Janie Jones and The (C)lash

Clash Cup.…we started with 166 songs and will whittle it down to the best 16 then the best 8…all the way down to the top song. If you visit often you’ll know that participation is highly encouraged! Voting is our duty – or something like that. Friday was a special day but I’m back on this cause! So after a delay we return with 2 more interesting battles, but first some results.

Match 7 – Corner Soul smacked Sex Mad Roar 31-6

Match 8 – Red Angel Dragnet topped We Are The Clash 31-6

Two very decisive strolls – no shocks – and identical scores. Cut The Crap songs look over matched (as they should be) though I think 16% support is high…maybe a lib-dem voter or six?

Two new pairings fresh out of the big random hat are as follows:

Futura 2000 vs     Charlie Don’t Surf

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Fingerpoppin’ vs     House of the JuJu Queen

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Blimey, what an unlikely 3 out of 4. It looks like The Clash Cup is going to have it’s non-league side making round 2 as someone has to win match 14. Will it be the first victor from the non-clash Clash album or an oddity single with the boys backing Janie Jones.

I was hoping for a self explanatory couple of ties, but no such luck – so here’s the horses – get out your betting slips:

The Escapades of Futura 2000 - New York urban artist fills canvas on stage behind The Clash while they perform, he then gets a song about his adventures. If it all sounds a bit Viz…it is.

Charlie Don’t Surf - Some Clash songs are timeless and grow in stature as the years pass (this is one of them). Personally I always liked this one a lot, a nice ebb and flow in sound, great little lead from Mick and structured around Bm – my chord of choice. Match that up with global lyrics and a bit of an elbow in the face for US foreign policy and you’ve got Clash gold. This better win comfortably…it did make some of the original top 10 lists and would threaten mine.

Fingerpoppin‘ – I even found you a remix…you need this like George Bush needs another shot at power. It’s on Cut The Crap and it’s about to be knocked out of the competition by:

The House of the Ju-Ju Queen – I own this as a 7″ single. What a bloody oddity. I think it was around 1982 and it’s a completist thing I have. I aslo think it will go through (how unlikely is that?) to the next round at which point I’ll tell you more. Listen to it, Joe warbling about leather and black shadows….something else I tell you.

Please vote and be part of the solution. I promise less minnows next time out! Ahem…..’Don’t talk shop….finger pop’

Tim

Good Afternoon from a hot and sunny Phoenix. In the home stretch now – probably less than 30 more days of 100+ fahrenheit weather left. A quick preamble, I’ve got some busy days ahead so posts might be a bit shorter than usual in the days ahead. Quick can still be just as lovely, I’ll reduce the use of adjectives and start using these when discussing albums: S/T GETR LC S! CR FHTE and if you don’t understand then I suggest you think about it.

Wanted to buzz around the news wires for you and it seems former Mick Jones accomplice Gary Duke has made headlines in a controversial way. The story has caused a lot of debate about freedom of information and unfair dismissal. My confusion – is Gary Duke the ‘real’ name of Gary Stonadge? The article isn’t more specific than ‘used to work with Mick Jones’ the age is close (I think 47 versus 48) but the photograph isn’t convincing to me. If you know if we’re discussing one and the same…please put me right.

Mid 70′s, Queens Park Rangers and colourful footballers should be a enough clues to know I’m about to mention the unforgettable Stan Bowles *(you were thinking Rodney Marsh!). Stan has given this smashing interview with the Guardian in which he discusses The Clash and that he’s mates with Mick Jones. Whatever next? It’s brilliant when unlikely icons of your youth end up perhaps sharing a pint as a matter of course. Can the revelation of Topper Headon being chums with Alan Hudson be far behind?

This is an inside story from an unnamed source (there was a message on a park bench for me this morning). It seems Mick Jones may well be making an unannounced appearance (performing) at the R+R Public Library this

Zeb!

Saturday Aug 22…around 5ish. A number of others may also be there, perhaps Zebedee. Again this is unconfirmed, but if you can make it to West London on Saturday – bring your camera! (if you are neither British nor born pre 1972 accept my apologies for Zebedee reference, if you were…isn’t it nice to see him?

Some said Michael Jackson was bit off his trolley when he was with us. Seems his death is doing nothing to change that theory as news has broken of this.

Former Mick Jones girlfriend Ellen Foley is appearing at Retrofest in New York on September 10th. Foley has stayed involved in film and music all through the years and will be a future subject of a Clash Vaults story.

Joe Strummer 57th birthday events are here on this site, plus this from Austin Texas, the Kooks playing the aformentioned R+R public library and more as I find ‘em…or just tell me!

Finally the very affable Badly Drawn Boy paints another picture of Joe that warms your heart that bit more. Clash Cup later…get in there!

I remember being called that in school…“you arty bastard” was a popular enough refrain if you weren’t always up for a bit of a ruck, a game of football or some vandalism. Vandalism was always appealing though and to this day I still often wonder how well things would burn if I just had the time to torch them. luckily that was just a phase (burning things) that I’ve nearly grown out of. As for the arts – I confess a song, a good book, photography, architecture or (some) paintings still give me a better buzz than too much alcohol or a night in front of the TV. Not being in a proper writing sort of mood today leads to me to post some images – so with a dose of lazyblogitis here are some Clash (and one other) images for your sensory pleasure or critique.

First up – from the Mick Jones collection – the other figurines have now been painted: (all created by Japanese artist Nob)

Last Cat in Town

Then we have the Clash City Kitty (courtesy flickr) apparently named ‘Mrs Bitey’

Then on ebay there’s some nice Strummer canvas art. They have a great selection to choose from but this is my favourite.

Fantastic!

This collection would look great in my office…(hint)

Just because....

Signing off in arty bastard mode – this amazing construction near Columbus Ohio is essentially a basket masquerading as an office building, I believe Catherine exposed me to this. Finally – don’t forget Joe Strummer’s 57th birthday recognition this Friday and if you can please send a tribute.  Cheers ~