Good evening and cheers for dropping in to the blog. My internet has been a bit up and down this evening so even as I type I’m not sure if this will find its way onto your screens today, tomorrow or late tomorrow – hopefully the former. Not much to report on from Clashblog towers unless you count the family cat eating a bunch of grass only to make itself sick on said grass a few minutes later worthy of news? No…I thought not too. Just wanted to hand a large Orange congratulations to the Dutch team who coasted into the final 8 at the WC earlier today, one other WC tip – by far the most enjoyable thing about the tournament so far has been the weekly Alan Davies show on the BBC – Armchair World Cup. Have I ever steered you wrong before?  I’ve not (intentionally) so if you happen to like football and need a really good laugh in this unemployment and VAT ravaged world we live in take a quick trip over to the link and listen to the podcast replay online.

Joe looks over Glastonbury hordes

I had hoped I’d have some official reports back from Glastonbury by now specifically about the Strummerville events over the four days as the bill was quite stacked. Things move a bit more slowly in the West Country so perhaps we’ll have some of that for you over the next 24-48 hours. The only video clip I’ve come across so far around Strummer campfire is the soothing sounds of Bombay Bicycle Club playing ‘Always Like This’. It does at least give you some idea of the mellow and intimate setting of the campfire stage if you’re reading this from far afield. I lied, just found another upload from Drunken Balordi who perform ‘Italian Nightmare’. Great fun to see and very easy to imagine Joe joining in on this track! Also returning to Glastonbury this weekend was the LeftField tent which was hosted/curated by Billy Bragg of course. LeftField is in short the political stage/tent at the festival where songwriters talk and play and seek to engage those needing a bit more in their cider than La Roux. The Billy Bragg interview with the NME is right here if you fancy it. More from the tent this week.

Joe Strummer wasn’t just being summoned in the fields of Glastonbury this weekend as it was also the turn for the Hard Rock Calling event in London’s Hyde Park for those who get nervous if they go West of Heathrow Airport. Much like last Summer an American artist paid a big tribute to the ever present influence of Joe. A year ago Bruce Springsteen played London Calling and this year the more recent Arms Aloft was trotted out by Pearl Jam at the huge concert. I’ve always been essentially ambivalent about Pearl Jam to be honest, but I know they are hugely important to many people. As it happens Eddie Vedder is an unabashed fan/friend of The Clash and Joe Strummer and I give him a large nod for discussing with the gathered crowds at the weekend how much he missed Strummer in addition to his other memories. The full story is over at Beehive City if you want to take a look. Below I’ve got a video of Pearl Jam covering Arms Aloft at the weekend. Sadly I don’t have Vedder’s introduction and the recordng ends a little early ~ but it’s a heartfelt cover version to these ears.

Pearl Jam perform Arms Aloft (in Hyde Park)

I’d write more but my computer is testing my patience so it’d probably be better if I save a bit until next time. Thanks for coming as always and remember the Facebook page is a good place to have a chat or throw ideas around (we just passed 800 in our little gang!) ~ or please use the comments section at the foot of each post. Thanks! Tim

Hello again, thanks for coming back to the Clash Blog (or welcome aboard if this is your first trip). Still combing through bits and pieces of information from the SXSW Music Festival and based on how I feel tonight it might be later in the week when I get it all sorted out. Sorry about that but you’ll be glad I filter out the junk for you – trust me! What I can announce tonight is that the Jail Guitar Doors USA website has gone live and a very nice job they’ve done with it too, but don’t take my word for it please have a look at the site. The other confirmed news out of Austin from last nights Strummerville event is that it poured with rain, giving it that very authentic W10 feel I would imagine.

Two other things I mentioned on Facebook but wanted to include here. Thumbs up to the BBC for honouring the passing of John Sicolo, the article mentions Joe Strummer playing the venue although I’ve no idea how they failed to note the year of Joe passing was incorrect? Also a quick video for you of Anti-Flag and Billy Bragg performing a cover version of ‘Should I Stay or Should I Go’ at last weekend’s Harvest of Hope festival in Florida. Some really good bands on that bill actually, shame we don’t have an equivalent on this side of the country. (it wouldn’t be Coachella!)

Worth a very quick look is this list of ‘the ‘top ten duos in popular music’. Pleased to see Strummer/Jones making that list but some of the other stuff on there is either far too obvious or a few that are decidedly dodgy. Always felt Strummer/Jones just rolled off the tongue despite it not being alphabetical, come to think of it Mellor/Jones would have sounded alright too eh?

Strummercamp 2010 is coming up – I’ll write much more in the weeks ahead as the lineup is really good this year. A lot of bands with many memories (and great records) will be up in Cheshire for the event on the last weekend in May. I hope some of you from the North of England might be getting along – if so please get in touch before you go so we can relay your stories. Confirmed acts for the weekend include Spear of Destiny, The Godfathers, The Blockheads and many others. Details are here, I’m sure we’ll cover this in more detail nearer the time. Staying on the Strummerville theme this is a great post by a chap who had a request for his (brilliant) artwork to be used in conjunction with the Strummerville film, a nice article and worthy recognition on the reverse side.

Sorry for the brevity of the post – I’ve got to finish writing a letter and do some laundry (exciting that eh?). Tomorrow marks St. Patrick’s Day but also the anniversary of me leaving London to move to Chicago back in the 90′s. When asked “What brought you to the States?” in the years since my stock answer if I don’t like you has been “a 747″….and to some I tell the truth. I wasn’t wanted for a crime in Hammersmith or anything so exciting – it was a girl.

Back again….I may have missed a day right? Sorry about that – will do some double duty this weekend. Having heard the entire version of Plastic Beach instead of just a snippet, would you know it was Mick Jones / Paul Simonon playing on the new Gorillaz track if someone wasn’t telling you it was so? I think you can pull out Mick’s style from the song (linked in previous post) but not so much Paul. I do think the album is really good however. You never know with Damon Albarn, I think if anyone has got the potential to get the three members of The Clash together for some recordings it might be him, though Mick’s existing commitments might scupper that idea.

Just to cover old ground but as it’s coming up soon don’t forget that Strummerville will be fully represented at this year’s SXSW music festival in Austin. There are sure to be a number of articles / interviews and hopefully a bit more to follow, all the pertinent details are on the Strummerville site. I had hoped to make it over to Austin at least for the weekend but airfares seem to have doubled while I sat on the fence (apparently due to Spring break and the airlines seeing a chance to make a killing) so I will be reporting as best I can from here. The idea of driving 15 hours each way doesn’t have the same Kerouac appeal as it once did – and having seen New Mexico and heard about West Texas I think I’d lose my mind. One huge feature for Clash fans at the festival will be the Strummerville film – details from the site reproduced beneath:

On Friday 19th March ‘Strummerville – a film by Don Letts’ will premier at the Paramount. The film, directed by the London born, Grammy award winning filmmaker and artist Don Letts, captures the very essence of Strummerville. The film journeys through the past six months of the diverse Strummerville calendar, including interviews with the bourgeoning talents and the friends and family of Joe who work hard to keep the charity going. The documentary also includes unseen footage of Joe Strummer taken from Don’s personal archive. On the film Don says, “In a cultural climate that feels like punk never happened Strummerville (the film) serves as a timely reminder of a way forward. It worked back then and it can work again – and man it needs to!”

On to related ground, I’ve neglected (purely on accident) to write much about Los Mondo Bongo. Many of you will know the band features Pablo Cook who helped start the Mescaleros with Joe Strummer. His new band are currently touring the UK and feature Pablo plus bassist Derek Forbes (Simple Minds), guitarist Steve Harris (Gary Numan) and vocalist Mike Peters (The Alarm). The band are certainly their own unique thing and not just a ‘tribute act’ as they’ve been tagged -  but Pablo doesn’t disassociate from his time with Strummer. They also tend to play a few Clash/Strummer songs live – and do them justice! I promise I’ll write more on them because I’ve been waylaid so far. The video below should give you a taste as should this article in the Derby Telegraph.

“As a writer, it seems a bit odd, saying I’m paying tribute to my own songs. I’m just playing my tunes to people who appreciate Joe Strummer and The Mescaleros. We do a few Clash songs as part of the evening – to celebrate Joe. And to keep the flame alive is great for me.”

I really want to do this…..Do you have a Clash or B.A.D. or Joe Strummer ticket stub?? Email me if you do and can forward a photo or a scan…I want to feature them on the site, I do love ticket stubs. Right then…I’ve got to dash but here’s a song I keep listening to this week (and the video is really well done) Vampire Weekend’s ‘Giving Up The Gun’.