Originally Posted by
Satan
The Clash did have a valid reason to be pissed. The US Festival was three days, and each day had a headliner. Van Halen & David Bowie each got $1 million for the gig, The Clash only got $500,000. Still not a bad paycheck for a single show in those days, but it's understandable how they might have felt a little slighted, considering Combat Rock probably sold as well as Let's Dance or Diver Down.
The situation within the band itself probably had a lot to do with their anger though. The US Festival would end up being The Clash's last show ever, and even by then, they had already lost their best drummer, Topper Headon, and their second best, Terry Chimes (who played on their first album and then returned for the 1982 tour with The Who, after Topper had to leave the band due to substance problems)
Yeah, Joe Strummer did another album & tour with a bunch of scabs, but I don't count that. And in the long run, neither did he.