The Clash and Pennie Smith

Mick Jones by Pennie Smith

Many of you may associate our name, Bankrobber, with The Clash song of the same title. In fact, that song was a major source of inspiration for our name. Another influence on Bankrobber’s aesthetic were the photographs of Pennie Smith, who documented The Clash during their transition from punk to touring America. Her black-and-white images were austere, stylized, and dark—qualities that resonated deeply with me.

One particular photo of Mick Jones by Smith perfectly captures that mood. I was a huge fan of The Clash during my teenage years and vividly remember borrowing Smith’s book of photographs from the library. The Clash were the perfect band, with each member having a distinct personality, and some of those memories have undoubtedly shaped what you see in Bankrobber today.