Tymon became a full-time member of long-time friend Joe Strummer's last band The Mescaleros in November 2000, after playing a night of ‘Poetry Olympics’ at the London Astoria a month earlier with Strummer and Mescaleros percussionist Pablo Cook. Tymon co-wrote most of the songs on the group's 2nd full-length album of 2001, GLOBAL A GO-GO, playing violin, mandolin, Spanish / acoustic guitar, and electric guitar on assorted tracks, most notably tracks "Johnny Appleseed", "Mondo Bongo", and "Minstrel Boy" (providing the arrangement for, and which also happened to be the first ever song Tymon learnt to play as a youth). Tymon's first gig with the band was at the legendary 100 Club in October 2000. A 2000 tour supporting The Who soon followed, and over the course of roughly two years (from October 2000 to November 2002), Tymon went on to play 80+ shows across the globe with the band, leaving only prior to the recording of the group's third album circa 2003.
Sadly, with the tragic death of front man Joe Strummer in December 2002, the band decided to call it a day. A documentary of the band by filmmaker/actor Dick Rude was released on DVD in June 2006, titled Let's Rock Again! The film follows Strummer and co. as they tour across America and Japan from July - November 2001 promoting the (July) release of second album, Global A Go-Go. Joe Strummer & Mescaleros' songs have also appeared in several major films Hollywood such as (Meskies feat. Tymon): "Minstrel Boy" in Black Hawk Down (2001), and "Mondo Bongo" in Mr. & Mrs. Smith(2005). In 2007, "Johnny Appleseed" was chosen as the theme tune to HBO's then new American television drama, John From Cincinnati (2007). For more information regarding Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros (complete discography, filmography, etc.), please visit their Myspace page at: www.myspace.com/themescaleros.
GLOBAL A GO-GO (2001)
Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros' 2nd full-length album (after 1999's Rock Art & The X-ray Style), GLOBAL A GO GO was released by Hellcat Records in July 2001 (B00005M98E). Here is a review of the album by Jack Bukowski highlighting Tymon's importance of the group's new sound:
"Following on from 99's patchy but honest, Rock Art & The X-Ray Style, "Global A Go-Go" makes the former sound like a collection of hurried demos. Line up changes to the Mesclaeros have obviously had the desired affect, "Global A Go-Go" is fatter than Chris Moyles' arse pumped full of helium.
"Kicking in with the infectious hoe-down, "Johnny Appleseed", Joe questions the eternal quandary of money over integrity with a nice Honey/Bee analogy & some fonky banjos. The gtrs are acoustic, the backing vocals offer the ghost of Mick Jones & Joe's superb delivery does the rest. "Bhindi Bhagee" turns the ragga up with flute dressing & a spoken word verse. The first real evidence of the remarkable Tymon Dogg's vibrant violin, the african style gtr arpeggios move the chorus on down the beaten track a treat. Essentially a story of a New Zealander looking to score some mushy peas in a London market, it's a warm welcome to the humble neighbourhoods that make up this multicultural island we call England circa 2001. With each subsequent track on "Global A Go-Go", Dogg's presence & authority grow in stature - his inclusion is a stroke of genius.
"Lesser pundits have described the wonderful "Gamma Ray" as Tom Waits in dub - this sums up why they write for such shite periodicals - that explains the taste by-pass operations you have to undergo before you can work for IPC. "Gamma Ray", is of course, magnificent. Joe rides the violin, hammond & top bassline skank of the backing track like a "Ghost Town" for a new millennium. "Shaktar Donetsk" handles the problem of immigration with insight & compassion. If you really want to go, you'll get there in the end. The Balkan issue is rarely handled correctly by politicians so it's refreshing to see a humble musician do it so eloquently. "Mondo Bongo" spreads a relaxed vibe into a harsh environment. Spanish gtr lines flava the mix like paella cooking on a beach front in a giant skiv - Tymon shines once again - my senoritas rose got nipped in the bud, already.
JOE STRUMMER: THE FUTURE IS UNWRITTEN (OST) (2007)
Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros' "Johnny Appleseed" (and Meskies Mk.II's "Willesden to Cricklewood") appears on this official soundtrack to Julien Temple's 2007 Joe Strummer documentary Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten, released by SONY (B000OPOEMQ). Also feat. Joe Strummer, The Clash, Rachid Taha, Elvis Presley, Tim Hardin, MC5, The 101'ers, U-Roy, Eddie Cochran, Andres Landeros, Ernest Ranglin, Latino Rockabilly War, Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan, and Nina Simone.
MR & MRS SMITH (OST) (2005)
Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros' "Mondo Bondo" appears on this official soundtrack to Doug Liman's 2005 film Mr. and Mrs. Smith, released by Lakeshore Records (B0009HLDBE). J. Geils Band, Poison, Soft Cell, Alana D, Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band, Magnet featuring Gemma Hayes, Nouvelle Vague, 8mm, Pink Martini, John Powell, Voodoo Glow Skulls, Stine J, The Righteous Brothers, Air Supply, Atreyu, and Captain And Tennille.
BLACK HAWK DOWN (OST) (2003)
An edited version of Joe Strummer And The Mescaleros' "Minstrel Boy" appears on this 2002 official soundtrack to Ridley Scott's 2001 film Black Hawk Down, released by Decca / UMG Soundtrack (440 017 012-2). The majority of the CD features Hans Zimmer's score, with two tracks by Rachid Taha, and Denez Prigent & Lisa Gerrard.
TYMON with JOE STRUMMER & THE MESCALEROS - LIVE SHOW HISTORY
TYMON'S DEBUT GIG WITH JOE STRUMMER & THE MESCALEROS
October 27, 2000 - LONDON, 100 Club
SUPPORTING THE WHO - UK 2000
October 30, 2000 - BIRMINGHAM, NEC (The Who support)November 3, 2000 - GLASGOW, SECC (The Who support)November 6, 2000 - NEWCASTLE, Arena (The Who support)November 8, 2000 - BIRMINGHAM, NEC (The Who support)November 10, 2000 - SHEFFIELD, Arena (The Who support)November 13, 2000 - LONDON, Docklands (The Who support)November 15, 2000 - LONDON, Wembley Arena (The Who support)November 16, 2000 - LONDON, Wembley Arena (The Who support)
UK IN STORE PROMO
July 16, 2001 - LONDON, HMV in-store in Oxford StreetJuly 17, 2001 - LEEDS, Virgin in-store Albion Street
2001 GLOBAL A GO-GO TOUR -
USA
July 24, 2001 - Late Night with Conan O'BrienJuly 24, 2001 - New York City, Virgin Records in Times SquareJuly 25, 2001 - Toronto, HMV in-store July 27, 2001 - Chicago at Tower RecordsJuly 28, 2001 - San Francisco at AmoebaAugust 1, 2001 - LOS ANGELES at Tower Records SunsetAugust 2, 2001 - LOS ANGELES The Viper RoomAugust 4, 2001 - LOS ANGELES Greek TheatreOctober 3, 2001 - Late Night with David LettermanJuly 25, 2001 - Toronto, HMV in-storeJuly 27, 2001 - Chicago at Tower RecordsJuly 28, 2001 - San Francisco at AmoebaAugust 1, 2001 - LOS ANGELES at Tower Records SunsetAugust 2, 2001 - LOS ANGELES The Viper RoomAugust 4, 2001 - LOS ANGELES Greek TheatreOctober 3, 2001 - Late Night with David LettermanOctober 4, 2001 - WASHINGTON 9:30 ClubOctober 5, 2001 - PHILADELPHIA Theatre of Living Arts October 6, 2001 - ATLANTIC CITY Trump Marina hotelOctober 8, 2001 - HARTFORD Webster TheatreOctober 9, 2001 - Irving Plaza in New York CityOctober 10, 2001 - Irving Plaza in New York CityOctober 12, 2001 - WORCESTER PalladiumOctober 13, 2001 - MONTREAL SpectrumOctober 14, 2001 - TORONTO The GuvernmentOctober 16, 2001 - CHICAGO MetroOctober 17, 2001 - SEATTLE Groundworks Benefit ConcertOctober 18, 2001 - Scottsdale, Cajun HouseOctober 19, 2001 - ANAHEIM Sun TheatreOctober 20, 2001 - SAN FRANCISCO FilimoreOctober 22, 2001 - Troubadour in Los Angeles, CaliforniaOctober 23, 2001 - Troubadour in Los Angeles, CaliforniaOctober 25, 2001 - Troubadour in Los Angeles, CaliforniaOctober 26, 2001 - Troubadour in Los Angeles, California
2001 GLOBAL A GO-GO TOUR - ASIA TOUR
October 30, 2001 - FUKUOKA, Drum Logos
November 1, 2001 - TOKYO, Club Quatro
November 2, 2001 - TOKYO, Akasaka Blitz
November 4, 2001 - NAGOYA, Club Quatro
November 5, 2001 - OSAKA, On-Air
April 1 - 6, 2004 BROOKLYN St Ann's WarehouseJune 7, 2002 - LONDON Finsbury Park, The FleadhJuly 4, 2002 - LAS VEGAS House of BluesJuly 5, 2002 - SAN FRANCISCO Shoreline AmpitheatreJuly 6, 2002 - ORANGE COUNTY Hidden ValleyJuly 7, 2002 - SAN DIEGO Embarkadaro Park
UK SUMMER FESTIVALS
August 3, 2002 -CAMBRIDGE Folk FestivalAugust 11, 2002 -LONDON Shepherd's Bush EmpireAugust 12, 2002 -MANCHESTER, MOVE Festival, Old Trafford Cricket Ground August 13, 2002 -Kinross T IN THE PARK FESTIVAL
JAPAN FESTIVALSeptember 28, 2002 - JAPAN, Fukuoka ZeppSeptember 29, 2002 - JAPAN, Asagiri Jam FestivalOctober 10, 2002 - JAPAN, TOKYO, Liquid Room
THE BRINGING IT ALL BACK HOME TOUR
November 10, 2002 - LONDON Royal Opera HouseNovember 11, 2002 - EDINBURGH Liquid RoomsNovember 12, 2002 - NEWCASTLE University of NorthumbriaNovember 13, 2002 - BLACKPOOL Winter Gardens November 15, 2002 - LONDON Acton Town HallNovember 16, 2002 - NEWPORT, T.J.'s November 17, 2002 - BRIDGWATER The PalaceNovember 19, 2002 - PORTSMOUTH Wedgewood RoomsNovember 20, 2002 - HASTINGS The PierNovember 21, 2002 - SHEFFIELD LeadmillNovember 22, 2002 - LIVERPOOL university
JOE STRUMMER & THE MESCALEROS - (WHITE MAN) IN HAMMERSMITH PALAIS
Let's Rock Again!is a one-hour music documentary directed by Dick Rude that follows rock icon Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros as they tour across America and Japan. Produced by Dick Rude Productions, Joe Strummer and Lucinda Mellor. Includes backstage footage of the Mescaleros, interviews and live performances. Tracklist includes: "The Harder They Come", "Quarter Pound A Ishem", "Armagideon Time", "Pressure Drop 72" and "Rudie Can't Fail".
To purchase a copy, visit Dick Rude's web site at: www.dickrude.biz/ to purchase a copy.
Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros: Vision of a Homeland by Anthony Davie documents the history of Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros. Author Anthony Davie:
"I wrote this book as a fan but was lucky enough get the privileged and unique opportunity of obtaining full collaboration of all the band members and road crew, who have all given remarkably frank, open and honest accounts of the formation of the band and subsequent tours that saw the legendary Joe Strummer return to the stage after a decade away. I am honoured to have written this book."
“I loved the Glasgow gig; it was a particular nice feel. I played with John Cooper Clarke who was supporting. At Brixton, I was not too sure about playing with John, because of finishing John’s set with a violin solo and we were starting with “Minstrel Boy” in our set. I said to Joe, “You don’t mind me playing with John, do you?” Joe said, “Nah, nah, course not.” I said to John, “I don’t know whether I can make it.” John Cooper Clarke replied, “Tymon, do you want me to beg?” I said, “OK, I’ll be there – the idea of you begging, no way!” I do like John; he’s a good lad. Joe loved John Cooper Clarke.”
“When we played Acton we were sitting in the dressing room and I don’t think the people running it knew what a “rider” was. There was just a bottle of cider vinegar there and I think maybe a Kit-Kat. Joe had asked for some cider and he just sat there looking at this bottle of cider vinegar. When Mick came on during the encore, it reminded me of when I first saw them play together at rehearsals all those years ago they would always play from the same amp. That night I looked down and Mick had gone into Joe’s amp, and I thought, you’ve ended up exactly where you started. Afterwards in the dressing room Joe was sitting there and he looked over and said, “Bloody cheek, he just cam on and played.” Then he smiled.”