The Clash's Joe Strummer Laid to Rest

By Stephen M. Silverman

Tuesday December 31, 2002 01:00 PM EST

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Family and friends of former Clash leader Joe Strummer, who died Dec. 22 at the age of 50, gathered in rainy west London Monday to pay their last respects to the influential punk musician, Britain's SkyNews reports.

On Christmas eve, a coroner announced that Strummer, who died peacefully at his home in Somerset, England, had succumbed to a heart attack and that no drugs were involved. Strummer is survived by his wife, Lucy, two daughters and a stepdaughter.

According to SkyNews, Monday's service began with a private service at a crematorium as fans gathered outside.

A funeral cortege carrying Strummer's coffin passed the former Elgin pub in west London's Ladbroke Grove, where The Clash first played some 25 years ago. In their day, the band had 16 Top 40 hits, including "Rock The Casbah," "Bankrobber" and "I Fought The Law."

Their third album, "London Calling," was named the greatest album of the '80s by Rolling Stone magazine.

Strummer's death came a month after he wrapped up a tour with his latest project, The Mescaleros.

His family has requested that in lieu of floral tributes, donations be made to the Feb. 2 Mandela SOS fund-raising concert, which aims to raise awareness of the AIDS epidemic in Africa. The rocker had been slated to participate in that show.