Hello once more, one more post to round out the Strummer-filled weekend which I’m really happy you chose to share in some small degree with me via the blog. I wanted to conclude the weekend events with a quick gander at what others are saying about Joe as the calendar reminded so many that August 21 really needs to officially be titled Strummer Day post haste. That tag seemed to officially stick on twitter this weekend and I like it enough to suggest the following: Aug 21 can be summer Strummer Day and Dec 22 can be winter Strummer Day – I personally find the anniversary in December trickier to navigate so perhaps giving it a positive moniker will help with the event. What do you think? Also wondering if any of you were able to catch the Strummerville film on SkyArts today and if so wondered what you thought? Please write in if you saw it. Also wondering why so many sources had Saturday noted as what would have been Joe’s 59th Birthday? It was on many blogs, posts, tweets and e-mail messages – either some source somewhere shows him born in ’51 (he wasn’t) or people just can’t work out the sums.

So a quick visit round the blogs of the world found many sharing thoughts and videos about Joe so wanted to save you the leg work and point you in the direction of what I found, in no particular order and with links within the overviews.

ICT Magazine put together a fairly standard half dozen videos and a short write up while stating “No One Has Ever Meant It More” which I’m fairly partial to, before they commented that ‘Strummer was a actual Negro with actual values and motive and he lived them hard‘ which I’m not as keen about. Still go and have a look….

Riff Raf took some time out to write an enjoyable little article about Joe including a list of ‘ten lesser-known facts about Joe Strummer’. I’ve little doubt that regular readers of the blog will already know all ten of these facts and even a novice Clash nut should know six or seven, but don’t let that detract from a nice post. Incidentally shouldn’t lesser-known facts be well…you know…lesser-known?

Rock NYC – Helen Bach put together a Joe Strummer playlist in honour of his birthday which is well worth a peek. So often when you see a playlist for Strummer and/or The Clash you can guess most of what will make the list. What makes this list refreshing is that you won’t (probably) expect some of these tracks so cheers for that!

The Huffington Post – The HP is one of the most popular blogs in the US and as such when something gets written on there the audience is potentially huge, they have over 60 full time writers and remarkably rank in the top 40 for most visited websites in the USA. If blogs were The Clash the one you’re reading right now represents the Clash in July 1976 with Terry Chimes on drums and practicing for our first gig whilst the HuffPost would be The Clash supporting the Who at Shea Stadium. Anyway, the post is strong and the author Heidi Minx wrote about Joe’s legacy and DIY attitude while calling her piece ‘A Tribute to Joe Strummer: Use Your Voice’ – its a good piece and well worth a read.

The Review Stalker – This is doubly worth visiting as the writer David Durbano talks about the passion that runs through the core of Strummer and how passion like that is all too rare. Better still you will also find a half dozen mp3′s of live Clash tracks recorded in New Jersey in 1980, some gems in there!

Tulip Tree Studios – Shannon is a creative type *(yes I’m not, hence the dig) who also writes a tasty blog from her HQ in Ohio. She’s been a friend of the blog since our earliest days so I am happy to reciprocate. Please take time to read her birthday tribute to Joe which takes an enjoyable and personal ride from her first exposure to Joe through to today and speaks of the Clash community she finds so helpful and truly united. I fully share that sentiment.

Leading Us Absurd – This chap was keen enough to put together a Clash week last week featuring a handful of his favourite Clash tracks. Its always interesting to me to read about how those who found The Clash ‘after the fact’ such as this chap and how they worked their way backwards. As with so many hos voyage started with London Calling which I think is a wonderful place to start. Please visit his blog, hes done some homework and put a lot of himself into the posts on The Clash (and his blog title is from an REM song…I’m trying to recall which one!). Start on the Monday with ‘Garageland’ and work your way through the other three posts too.

That ought to do you for now….nice to see such online activity via the blogs although I’m really not impressed with newspapers seemingly missing the fact that Joe’s birthday took place (with the exception of the Guardian). I will hold my ire as I didn’t finish looking so perhaps some stories went under the radar. I’ve got updates galore in the days ahead so please stop back soon. As you’ve noticed I tend to post more at the weekend but will be back daily (at least) all week. Also vote on that tattoo competition, cos you know how much I love tattoos (previous post)…..Cheers- Tim