Editing Joe Strummer (section)

===The Mescaleros and other work (1999–2002)===
[[File:Joe Strummer performing at St Ann's Warehouse, Brooklyn - NYC Apr 5 2002.jpg|thumb|Strummer performing in April 2002]]
In the mid-to-late 1990s, Strummer gathered top-flight musicians into a backing band he called [[the Mescaleros]]. Strummer and the band signed with [[Mercury Records]], and released their first album in 1999, which was co-written with [[Antony Genn]], called ''[[Rock Art and the X-Ray Style]]''. A tour of England, Europe, and North America soon followed.

{{quote|This is my Indian summer ... I learnt that fame is an illusion and everything about it is just a joke. I'm far more dangerous now, because I don't care at all. |Joe Strummer to Chris Salewicz – 2000<ref name="trackMARX-Joe_Strummer" /> }}

{{listen|filename=StrummerCashRedemptionSong.ogg| title=Redemption Song | description= [[Joe Strummer & the Mescaleros]]| format=[[Ogg]]}}
In 2001, the band signed with Californian punk label [[Hellcat Records]] and released their second studio album, ''[[Global a Go-Go]]''. The album was supported with a 21-date tour of North America, Britain, and Ireland. Once again, these concerts featured Clash material ("[[London's Burning (The Clash song)|London's Burning]]", "Rudie Can't Fail", "[[(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais]]"), as well as covers of [[reggae]] and [[ska]] hits ("[[The Harder They Come (song)|The Harder They Come]]", "A Message to You, Rudy") and the band regularly closed the show by playing the [[Ramones]]' "[[Blitzkrieg Bop]]". He covered [[Bob Marley]]'s "[[Redemption Song]]" with [[Johnny Cash]].

On 15 November 2002, Strummer and the Mescaleros played a benefit show for striking fire fighters in London, at [[Acton Town Hall]]. [[Mick Jones (The Clash)|Mick Jones]] was in the audience, and joined the band on stage during the Clash's "Bankrobber". An encore followed with Jones playing guitar and singing on "White Riot" and "London's Burning". This performance marked the first time since 1983 that Strummer and Jones had performed together on stage.<ref name="rockhall-The_Clash" />

Strummer's final regular gig was at Liverpool Academy on 22 November 2002, yet his final performance, just two weeks before his death, was in a small club venue 'The Palace' in Bridgwater, Somerset, near his home. Shortly before his death, Strummer and [[U2]]'s [[Bono]] co-wrote a song, "[[46664]]", for [[Nelson Mandela]] as part of a campaign against AIDS in Africa.