Joe Strummer (real name John Graham Mellor), one of the key members of the seminal British punk rock band THE CLASH, died died on Sunday at his farmhouse in Somerset, southwestern England at the age of 50. The cause of his death was not announced.

A message dated Dec. 23 on strummersite.com confirmed the singer's death. "Joe Strummer died yesterday," reads the message. "Our condolences to Luce and the kids, family and friends."

The star was the band's guitarist, singer and songwriter alongside Mick Jones.

He had been touring with his most recent band, THE MESCALEROS, until last month, rounding off a tour in Liverpool.

Hein van der Rey, managing director of Epitaph Records, which had produced two albums for THE MESCALEROS, said he learned of the death on Monday morning.

"We do not know the circumstances. It is pretty devastating news," he told The Associated Press, adding that Strummer, who was married with children, had been working on a third album with THE MESCALEROS.

Police said his death was not believed to be suspicious and a post-mortem examination will take place on Tuesday.

A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police told the Press Association: "We believe police did attend as the death at the farmhouse in Broomfield near Bridgwater was sudden."

THE CLASH were known for injecting left-wing politics into punk and their album "London Calling" was named the best album of the Eighties by Rolling Stone magazine — despite being released in 1979.

Joe had just finished writing and recording a track with Bono and Dave Stewart (Eurythmics) which is a tribute to Nelson Mandela. He was supposed to perform that song live as part of a Mandela tribute in February. Rumor has it that he was also planning for the Clash to perform one song at their induction into the Rock'N Roll Hall Of Fame next year.

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