Hello again everyone, I trust you had an excellent weekend filled with pleasant moments and lack of unwanted drama. I’ve been away from the computer for a few days but didn’t want today to pass by without acknowledging the fact that today is a special one in that Nicky “Topper” Headon celebrates his 56th Birthday today. As it happens I’m already 20 hours into that fact but better late than never. I was listening to The Clash over the weekend and the ability of Headon as ever reminded me how he could do whatever he wanted with a drum kit. I was this time listening to some tracks from London Calling and Sandinista!, next time you do the same just try and isolate the drumming in your ears. He could play any style and with the precision and power that just doesn’t come along on a regular basis.

While many of us tend to know more about and reflect more upon Joe, Paul and Mick when we discuss The Clash I don’t think its unreasonable to suggest that Topper might have been the cement between the bricks that made the band at their finest completely unbreakable. Its been written by many and stated by Joe Strummer that the biggest mistake he ever made (and the one that began the implosion of The Clash) was the sacking of Topper Headon. I can’t even begin to imagine how difficult that decision was, surely they all knew it was the riskiest of propositions. So it was. I’ll make a note to write more about Topper soon, but as we’ve discussed before it has been one of the high points of the last five or six years to see Topper so healthy, happy and on form. Long may it continue.

In the days ahead I also want to write some thoughts about the very sad death of Gil Scott-Heron at the weekend at just 62 years of age. If I had a short list of perhaps lesser known musicians  (to some) that I feel everyone should be aware of Gil would always rank high on such a list. His loss is tragic for reasons beyond his relative early demise but also for the fact that we was back recording and touring and somehow was all too often overlooked for being as punk as any of our 1976/7 icons, albeit in a different field. He was the very definition of a visionary in music, so many paths of modern hip hop and counter-culture/protest music will either go right to his name or alongside it. Like Topper he struggled with many of the same bouts with serious drug addiction and served jail time. Like Topper he made it almost all the way back and was back in the limelight and active again. Unlike Topper he never enjoyed an extended time sailing clean again, his ‘comeback’ such as it was ended just as it was getting started. If you aren’t familiar with his craft and you love The Clash, I implore you to find out more.

I’m off to see Gruff Rhys tonight, so I’m sorry for the shortish post. More soon, see you below in the comments. Tim

Happy Wednesday then according to the calendar on the wall, hoping all is well in your corner of the globe and you are nowhere near the earthquake in Spain or impacted by the flooding along the Mississippi River basin in the US. Today marks the 30th Anniversary of the death of Bob Marley and also the same amount of time since Stand and Deliver by Adam and The Ants was the number one single in the UK. Both events remind me that I can’t believe thirty years have passed and make me a bit agitated that in thirty more I’ll probably be pushing up daisies, even though I won’t be doing that as I don’t wish to be buried. Either way RIP Bob Marley, I wish I’d known you longer and also I hope Stuart Goddard (Adam Ant) is doing well as he’s had years of very difficult times. Goddard deserves a good retrospective look one of these days on the blog as he really was there during the very earlier days of the London punk scene and involved long before Ant Music captured the record buyers of England. If you’re an expert and want to help write something let me know. He’s 56 now.

Adam Ant before going all Pirates of the Caribbean on us

Big Audio Dynamite have filled in some of the blanks on the dates expected in early August and will be on the East Coast of the US the very first week in August with dates all but 100% booked for Boston, New York and Washington DC. I think Minneapolis is also nearly definite so along with the Lollapalooza thing in Chicago there still seem to be perhaps 3 or 4 dates (allowing for travel) still open. Hopefully from that we might see a Detroit, Toronto, (Texas?), Los Angeles or Seattle gig but it’s hard to cover much of the continent in such a short spell. Official word should follow within 24 hours but you can get the details of Boston (House of Blues) and some of the other via the B.A.D. Facebook page if you dig a little. My advice if you are in Chicago, skip the festival and drive up to Minneapolis. Even with a hotel it won’t cost much more and will be miles more fun, actually I just checked and the date was just confirmed for First Avenue on Sunday August 7th, tickets on sale ‘this week’ – here’s the link. I actually now know someone in the twin cities but that’s a bloody long way to go for a gig. Press pass please Mr. Jones? I’ll get official details on here when they are more firm.

I’ll be back later with an exhibition in London I hope you can make it to, in fact if you can get some photos I’d love to cover it here. It has a very strong Joe Strummer theme. Until then don’t forget to visit yesterday’s post and enter the drawing for a free Clash-Singles box set. I’ll be selecting a random winner on Friday and I hope it’s you.

The video beneath seems the best choice to remember Bob Marley with today if you ask me. Finally a very Happy Birthday tomorrow to Brenda – a good friend of the blog who shared that recent great two part story about B.A.D. in NYC. See you in the comments with your favourite Marley or Adam Ant memories. Cheers – Tim

Bob Marley and The Wailers – Redemption Song

Thursday then everyone, we’ve nearly made it….well done you. I was just watching some clips of Suede from Coachella and beside B.A.D. playing last month I’m now regretting missing them. I’m also a bit pissed off the Brett Anderson being the same age as me doesn’t look more than a few years older than he did when the band were making some of the best records (in my humble opinion) of the 1990′s – at least certainly the first three albums. Makes me feel a need to get far more skinny, I’m guessing he doesn’t sit on his arse typing all day. Bastard.

I have a special guest post this evening from none other than our resident London photographer and budding scribe Pete that I think you’ll enjoy. If you live in London it will be a bit more poignant as its far from being good news but is news nonetheless. I feel remiss that I wasn’t a few steps ahead and promoting this event in advance which reiterates to me how busy we’ve been of late with ‘that tour’ and other sundry items. If you’re familiar with Carbon Silicon’s run at the ‘Carbon Casino’, or a London resident well versed in the pubs and clubs of West London you’re already surely aware of The Inn on The Green and the sad news that the venue was forced to close on April 30th. A preposterous increase in rates caused the venue to take stock and wind up operations bringing an end to a near six year run as a focal point in the Ladbroke Grove area. Mick Jones had more than a modest affinity with the venue and in the best of Clash traditions it was situated right underneath The Westway. You can find out more and sign an online petition via this link as this sad loss continues a far too aggressive tradition of closing down music venues, even ones that are newer and had established themselves in the local community. Fortunately Pete was able to make it along for (most) of the final night at The Inn and composed a fantastic report for us and took some great photos so I’ll hand it over to him.

The Final Curtain

Just over three years ago I spent a number of amazing Friday evenings photographing at a most unusual music venue, tucked directly under concrete platform which forms The Westway, halfway between Ladbroke Grove and Portobello Road. Mick Jones had chosen the venue, The Inn On The Green, for Carbon/Silicon to play seven consecutive Friday nights with a whole host of special guests.  I was so inspired by shooting these events and the unique atmosphere of the venue that I produced a photographic book, so it is with a really heavy heart that I have now to report that rumours about the imminent demise of The Inn On The Green are sadly true.

The final night was on Saturday 30^th April and I arrived early, as it would probably be a busy night. The stall holders of the world famous Portobello market were noisily clearing up in the warm evening sunshine as I made my way past the green to the El Camino on Portobello Road for a quick pre-gig chicken burrito.

Rat Scabies - image courtesy Peter Stevens Photography

Returning to The Inn On The Green and meeting Michelle, cartoonist/artist Stu Warwick and his lovely other half Esty (Estelle) we were then joined by a certain Mr Rat Scabies and his friend. Rat is more famously known as the drummer of The Damned and Stu had taken this opportunity to have some of his excellent cartoons personally signed.  Rat also came down to do a short(ish) set with The Members and proved, if proof were required, what a great drummer he is, with some very subtle snare work, worthy of Topper who has also graced the stage here. Nicky Tesco sung a brilliant version of their biggest hit ‘Sound Of The Suburbs’….and the gathered crowd danced and cheered. It was at this moment I thought that it would’ve been a great idea to get my Members clear vinyl 7” single signed by Nicky…if only I’d brought it !

Set concluded, landlady Tina was up next to explain to the assembled friends why they were having to close – money and rent basically. Their annual rent on the building, before any other costs was over £45,000 and was about to go up dramatically. Unfortunately, their wonderful community based business cannot now be sustained financially and time’s up. Tina and Dave had tried for many years to create something unique in a very multicultural area, where everyone was welcome and they succeeded in that sense. The ‘Inn’ had a real vibrancy about it and there was always something happening.

Nicky Tesco & The Members - image courtesy Peter Stevens Photography

Tina then proudly introduced the truly brilliant ‘Ramonas’ an all female Ramones tribute band who rocked their socks off (and mine) I was shooting, but singing along with everything. By the time their set had finished, just after midnight, the previous night’s activities had caught up with both Michelle and I we decided to cut out slightly earlier than planned….It must be an age thing I guess !!

The marvellous Taurus Trakker were up next as we slipped out back into the bar area ….God only knows what time the other bands, then finally the Rotten Hill Gang took to the stage !  Rather formally, I shook hands with Rat and Nicky Tesco and departed with The Ramonas version of ‘Blitzkrieg Bop’ still ringing in my ears. A fabulous band to remember my last night at The Inn On The Green. Another small music venue has gone, one which truly was at the heart of it’s community. No doubt it will become a gym or part of a big coffee or pub chain who can afford to pay the astronomic rents demanded these days.

The area will be culturally poorer for its passing and in my humble opinion this does not represent progress. Local businesses in Portobello are being slowing strangled and squeezed out. One can only truly appreciate our loss once these venues have gone forever. The list of small London venues which have disappeared in the last two decades is truly appalling.

I don’t want that bland corporate experience. I want something different, something unique. Three years ago events at The Inn On The Green inspired my photography and even got me to do some writing. Believe me, this would not have happened at yet another branch of Starbucks or All-Bar-One. The Inn On The Green is not quite as internationally well-known as The 100 Club in Oxford Street which was recently rescued from closure, but has served an equally valuable role in its community, giving young bands a chance to perform in front of an audience and many others a rehearsal, meeting or art exhibition space.

Cloey Ramona - image courtesy Peter Stevens Photography

Three years ago I rediscovered a feeling that I thought had been lost forever with the near-total corporatisation of the music business. I didn’t want to see my favourite band in a ten thousand seat concrete barn or a park ‘brought to me by a multinational soft drink, mobile phone or beer company…’ The thought of paying hugely inflated ticket prices to fund the hugely inflated egos, with untold numbers of middle men creaming off excess profits, actually stopped me from going out and enjoying real live music. Big venues and even bigger prices – it’s just not rock‘n’roll !

I just want to publicly says thanks to Tina, Dave and all their staff for their vision and amazing hard work over the years. It’s always been about the people and they are good people. This venue has given me some incredible memories and it’s so sad to reluctantly bid adieu.

Me again, my sincere thanks for that Pete as I feel like I was there now. I don’t know exactly when we’ll see the tide turn toward independent venues once again but it will happen. Even here two new venues (small, indie, gritty) have opened in the last six months and both seem to be prospering. As ever thank you for the photography which was simply stunning, I’ve not seen The Members in about thirty years I’d assume so the photos were great to see. Please join me in the comments to thank Pete for a great piece. Cheers – Tim.