1-5896-1138-2}}
• {{cite book |last=Letts |first=Don |title=Culture Clash: Dread Meets Punk Rockers |year=2007 |publisher=SAF Publishing Ltd |location=London |isbn=978-0-946719-89-1 |url=https://archive.org/details/cultureclashdrea00lett }}
• {{cite book |last=Lydon |first=John |title=Rotten:No Irish, No Blacks, No Dogs |year=1993 |publisher=Hodder & Stoughton |location=London |isbn=0-340-63528-2 }}
• Popoff, Martin. The Clash: All the Albums, All the Songs. London: Voyageur Press, 2018. {{ISBN|978-0-7603-5934-1}}
• {{cite book |last=Savage |first=Jon |title=England's Dreaming: Sex Pistols and Punk Rock | year=1991 |publisher=Faber & Faber |location=London |isbn=978-0571227204 }}
• {{cite book |last=Strongman |first=Phil |title=Pretty Vacant: A History of UK Punk |orig-year=2007 |edition=US |year=2008 |publisher=Chicago Review Press |location=Chicago |isbn=978-1-55652-752-4 |oclc=173299117 }}
• {{cite book |last=Topping |first=Keith |author-link=Keith Topping |title=The Complete Clash |orig-year=2003 |edition=2nd |year=2004 |publisher=Reynolds & Hearn |location=Richmond |isbn=1-903111-70-6 |oclc=63129186 }}
• {{cite book |last=Vermorel |first=Fred & Judy |title=Sex Pistols The Inside Story |orig-year=1978 |edition=3rd |year=1987 |publisher=Omnibus Press |location=London |isbn=9780711-910904 |url=https://archive.org/details/sexpistolsinside00verm }}
• {{cite book |last=Westwood & Kelly |first=Vivienne & Ian |title=Vivienne Westwood |year=2014 |publisher=Picador |location=London |isbn=9781-44-7254126 }}
• {{cite book |last=White |first=Vince |title=Out of Control: The Last Days of "The Clash" |year=2007 |publisher=Moving Target Books |location=London |isbn=978-0-9555-0380-1 }}

{{Refend}}

;Films and documentaries

{{Refbegin}}

• {{cite video |ref={{sfnRef|Westway 2001}} |people=Letts Don; Rick Elgood, Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, Topper Headon, Terry Chimes, The Clash |date=2001 |title=The Clash: Westway to the World |medium=DVD |publisher=Sony Music Entertainment; Dorismo; Uptown Films |location=New York, NY |isbn=0-7389-0082-6 |oclc=49798077}}

{{Refend}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite web |last=Adams |first=Owen |date=30 March 2009 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/mar/30/2tone-label-specials-madness |title=Label of Love: 2Tone Records |work=Culture > Music > Label of love}}
• {{cite web |ref={{SfnRef|Punknews.org|2010}} |url=http://www.punknews.org/review/973/the-clash-super-black-market-clash |title=The Clash – Super Black Market Clash |date=24 May 2002 |publisher=Punknews.org}}

; Related articles:

• {{cite news |ref={{SfnRef|RiffRaff|1992}} |last=Fisher |first=Judith |title=Naked Truth |journal=Riff Raff Magazine |date=March 1992}}
• {{cite news |ref={{SfnRef|G Spot|1993}} |last=Holden & Van Schreven |first=Michael & Keld |title=Def by Misadventure |journal=G Spot |issue=8 |date=August 1993 |publisher=van Schreven & Westall}}
• {{cite web |url=http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=5253 |title=Gangsters by The Specials |publisher=Songfacts.com}}
• {{cite web |first=Sabuhi | last= Mir|url=http://www.rockfeedback.com/magazine/detail/clash-culture-central-st.-martins-1-5-07 |title=Clash Culture – Central St Martins |publisher=RFB}}
• {{cite web |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/vivienne-westwood-in-malcolm-mclaren-funeral-216762 |title=Vivienne Westwood in Malcolm McLaren funeral row |newspaper=Daily Mirror|date=23 April 2010 }}
• {{cite news |last=O'Hagan |first=Sean |date=25 April 2010 |title=The surreal day we laid the old anarchist to rest |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2010/apr/25/malcolm-mclaren-funeral-sean-ohagan |newspaper=The Observer}}
• {{cite news |last=Pattison |first=Louis |title=Clash manager's racist outburst a reminder not to get rose-tinted about punk |newspaper=The Guardian |date=7 May 2007 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2007/may/07/clashmanagersracistoutburst |access-date=6 May 2012}}
• {{cite news |ref={{SfnRef|Mojo|2007}} |title=Bernard Rhodes speaks |newspaper=Mojo |date=July 2007 |page=18}}
• {{cite news |last=Righi |first=Len |title=Joe Strummer tells why the Clash is carrying on |newspaper=The Morning Call |date=20 April 1984}}
• {{cite web |ref={{sfnRef|UNLIMITED 2007}} |url=http://www.cmumusicnetwork.co.uk/htmldaily/070504.html |title=Ex-Clash manager causes uproar with N-word |access-date=7 January 2013 |date=4 May 2007 |work=CMU Daily – On The Inside |publisher=CMU Music Network}}
• {{cite web |ref={{sfnRef|The Jewish Museum London|2012}} |url=http://www.jewishmuseum.org.uk/?location_id=519&item=76 |title=Last chance to see – Entertaining the Nation |date=27 January 2012 |work=News |publisher=The Jewish Museum London}}

{{refend}}

{{Refbegin}}

• {{cite book |last=Salewicz |first=Chris |title=Redemption Song: The Ballad of Joe Strummer |year=2006 |publisher=Macmillan |location=New York |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=I_fV3Oqn6o0C |isbn=978-0-571-21178-4 |oclc=76794852}}

{{Refend}}

• {{Official website|http://bernardrhodes.com}}

{{The Clash}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rhodes, Bernard}}

Category:The Clash

Category:English music managers

Category:English people of Russian-Jewish descent

Category:English Jews

Category:People from Stepney

Category:Living people

Category:1944 births

Category:Fashion designers from London