Good Morning London, Lisbon or Lima…or wherever this latest post finds you waking up with coffee and a grin on your face. I’m in fine fettle as I start this post with a strong mug of coffee following a superb Chicken Tikka earlier this evening. I’m beginning this post on Wednesday evening but I think I’ll probably wrap it up tomorrow. I’ve been sorting out my music collection in anticipation of the impending move and I am a bit embarrassed as to how many CDs I’ve got. There’s no excuse for it, some people choose booze or drugs and I’m an addict for music. I should really stop buying CDs. I thought seeing as the weather has been so nice it would be good to get an oil change, clean the windscreen and take a ride along the Westway for the first edition of Westway Traffic – our handy and easy to use guide to various Clash related snippets circulating on the internet. Its our 20th edition so let’s try and get through half a dozen or more along the A40. If you’re new to the idea it’s a series of shorter stories deserving of a mention but probably not an entire post. So…clutch is in so off we go.

Art Expo including London Calling cover shot coming to Allentown: I know we get a great number of readers from eastern Pennsylvania/Philadelphia, so some of you might want to get along to the ‘Who Shot Rock and Roll’ exhibition coming soon to the Allentown Art Museum of the Lehigh Valley from Feb. 11 to May 13. The entire exhibit sounds pretty tasty but the original Pennie Smith shots for London Calling will be included. Check the link for more and also the art museum’s site right here.

The 10th Anniversary starts here (on Facebook): Just like it says on the tin – a facebook page looking to honour, celebrate and share in the fact that 2012 marks the 10th year without Joe. The page is off to a nice start and if Facebook is your thing you’ll surely want to take part. I seem some regular faces already. Perhaps the owner of the page can mention this old blog too…

Top 10 films related to Elvis (not Costello) that aren’t Elvis films: From the STL Today website (now we know where to find people in St Louis online) comes a list of the best films related to Elvis Presley. My number one is his number two as Mystery Train which is perhaps Joe Strummer’s best appearance on film finds it’s way to number two on the list and was probably Jim Jarmusch’s finest hour. Its a good list though and I’d recommend all of the top 5 with the exception of Forrest Gump – it’s so long since I saw that and I don’t have great memories of it.

Strummerville Winter sessions down at HQ: I meant to write about this when it was posted last week but…well..it was last week. Here’s the official blurb and the video is beneath that, it is well worth a look & listen.

Here is a short video taken at our Winter Sessions 2011 gig down at our yard. We were thrilled to have Kai Fish (of the Mystery Jets) headlining proceedings alongside some of the fine talent we have supported throughout 2011:

Breadstealers
Gaz Brookfield
Huw Olesker
Hysterical Injury
Leon Fender Walker
She Makes War
The Gun$how
The Promenade

Click here to view the embedded video.

Punk Art expo starts today in Cardiff: A great story from Wales online explains how a then teenage Gerrion Jones traveled around the UK to see as many punk bands as he possibly could from 1976 onwards to escape the prevalent boredom of music at that time. Along the way he’s been carefully collecting and maintaining as much print, press and photographic memorabilia as he can to create what is now quite the archive featuring of course a fair bit of Clash. Happily hes putting it all on exhibit now in Cardiff starting today and running through Feb 2. Details are as follows: Punk Art Forever runs at the Howard Gardens Gallery at the Cardiff School of Art & Design from Thursday, January 12 until Thursday, February 2. The gallery is open Monday-Friday, 10am-6pm. Entrance is free.

Clash letterpress artwork on sale: Sometimes you see a bit of art and think I could do that and you’d probably be half right. Other times you hear music like Coldplay and you think why do they do that and you’d be completely right. As for me I’ve got a minor obsession with looking at creative ways to create art that focuses on The Clash if not the budget to acquire any. Wasted and Wounded have added a series of three punk pieces featuring The Clash, The Ramones and The Sex Pistols now for sale on their site, just click the link at the head of this paragraph.

 Clash and B.A.D. make playlists for Portlandia stars: I’ve never watched Portlandia but heard very good things about the comedy. Hopefully one person reading this can attest to that. I’m more tempted to try and watch it now as a recent piece on Stereogum revealed that the two stars have a musical taste that includes B.A.D and The Clash, even more specifically some knowledge about the bands and songs. In the case of Fred Armisen it was ‘E=MC2′ and for Carrie Brownstein it was ‘Charlie Don’t Surf’ which makes her my new pinup. To be fair she was previously a key member of sometimes good Sleater Kinney and has always been nice enough to look at.

Right then, that should be enough to be going along with. If you happen to visit anything listed above or have other thoughts I’d welcome them. Have a superb later part of the week. Tim

So quickly has the first week of 2012 rushed past that I feel it almost a stale concept to complete my review of 2011 but I’ve started as they say so I’ll finish. My original intent was to get these posts tidily delivered as a summary of the year just ended over the first four days of the New Year. Good plans often fall by the wayside when you’re trying to balance work and the looming shadow of moving house. I’ll give you my word that by the time February snows are ruining your week the Clash Blog will be on a nice steady daily diet of updates. Speaking of please be sure and look in tomorrow for one of the strangest updates I’ve ever shared. It’s odd and funny but nothing nasty, moreover I’ve a feeling few of you will have seen it. I’m writing this following a day spent packing and sorting out the debris of my adult life and trying to decide what to keep versus sell/donate before we load up the lorry and head west. I can see why some people never move but for some reason I can’t stay in one place too long without going a bit mad.

2011 was a good year though and we’ve already looked at the most popular posts for the first 9 months so let’s wrap it up by reviewing the most read stories for October through December and then crack on with 2012.

October -

‘Joe Strummer features in giant Shepard Fairey mural’ (October 10th)

In a continued theme on the blog stories about art and tributes are very popular and this one was the most read post in October. Mr. Fairey isn’t to everyone’s taste but you have to tip your cap for his love of The Clash which he’s always keen to incorporate in his work. I think his art is hugely influenced by the great (looking) government propaganda artwork of the early days of the U.S.S.R. but what’s that saying about all art being borrowed? Even The Clash managed more than a bit of that especially the dependence on the chords of The Who on some of the early songs. As for the Fairey mural it was completed on a large wall in New Jersey and included Joe alongside other lesser punk immortals.

November -

Joe Strummer in Manhattan photoset and a Welsh tragedy (November 27th)

Besides listening to The Clash I think most of us agree that they were the coolest looking band ever, fortunately they are literally thousands of photographs that take us back to 1978 or 1981 available online. Sometimes I come across photographs that I don’t think have been seen by everyone so I  share them on the blog. Amongst the very best this year was this series taken of Joe Strummer in New York (I think in 1999? confirmation still sought). Stunning photos that show Joe back on top of his game and well worth another look. The post also reflected on the tragic loss of Gary Speed and whilst this isn’t a football blog it tends to creep into my writing from time to time.

December -

‘Mick Jones and Paul Simonon electrify London on Justice Tonight tour’ (December 8th)

December is usually dominated by our online tribute to the inevitable passing of another Joe Strummer anniversary reflecting on his unexpected death back in 2002. This year of course marks the 10th anniversary and it will be a strange realisation to accept it will have been a decade since that event. Perhaps a very good time to ask ourselves what we do now as a result of Joe’s impact on our lives. In reality that’s the best way to pay tribute to what Joe is and was.

However this December that just passed was marked by something that instantly finds it way into the upper levels of Clash lore as Mick Jones took the hugely successful role as lead chap on the Justice Tonight tour of the UK. A tour that seemed a bit far fetched and would feature a revolving cast of guest stars but buoyed by Jones, Pete Wylie and members of The Farm. The set would climax with a growing list of Clash songs and somehow it all worked and the punters loved it. More significantly it was for a cause that mattered – to try and help correct a long standing wrong in the campaign for Hillsborough justice. Naturally  the London event at The Scala was hugely anticipated and rumours were bouncing around from the moment the tour was announced who might guest in London. As it turned out we saw Paul Simonon join Mick on stage playing Clash songs for the first time in decades, it would have been nearer to perfect if Topper was part of the event. With that said 2012 could see more from the Mick Jones review, I’ve learned the last few years to never say never.

So there we have it – 2011 all wrapped up. There were 236 posts on the blog and there’s your top twelve. It’s also a good time to thank each of you for visiting the blog over 370,000 times last year. Let’s see if we can improve on that in 2012. You can help by sharing the blog with friends via Facebook and Twitter – I appreciate that more than you know – and don’t forget you can always buy me a cup of coffee to keep me motivated to keep on typing. Thanks for reading. Tim

Alright then, it’s blog time once more fresh from laughing so hard that my sides ache at the Iowa caucus. If you don’t live in the US (or pay attention to it) the election season here is the most protracted and tedious process on earth – the campaigns seemingly begin two years before the election and the media and many members of joe public just can’t get enough. It’s so much work to determine which fawning right wing fundamentalist (this time being the turn of the Republicans to find a new main man) will eventually lose the election in November. I’d really like to see people become more politically active but the popularity contest for President is so long and bizarre I can see why people often vote once and then give up. Perhaps this year will see something really change seeing as the world is an unqualified disaster here in the West….but then again. It’s a circus and if you don’t or never have lived in the States it’s hard to imagine something quite as odd/loud and tiring.

There’s been quite a bit of early season Clash news going on which I need to catch up on so to hasten that day let me continue my review of the most popular posts on the blog last year. So far we’ve covered January through to June so let’s get on with the next three months of the best of 2011.

July 2011 -

‘Covers and Anniversaries’ (July 4th)

For Americans July 4 seems to be a day to celebrate independence (from the UK who were taxing at a far lower rate than today incidentally…) but as you can see from this post last summer there is a more important anniversary to be celebrated than some old war. July 4th also mark the first official live appearance by The Clash which happened to have been 35 years to the day from the post above since that first gig up in Sheffield. A good post overall and worth a read as Billy Bragg defended his roots with The Clash and Joe Strummer whilst Vicky sent in some nice photos of B.A.D. who had just appeared at Glastonbury. Suddenly last summer seems ages ago.

August 2011 -

‘London’s Burning but this doesn’t deserve a Clash soundtrack’ (Aug 8th)

From time to time on the blog I can’t help but write about current events especially if I see it as impacting or somehow related to me or The Clash, either will do for the most part. I know the blog is ‘about the music’ by taking politics out of the equation for The Clash is a bit like playing football without goalkeepers. Naturally not everyone will agree with my politics either which is fine, you can comment and debate to your hearts content but for the most part you can blame The Clash or especially the lyrics of Joe Strummer for much of my interest in the subject in the first place.

Last August was bit different and will long be remembered for the week when the UK lost control as inner London, Manchester and other towns saw a mass outbreak of looting and arson. Rioting was loosely and inaccurately applied to the action in England but it all seemed a bit too opportunistic to me, which isn’t to say the youth should feel bloody helpless at the moment. They are at the bottom of the pile with a huge change taking place in the UK and elsewhere and subsidies that once looked set to last forever are being pulled away in the name of budgets. I expect we’ll see much more of the same this summer to come but my post was about how I didn’t see The Clash as being the most appropriate soundtrack to the events, the most obvious choice of course but typically taken by people who never took the time to study the lyrics of London’s Burning or White Riot. Anyway, I was very happy to see this was one of the most read posts of the summer.

August 2011 -

‘Orlando Bloom seeks to play Joe Strummer, world groans’ (September 7th)

Now there’s a headline worth rioting about. See….the blog isn’t just about politics, sometime we get offended by Hollywood gossip just as quickly and as offensive as this rumour was at least the post contains something enjoyable to read about Joe Strummer’s daughter Jazz. Like it or not 2012 might end up being the year of two Clash films, certainly one and perhaps both might see the cinema later this year and I’ve no doubt that speculation will mount as the projects near completion. I know the films have mixed opinions with many fearing the worst with both the London Calling film and the Joe Strummer biopic. I think the London Calling film has more potential and isn’t as ambitious but for now I’m hoping both films will be decent. Just remember, they aren’t being made for us but for very casual fans instead who won’t complain about Mick’s hair or the way Paul holds the bass in the movie versions.

Right then, I believe that is Friday night taken care of and I have a glass of white wine screaming my name so I better answer. Tim

A very good evening to you wherever you may be reading the blog from ClashBlog Towers. An unseasonably warm (almost hot) day today had me looking for my shorts much to the excitement of the girls on the street I’m sure. I don’t want to miss new Clash happenings so I thought I’d boldly proceed with the review of 2011 started yesterday and looking at the most read posts each month from the year just concluded. Before that though two quick thoughts and one of which is also a thank you. Thanks are owed to a good friend in Toronto who was kind enough to send me a 2012 Joe Strummer calendar from Strummerville. I don’t know how many of you already have one or have perhaps been on the fence about acquiring one but now that I’ve seen it in person I can’t encourage you in strong enough terms to rush and get one before January winds down. Not that I intend to use it as a calendar though and write birthdays and Arsenal fixtures on it (is there anything else?) – it’s far too beautiful for that. The photography is remarkable but it’s the overall quality and presentation of the whole package that makes the calendar such a collector’s piece. Others have said they’re going to be framing some of the best shots although it would be hard to limit yourself to just two or three of the images on offer. It’s that good. Again my deep thanks to the sender -I really appreciate it. If you’re not convinced yet you really should be but here’s a reminder and a link to purchase one.

Also worth noting is that Strummerville are organising a music festival this summer to coincide with Joe’s 60th birthday, more on that later in the week. Needless to say it has the potential to be something very special indeed and might be taking place in Somerset. Right then, back to the 2011 ‘best of’ with April, May & June.

April 2011 -

‘Joe Strummer mural damaged‘ (April 7)

I’ve written a lot on the blog about how I feel that The Clash deserve more official recognition, it might sound trite to some but such recognition creates a symbolic place for fans to gather or simply reflect. In Joe’s case that’s even more specific since his passing but in general I think England really needs to get more done to pay tribute to the band and/or Joe. Glastonbury has the Strummer stone but that’s only key during the festival, you might be aware that Soho Square in London has a bench for the greatly missed (here at CB Towers) Kirsty MacColl. London needs to be doing more. I’ve got some hair brained scheme that we could start a campaign of signatures to present to the Mayor of London to get such a tribute taken care of – perhaps that idea will brew more completely this year. Anyway, back to the post in question – New York’s Joe Strummer mural has become such a gathering point for so many since it was created and when it was vandalised in April it caused a lot of anger. Happily the guilty party was caught which I wrote about later and the mural was repaired although maintenance of the piece of art remains an ongoinf challenge.

May 2011 -

‘Ebay listing for early Clash/Mickey Foote sessions tapes’ (May 8th)

I must confess I’m not sure what the final outcome of this one was. I think the person selling these had no right to do so and common sentiment was that he’d have been better off contacting Mick Jones as such an artifact should really have been in the hands of one of the band. There was some intrigue as to how he acquired these but the exact details now escape me. Nevertheless the photos are rather brilliant. If you remember more than me (not hard to do) please add it to the comments.

June 2011 -

‘Joe Strummer mural vandal caught and served jail time’ (June 4)

Ah, there it is – part 2 of the April story. I told you we care about that mural. It was a strange tale though, so if you missed it please go back and have a look.

Right then, that’s all I’ve time for at the moment but I do find it enjoyable looking back at last year and I hope you feel the same. I’ll have part three very soon and after we wrap up the year normal service will be resumed. Thanks as always for dropping in and don’t forget you can keep up to date by  Facebook, Twitter or get the RSS feed which will see the blog sent to you directly. Keep on kicking – Tim.

Good evening once again and thanks for dropping in to the blog. Depending on how the next 24 hours go this may very well be my final post of 2011 in which case it’s probably not a bad idea to acknowledge the passing of another year into the mists of time. I don’t know about you but I think 2011 has just flown by, it’s been a busy year personally, professionally and here on the blog because of all the activities relating to The Clash which isn’t bad going for a band that wrapped up proceedings such a long time ago. Oddly there’s been more to write about this year than at any time since the band were active with the return of Big Audio Dynamite, another great year for Strummerville and of course the events just this month on the Justice Tonight tour which saw Mick and Paul playing Clash songs together on stage for the first time since WarGames was pulling people (idiots?) into the local cinema. Yes, it really was that long ago.

Joe's New York mural last week

In between the big stories there’s been loads of other events worth covering and our rotating look at Clash news both recent and old and in the New Year I’ll work like mad to continue networking and hopefully keep the blog somewhere worth visiting. Now would be a good time to thank you all for reading, the blog has has almost 400,000 visits this year which is nearly double the total of a year earlier – numbers that I never really expected – but it’d be nice to see us pass the half million mark next year. I couldn’t honestly do it without your help – you know who you are. I’m stuck out in the desert in Arizona and it’s your coverage, guest posts, videos, research and wonderful photos in Europe and all other corners of the world that make the blog as fun as it is. I hope I can count on similar assistance next year. Clash fans are a brilliant bunch, very generous and accommodating not too mention intensely loyal and with strong opinions. I love your comments and debates, opinions and ideas and most of all the shared experience of knowing just what this band still means so many years later. Before writing this blog there were (and remain) a few blogs that I read daily or every other day depending on output and they’ve become as much a part of my daily routine as a cup of coffee and checking my email. I always hoped this blog could become the same and if that’s happened then it’s all been very worthwhile. Thanks for being part of it and I hope you can contribute or join me in the comments or on Facebook & Twitter even more often next year.

Before the year ticks over though I think we should quickly remember that the passing of time also means we head into 2012 without some great people we were very accustomed to having around. These gaps don’t get filled but the spirit and energy of these people can only live on through you keeping them in your hearts and on your lips. To that end a sad goodbye from me to:

Trish Keenan the brilliant singer from Broadcast who died in January from pneumonia at just 42.

We also tragically lost Poly Styrene due to cancer aged only 53. That one hurt.

Amy Winehouse deserved much better than to lose her life aged just 27, a reminder that the media didn’t know what to make of Winehouse except act like voyeurs but she was a young woman with immense talent.

One of the saddest losses was the suicide of Wales football manager Gary Speed who took his own life, if you know someone who struggles with depression never underestimate the difference your friendship and support can make.

Away from music we also lost Christoper Hitchens  – never dull, controversial but a brilliant writer without compare, Socrates (the genius footballer and featured in Clash and B.A.D. songs), Ken Russell who made films that changed the landscape before The Clash were about and we also lost Steve Jobs who ensured people care more about their fucking phones than each other – thanks Steve.

I’m sure I’ve forgotten some important names and there are also the people who were in your everyday lives that some of you have lost – carry them with you. Have a safe and happy New Years Eve wherever you may be spending it and let’s hope that 2012 isn’t the year of the Newt. I’ll be back soon – Tim

Good evening Clash Blog people….what is your official title anyway? Blog readers? Friends? Yes, friends works for me as I’m glad that you take the time to visit and catch up with the latest and seeing as I’ve not had much time to blog over the last week we definitely have a lot of catching up to do so I’ll try and filter through most of that over the next few days. If you’ve already ready some of the information I’ve been compiling please accept my apologies – I’ll be back on top of my game in a few more days. Here at Clash Blog towers operation ‘find a new place to live near the sea’ continues but nothing quite sorted out yet. I expect we’ll have to go back to San Diego in a few weeks so if any readers want to meet for a beer just let me know, I’d murder a good pint at this stage.

Image courtesy 'mudkiss' http://www.flickr.com/photos/vivamel/with/6455103519/

Mick Jones as you know has had a December almost as busy as mine with the warmly received Justice Tonight tour to benefit the Hillsborough Justice Campaign. There’s been more a flicker of rumour that we might see a return to the stage of this Clash-centric billing in 2012 and there’s even been talk that it might be taken over to North America. Not sure if that’s speculation or gossip (is there a difference?) but that would surely be a hot ticket. If we ran a form book for 2012 events and were setting up odds I’d put money on Jones appearing overseas in the new year the question is will it be the continuation of the Justice Tonight concept or something else? There’s a guaranteed audience for a gig that features a core of Clash songs with Mick being the star of the show but the Hillsborough cause won’t really translate overseas although of course it should. Add to that the question of whether Pete Wylie and The Farm would be game/available and it might be a stretch, if it happens I expect it would only be a 5 or 6 cities versus a full tour but it would certainly make for some interesting guest stars. Of course there’s also B.A.D. to consider which left off earlier in the year with promises of more live dates and potentially new recordings neither of which seem far fetched. Finally but just as valid is Carbon Silicon who remain Mick’s most ‘current’ commitment. At this point I think bringing that band on the road earlier in 2012 in the UK and then over to North America might be the most likely scenario. All of this is pure guesswork on my part – I think I need to find a way to talk to Mick! Having said that I bet he’ll change his mind more about 2012 as the mood takes him, which is a great position to be in.

During the tour earlier this month I hoped that a more in-depth interview would take place with Mick and was excited to see that one was conducted by the excellent Sabotage Times. You can read the long chat with Mick via this link and you’ll enjoy the candour that Mick shows as he talks about Joe, the influence of The Clash, the riots this past summer, the Hillsborough tour and many other topics. It won’t come as a shock to you to learn that Mick is very proud and simultaneously humble that he’s been able to do all he has, both recently and in the past. His love for what he does seems to be at the core of it – if Mick Jones wasn’t to be a musician I don’t think Mick ever developed a plan B. I have to respect that. Here’s a quote below and thanks again to Sabotage Times for publishing this one – they are are a great online magazine so please bookmark it. I’ll be back soon – hope your week has zipped by.

“We always got criticism in The Clash but we always thought ‘you should be happy. We’ve gone a long way and it represents what you can do’, you know what I mean? We took it all the way to Broadway and that meant something. When we got the flack we thought we don’t care because we represent something that will go a long way”    Mick Jones

Well hello once again all you fine Clash people scattered around the world and welcome back to the blog. I hope you had an enjoyable holiday if you celebrate one or at least enjoyed a few days off from work if you don’t. I know I’ve been notably absent in recent days but a combination of a trip to California,being entrusted with the kids to keep an eye on and the Christmas larks, it all added up to very little time near a keyboard over the last week plus. A word of advice – never look for a new house at the very end of the year – it’s been an necessary but notably difficult process, it also seems that the housing market in San Diego remains far more recession proof than where we currently live so we’re putting our best foot forward trying to finalise something over the next week or so. Hopefully I’ll still find ample time to blog but if not at least you know it’s not because I don’t love you.

The last time we spoke we were sharing in the respect, sorrow and appreciation of Joe Strummer’s anniversary as the 9th year was upon us. I wanted to spend more time on the blog that day but time conspired against me but I do want to thank those of you who were able to contribute to the piece on the blog. The unique story of The Clash and their influence is always a little different for each of us but the burning commonalities also seem to remain which I find remarkable. Whether it’s Joe or The Clash I see the theme of a band/man that inspired and motivated so many of us. A band that helped us determine who we were and what needed to be done. In some cases Joe provided lasting inspiration over more than three decades but for younger fans he’s been just as critical even though their chance to see him on a stage never quite worked out. What’s apparent above all else was the fact that Joe is still deeply missed and continues to inspire – the music, the lyrics, the attitude but also the man under all of that who sought a better world and decided he had a part to play. He has been a beacon to all of us it seems. Punk rock wasn’t about just your hair or your jacket, it was something far more inclusive than that, it was something that said everyone has a voice and that everyone can do it if they want to. That ‘it’ doesn’t have to be form a band, it can be anything that you put your heart into if it doesn’t look to hurt others, it’s simply that humanity and community that (ironically?) seem to remain two of the most lasting influences of Joe Strummer. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Those days before Christmas were again under the spectacle of not being able to ignore just how much this all hurt back in 2002, in the morning this year I was fine, listening to songs, reading quotes and watching Facebook and Twitter literally fill up with people paying tribute to Joe. I don’t think I’m imagining it when I say the importance seems to grow year by year. It was great seeing people change their profile pictures to Joe and share both the most obvious or rare Clash songs and photos – there were no rules of course – celebrating Joe is right in the first place. Later in the day after it got dark I recall feeling down again – feeling Joe left right at the moment when he was more in tune than he had been in years, in The Mescaleros he’d again found a band who brought out the best in him. He was ready to keep going and seemed like he couldn’t be stopped and was gradually coming to be at ease with his new role as heralded elder statesman of punk. Of course the timing of his loss seemed unfair and harsh, which it was, but I can’t help feeling we were all lucky to see Joe writing and recording on a furious schedule again those last three or four years – and yeah he was obviously loving it too – it was worth much more than just some lining for the bank account. So to lose him remains bittersweet, I don’t think that will ever change.

In the next day or so I’ll link you to some of the best things I read and also share a story about some proper recognition of Joe overseas, needless to say it wasn’t in England again – I’m not sure what London is waiting for. If you want to get your blogger hopped up on caffiene you can always do so via the link on the right, but I do recommend you follow the blog on Facebook or Twitter for the latest. Thanks for making a return visit I’ll be back soon – sorry for the gaps! My goal in 2012 is 365 or more posts on the blog, let’s see how that goes. Tim

image courtesy Bob Gruen www.bobgruen.com

Good morning, hope you’re doing well on this anniversary that brings so many memories and emotions flooding out. I was up until about 2am last night listening to Clash and Joe Strummer songs on CJAM’s Joe Strummer day - appropriately enough a day to help the homeless in that radio station’s local area.  On previous years I’ve tried to avoid feeling anything other than sad but today I’m going to manage that. Joe won’t be forgotten and I’ve seen on the blog just how much he continues to matter to so many great people and it is via this blog that I can count the riches of new friendships via the Clash community. Joe would have liked that and he also would have loved the Hillsborough Justice Campaign earlier this month to such an extent that he’d have been front and centre on that stage with Mick I think. I’m left feeling thankful and of course full of memories but looking forward, just like Joe always tried to. Life got less interesting nine years ago today, someone I had relied upon left but I realised (in time) that the inspiration of Joe Strummer could mean I ought to do more. I’m still trying….

Later today (6pm GMT) Strummerville just advised me that there will be live streaming of a tribute event in La Plata, Argentina. Here’s the link.

Today the blog is yours – please feel free to add comments, best memories, thoughts of Joe or just lyrics or add a video below. Whatever you feel like adding is most welcome and appropriate, you can add comments via the blog or on Facebook. Please include your name and city if you can. I’ll update as the day goes on. Cheers everyone – Tim

A sad day for all…. -

Andrew Ferguson

Shed bucket loads of tears on this day over the years…Joe still plays live everyday in my house and heart..I cant say how much I miss him..RIP JOE…unless ur just touring where we cant go..yet.!!!.

Barry, Newcastle, UK

Today is the 9th anniversary of the death of Joe Strummer. Looking back from so many years down the line, Joe and The Clash may never have achieved the kind of commercial success that other, lesser mortals have achieved…..fill in the globally successful band of your choice….but they did achieve something far more important…

They became part of the global culture, part of the consciousness of countless millions of people. I was lucky enough to experience that intense, almost visceral experience of The Clash performing live and that will live with me forever. Thanks Joe !

When you raise a glass to Joe today, you raise a glass to compassion and to humanity and to peace, love and respect. Mick and Paul were reunited on stage two weeks ago, playing Clash songs together for the first time in twenty-nine years, Paul was even wearing one of Joe’s jackets. You know he would have been there too. He was in spirit and everyone in that audience at The Scala knew it.

Joe Strummer 1952-2002.

Pete, London, UK

Hey Joe ! Did you see ? They really rocked the Casbah in 2011 ! White riot already planned for 2012 ?

Christian, Lyon, France

Remembering Joe Strummer today and every day. Here’s to all the friends we’ve made because of him. ♥

Shannon, Cleveland, USA

Writing down how much Joe inspired me is hard. I discovered them thanks to my dad at a very important age. The Lyrics were just great. Just because of the words I could see life in England back then and with the lyrics of albums like London Calling and especially Sandinista! I could see the world at that time. He was the voice of a generation, I don’t think that there has been someone after Joe Strummer that had that special thing. As I said, putting into words how much he means to me is the hardest thing in the world.

Emile, Deinze, Belgium

They were my band. He was the man. We will never forget. Keep the flame burning.

Black-Chaos Johnston

Joe canceled an interview with me after a showat the Metro in Chicago. I was bummed. The tour manager said Joe didn’t know the interviews were scheduled and wanted to watch the fight (I think it was Lenox Lewis fighting). I walked outside and Joe was talking to people and signing autographs. He was trying to get to a bar to watch the fight, but put his fans ahead of himself.

W.G., Chicago, USA

I wouldn’t steal money from a friend. But I’d steal his girlfriend!

We’re very lucky to have had him about and his influence lives on in the decisions I’m sure all on this board make day to day where you kind a pull back a bit,dont always do the easy thing but try and do the right thing. brilliant bloke.

Stu, Leighton Buzzard, UK

“I think people ought to know that we’re anti-fascist, anti-violence and anti-racist. We’re against ignorance.  – Joe Strummer

Tim (the clash blogger) London and Phoenix

JOE, YO TE QUIERO INFINITO.. <3

Silvia, (one of the nicest people on the planet), Rimini, Italy

I don’t think a day has gone by since 1977-ish when I haven’t either listened to, or attempted to ‘sing’ something he wrote. You can keep your Bob Dylan, your John Lennon and just about every other two-bit tunesmith – Strummer was THE poet of my youth. RIP Joe.

Charlie, London, UK

‎”Don’t forget you’re alive. ‘Cause sometimes when you walk around the city and you’re in a bad mood, you can think, hey, wait a minute, we’re alive! We don’t know what the next second will bring and what a fantastic thing this is. This can get easily forgotten in the routine of life, and that’s something I’m trying bring to my attention at all times. Don’t forget you’re alive, we’re not dead, you know, this is the greatest thing.”

Siiri

Awesum guys! its the day afta here dwnunda & i spent yesterday listening 2 joes music & the cool vast music that inspired the great man, im currently loving the silent movie hell w10 that he wrote & directed, the soundtrack is so fucken cool! People can do anything.. the future is unwritten… R.I.N Joe (Rest In Noise)

The front of the memorial book for Joe (image kind courtesy of Brenda S)

Daniel, Nelson, New Zealand

RIP Joe

Max, Cheam, UK

“The future is unwritten. Like trousers like brain. No input no output. Without people you’re nothing”.
Thanks for the blog Tim. You’re helping keeping his spirit alive.

Steve (I think this is Toronto Steve..)

Thank you for showing me which call up to heed.

H. Jones

“how do you get an armadillo out of a bass bin?…play heavy reggae”

Frank Casey

‎’When you blame yourself, you learn from it. If you blame someone else, you don’t learn nothing, cause hey, it’s not your fault, it’s his fault, over there’ ‘We were standing around this car with a box of Swan Vesta and it’s one thing to say: burn the cars and burn the ghetto, but you try settings a car alight’ and that whole story about riots during Notting Hill Carnival in 1976

Monika, Torun, Poland

I haven’t added anything until now because yesterday was a flurry of trying to get ready for going back to the UK for the hols…so many really articulate ＆brilliant comments from people that I didn’t think I could contribute anything. Well…the very fact that people all over the world remember this day still ＆join hands (virtually?) ＆share memories together says a lot. I was watching clips of Joe walking around Fuji Rock ＆he was having a fine old time…just really great to watch. Rest in power Joe…♪

Daniela, Tokyo, Japan

To fully express how much Strummer, a man I never met, affected my life would be impossible here. I would be in a completely different situation if I’d never discovered Joe’s music. The Clash are what first got me into proper music in the first place, and in my mind they still reign supreme. So many take for granted how different, how much less interesting, music would be as whole without The Clash, and in particular without Strummer’s brilliance. His words sound as true now as they did in ’77, and I’m sure they’ll be just as true in thirty years still. Few men ever reach that kind of universality in their music, and I’d argue Joe was the best that ever did. A true light in the darkness, an inspiration if ever there was one. I don’t think any of us can do more than skim the surface of what Joe was in words, but I think we all know. RIP Joe.

A very warm hello to you and thanks for checking in with your Clash Blogger. I’m writing this (local time) on the eve of the anniversary that always shapes this time of year and detracts from the holidays, perhaps we need to work on that. I’ve had a very busy few days and lack time to do more than function so I’ve done an appalling job of prepping for tomorrow. Some days I find it hard to fathom that it’s been nine years since we lost Joe Strummer, on the more difficult days it can seem even longer. I’m not too impressed with how the world has changed over these last years and if you think Joe Strummer would be content with our current malaise then you hardly knew the man. There’s some sliver linings though I hope and it’s that global view that Joe was becoming ever better at expressing that I perhaps miss the most. We all love The Clash of course and the music Joe made after that too but I think many of you share how much we simply loved to hear what Joe had to say about the world at large and his place in it. I don’t think he ever tired of meeting people and trying (like we all do) to figure out his place in this soup we call our society.

When the World Cup was held in South Africa I wondered how much Joe would have loved that, when Obama became the first black president I can’t help but think Joe would have raised a pint and when the seeds of change rolled around the arab states and we even are showing signs of anger at last in the west this year wouldn’t Strummer have been bashing the drum and telling people to take back what is already ours. For me and I’m sure many of you it was a bit too much like losing a relative, for me Joe Strummer had more influence on my life that many with whom I share blood. That might just be a sad indictment of my fragile family whilst growing up but it’s my story and as such it’s the truth. To be confronted (via my brother’s bedroom) by the sounds of ‘Give ‘em Enough Rope as a twelve year old was to be kicked up the arse and given a need to explore more. Guns on The Roof sang this rogue and I needed to know what the words were really saying. I remember recording that album to cassette and trying to work out every word with the old play/pause routine (I had more than a few completely wrong).

Happily the following year saw a rather remarkable double album come complete with lyrics and my relationship with Joe moved into overdrive. The brilliance of Mick Jones, the power of Topper Headon, the cool of Paul Simonon all woven like a perfect tapestry around the poems and protests of Joe Strummer – you couldn’t choose better parents. I had my family but I had Strummer/Jones for when things were tough, when things were exciting, when things were mundane. If I was angry Strummer could help, if I was confused or troubled he’d do the same. Those records, those lyrics, they burned through us like a branding iron changing the way we viewed our world and changing the way we viewed ourselves. Joe Strummer was the voice I’ll always hear and I confess it never sounded better than from the moment Topper joined The Clash and the band went on that journey of outrageous output from 1977 to 1980 that no band since had ever competed with. The audacity to release a triple album within 12 months of London Calling coming out and pack more ideas and thoughts from local to global made me love music ever since and believe it mattered, shit it made me feel more important too.

Tomorrow please join me on the blog and share your words about Joe. I’ll be back in the morning but just like last year the blog will be handed over to you. I look forward to your thoughts of Joe.

I miss Joe of course, I miss that there’s nothing new to look forward to and miss hearing him talk as much as play. I don’t think I’ll ever stop being grateful to have had him be a daily part of my thoughts the last 33 years and if I’m lucky enough to still be around in 33 more I don’t think I’ll feel any differently, and if another thirteen year old is hearing Safe European Home for the first time and feeling his blood pump that bit faster than we’ll realise Joe Strummer never died.

Last night I was driving from San Diego to Phoenix through the desert, it was the darkest of dark nights and all you could see were the stars and the rocky outcrops making shadows in the desert against a misty looking moon, I thought they’ll be there millions of years to come, Joe Strummer was only here for fifty but somehow cast a longer shadow.

Hello again and a very good Friday evening to you from the soon to be deserted ClashBlog towers. Haunted forever by memories of The Clash Cup, unfinished ideas and blogging logjams….blogjams? Where did this week go? I need some of it back, not that I want to work more but that I’m not even vaguely ready for the holidays and instead find myself with bloggette looking for a new home in another city. Quite frankly it’s the wrong time of year for that but when opportunity presents itself you have to seize it I read once. Anyway, enough of my bleating.

I’ve got a lot lined up in the days ahead and part 2 & 3 of the Hillsborough post should see the light of day over the next few days, if my appearances are a bit sporadic I’ll be over in California until Wednesday so my access to the blog and blogging might be less ideal than usual. I’ll count on all of you to keep things interesting. I also need to get prepared for all the Joe Strummer memorials/tributes and assorted events in the days ahead, this weekend sees them kicking off with the inconvenience of the anniversary not landing on a weekend we’ll probably see events almost every day starting today. If you want to help spread the word about a local event please do so on the comments section of this post or feel free to use the facebook page which usually has a fair few readers – anything to spread the word of a Strummer night is alright with me. One of the biggest Clash/Strummer events of all actually takes place tomorrow in Parma, Italy – this one has been going for years and gets bigger on an annual basis it seems. It has to be said that it is one of the largest and best organised tributes to Joe and I’m sure attendance this year will once again do the Italian Clash contingent proud. Full information is available via this link and you’ll see that no less than 14 (!) bands are performing with the action kicking off at 1pm local time. I wish I’d have covered this earlier but some tour in the UK dominated proceedings. It’s more than live music though with (if my poor italian translation serves me) artwork, vinyl collection, djs and an auction all being part of the festivities. If you happen to be attending and would like to send in any photos to the blog please feel free to do so.

For tonight I wanted to leave the rest of the post in the excellent hand of Pete Stevens. Pete as you may know has been a giant friend of the blog since the very early days, his friendship and support has been immense as not only is he a brilliant photographer but he also will literally scale walls and scramble down gutters to get some of the concert and event photography I’ve been lucky enough to share on the blog. I’ve seen thousands of concert photographs over the years but I don’t think it’s any exaggeration to say that Pete is as near to a modern day Bob Gruen or Pennie Smith as you’re going to see. Live concert photography isn’t easy nor does everything go to plan but the composition and sheer brilliance in so many of Pete’s stills would make you think he had days to plan his photos rather than fractions of seconds.

Luckily for us Pete was able to get full access to the Justice tonight event at The Scala in London last week. By now you probably know what happened that night and who the key players were on stage. While it’s great to read the accounts and see the choppy live footage on youtube unless you were there nothing does an event justice (tonight) like great photography. With that said I picked some of my favourite photos that Pete took from that night and they feature in the gallery below. Just click on any photo and they will enlarge and you can scroll through them. If like me you have a bit of time to linger please study the photos, if you had any doubt how much Mick enjoyed this along with the others the photos will enlighten you. One of my favourites is the expression of Peter Hooton when hugging Mick, magic stuff.

Thanks as ever to Pete – you’re a great friend and it’s my pleasure to share your work with everyone.

All the best, I’ll be in touch from San Diego or somewhere out that way. Tim