Rob Harper

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Rob Harper is a British musician noted for being an early drummer for The Clash from December 1976-January 1977. Harper was with the band during the infamous December 1976 "Anarchy Tour" supporting the Sex Pistols. The tour is famous for authorities cancelling many scheduled concerts due to "indecency."

After the tour, Harper quit and the band replaced him with their original drummer, Terry Chimes, who was the drummer on the Clash's first album. Harper's drumming does not appear on any studio recordings, but can be heard on a December 9, 1976 bootleg recording of the Clash playing at the Electric Circus in Manchester.

Harper later formed a short-lived UK "power pop" band called The Dazzlers as a guitarist (he was equally proficient on guitar and bass in addition to drums). They released several singles (including Lovely Crash in 1979) and an LP produced by Tommy Ramone, although the band split up shortly before the LP was released.

Rob started out playing guitar in a college band and when the singer invited a guitarist called Mark Knopfler to join, Rob switched to the bass so Mark could join on guitar. It was Mark Knopfler's suggestion to name the band The Cafe Racers. After College Rob went to Sussex University and at this time he was invited by Mark to play bass in the band that was to become Dire Straits. Rob declined his offer as he was concentrating on his studies at University.

Prior to joining The Clash, Harper was a student at Sussex University (he dropped out after a year in Summer 1976) where he played in The Rockettes (as a lead guitarist) with William Broad (later to become Billy Idol ) and Steve Upstone (see The Official Billy Idol Website)