Hello Clash friends, decent weekend? I hope so, mine was alright but filled with obligations so it felt like it passed at an even quicker rate than usual. Therefore any chance I had at writing a post last night was snuffed out. In fact it’s 10pm as I write this without much of a story in mind so I’ll see what I can shake out of the trees and/or finish the post tomorrow if needed. Have you ever considered how many great bands have hailed from Scotland over the last 30-35 years and when you consider the population is just over 5 million it is quite a testament. One of these days I’ll put together a list of my favourite Scottish bands, I’d have to say the vast majority would be post 1980 but that really covers my (relative) area of expertise. It was a thought that never occurred to me when The Clash were active but you almost have to consider that Joe was half Scottish or at least inspired by that to some extent, I’m English born but with my Mum being Irish I’ve only ever really considered my ‘half-Irishness’ more as an adult. I know that Joe was more drawn to that part of his heritage in his later years. I always felt like a mutt really. Who were the original/better Scottish punk bands anyway, nothing is springing to mind from 1977 (ish). I think the post-punk period was more favourable North of that border, but go ahead and prove me wrong.

Vince White is still going update. For those in the minority that still think The Clash MKII were full of good ideas you might enjoy this link to a new song by Vince White. Even if you don’t like the song you might enjoy his hair. Even if you don’t like his hair you might remember the 4:03 you spent as time you’ll never get back. —update — Good news, this is another Vince White, apologies to the real Vince White, that one is still busy plotting the overthrow of government in London. I was misled by the video being tweeted hashtag The Clash!! —- Actually I’m being unfair, it would be a poor  retelling of history to suggest that the stand in members of The Clash over those final years were treated well, particularly at the very end. Nor were they on much more than a hiding to nothing once that final album went into to the studio. It’s a piece of Clash history that I feel really unqualified to tell and judge it on the music only, those weren’t good times for Joe or Paul if interviews are anything to go by. I did see that final lineup of the band live and it wasn’t awful. I know many of you have good memories of their live performances at the time even allowing for the lack of Topper and Mick. There seems to be a lot ill-will from that period of time so examining it in much detail doesn’t seem to be very healthy and Joe for obvious reasons and Bernie Rhodes for personal ones aren’t filling in the gaps. As a rule of thumb I’ve somewhat excluded that part of The Clash story on the blog although it hasn’t been a conscious decision, perhaps I need to revisit that?

If you’ve wondered recently whether Mick Jones might get pulled back into another stint as producer of The Libertines (if that reunion was to be permanent) you probably received your answer with the news that Pete Doherty has been sent back to prison for six months. It seems that will be the final straw that closes the book on The Libertines and the patience of Carl Barât with regards to Pete. It seems that based on the last six or seven years that jail is not where Doherty is going to find successful rehabilitation which only underscores the tragic waste of of his talent in my opinions. Not only does that put paid to his UK tour but also I think the hopes of a full reunion of The Libertines. There’s also other unfinished cases of guilt by association over Doherty regarding the deaths of ….you know what I won’t even bother you can look it up in the gutter press which now appears to officially be The Daily Mail. Just type Daily Mail and Pete Doherty into your search engine and ask yourself if that outstanding newspaper just might have a vendetta of sorts? On a slightly more positive note I’m looking forward to the forthcoming Libertines film perhaps getting a US release (or at least a DVD). It has been released in the UK and here’s a link to the interview with director Roger Sargent at the London premier. I think there are some strange parallels to The Clash even beyond the music.

This has hardly been my most positive/focused update ever has it? Ah well, I’ll be back tomorrow with some Strummerville news that is worth knowing about. See you in the comments – Tim. Oh and Ryan Giggs….I guess add me to the list of those to be sued, you had an affair with Imogen (don’t call me Michael) Thomas.

You’re still at the right website, we’re just giving it a bit of a Roman makeover for one day only. In honour of Fiat, the Roman invasion of England, boring football, great food and some of the best clothing and shoes known to man The Clash Blog is taking on some culture vespa style for an Italian Job but for a special reason. One of my favourite things about the blog is that its generated a truly global audience, during any given month readers from over 100 nations stop in at the blog for a read about The Clash. While 2/3 of our readers come from the UK/US/Canada/Australia & New Zealand I’m especially grateful to those thousands of visits from other countries each month who decipher my English on a regular basis and don’t worry – I can guarantee that your English is far better than my foreign language skills. Anyway, I feel (and hoped) from day one that the blog would create a global readership – something that is fully in keeping with the audience of The Clash in the first place. Every week when I look at the visits to the site Italy is always high on the list of readers and this week is the best week imaginable for Clash fans in Italy.

To commemorate the 30th anniversary of The Clash playing at Vigorelli in Milan on May 21st 1981 a special five day Clash celebration kicked off in Milan yesterday and continues on until May 15th, five days of Clash events at one location. The celebration features a huge collection of memorabilia, live music, drink, special DJ sets, movie screenings and guest appearances including Ray Gange (from Rude Boy). It’s not just the biggest Clash convention in Italy but really the most comprehensive event of its kind in the world (London really needs to step it up and match this if you ask me). I’ll include all the links you need at the bottom of this post but if you’re in Italy or it’s possible to get to Milan this weekend I am sure you’ll be glad to make it to Milan for this one. Here is the official press blurb in English below for the events still on tap:

Thu 12 May

-From19.00 drinks in outdoor garden and  Dj Set ALIOSCIA from Casino Royale & TOMMY TUMBLE supporting Mirko Mazzali

-Inside from 20.00 VIDEO:

RUDE BOY

THE FUTURE IS UNWRITTEN

JOE STRUMMER AND THE LATINO ROCKABILLY WAR

Live 24/10/1989  Milan – Piazzetta Reale

-From 23.00 Dj Set CEGNA

Fri 13 May

-From 19.00 drinks on outdoor garden &  Dj Set

(inside video and rarities)

-22.30 Theatre (with live soundtrack) “CLASH TO ME” by Andrea Merendelli & Stra

-From 24.00 Dj set by LEE GARNETT & ALE LEUCI Twist and Shout special version

Sat 14 May

-From 19.00 drinks on outdoor garden &  Dj Set

-From 22.00 Live Concert:

LINEA (Milan)

THE STAB (Bologna)

KLAXON (Rome)

-From 24.00 Dj Set by  Mr RAY GANGE from London (protagonist of the movie on Clash “Rude Boy”) with SHANTY TOWN special edition Ft Dh Henry.

Sun 15 May

-From 19.00 drinks on outdoor garden &  Dj Set FOR(GET) THE 80’S SELECTER

-From 21.00 Debate on Clash:

“the past, the present and the future of an idea that doesn’t want to die” Host (among the others)

RAY GANGE, TONY FACE BACIOCCHINI, MARCO PHILOPAT and MAURO ZACCURI

-From 23.00 Dj Set FOR(GET) THE 80’S SELECTER

This is a really passionate event by people who want to claim their sense of belonging, cause the Clash were not a band, they were THE BAND. The essence of music, style and politics that has not equal in the rock music history. From the London Westway to the whole world, an overwhelming success that never changed the identity of the band which influenced a generation and whose social message is still alive today, maybe more than ever. In 2011, in Milan, in this Milan, “living” the Clash for five days in a row is a sweeping event. We are looking forward to seeing you there!!!

(Event Media Partners: Italian Clash City Rockers – RadioClash.it – Radio Alternative – Punkitaliano.it – United We Stand – United Communication – Know Your Right (Sicurezza Sul Lavoro) – The Legend Joe Strummer – Punkadeka – Tributo Ufficiale Italiano a Joe Strummer)

FREE ENTRANCE Only With ARCI Card

It all takes place at a Cultural Association (a club) in Milan May 11th – May 15th 2011 @ ARCI BITTE – VIA WATT 37 – MILANO. For more information in English I’d suggest you check out the Facebook page, for photos have a look at this link and for the Italian page follow this link. If you manage to go along and would like to share your summary of the experience please contact me and we’ll get that published. The whole event is in proud association with Strummerville. It looks like it will be something very special indeed and I hope we can get a report from the front line later in the week. Who is going to create a rival event in London? It’s overdue…see you in the comments. Spero che riuscirete a partecipare a questo evento! Salute – Tim.

Hello once more, thanks for making a return visit to your Clash Blog. Football is an evil mistress I must say, every August it gathers your hopes up and depending on who you support keeps you emotionally invested for the better part of 9 months at which point you either are rewarded with occasional success on as for most teams (as in life) a more normal result is just taking part without perhaps being top of the class. So it’s been with my club this season who let me down again but I’ll be back and full of hope again in just a few months, it’s not officially time to congratulate Manchester United yet but I’ll do so anyway. Funnily enough this weekend also saw Mick Jones at Loftus Road enjoying an even more rare moment of exultation as his team Queens Park Rangers won promotion back to the top flight of English football returning to the highest division after a 15 year absence. I can’t even imagine how happy he must be this weekend, as a lifelong supporter these are the moments you wait and wait and sometimes keep waiting for. If you’ve no profound interest in football/soccer and want to try then may I suggest QPR (Arsenal will only drive you mental) as they not only play just a short distance from where The Clash first got to know each other but with Mick’s allegiance it is sort of an unofficial Clash FC.

It has been a week of rare Clash finds at least, just a few days after some of the footage from the Jamaica World Music Festival making its way on to YouTube there is an Ebay listing that if authentic might be rather exciting. Needless to say I’ve not got the money to find out so I wondered if I could ask a thousand of you to each contribute £2.50 then we can make a lowball offer of £2,500 and see if he bites, then of course we’ll all be part owners of it and can share it around the internet…or something. To what do I refer?

According to this ebay listing these are the original tapes (the big old 1/4″ tapes) from the CBS sessions with The Clash at Whitfield Street back in 1977 produced by Mickey Foote. It (looks like) seems there are 4 tapes in all consisting of three 4 song sessions and also a near complete version of the debut album. Let’s go with the logic that these are 100% authentic and we’d expect there to be studio chatter along with earlier demo versions of many of the tracks that the band were working on in February, March and April of 1977. I’m not at the level of historian where I would know what question could be asked of the seller to verify their authenticity but perhaps you are. Either way if legitimate I’m truly amazed to even see these for sale on ebay, they should be in the hands of Jones, Simonon, Strummer or in the British Museum if you ask me. Also, for those with better scientific knowledge than me (that would be anyone reading this) what sort of condition would 1/4″ magnetic tape be in 34 years after the recording and how would you transfer the recording? Perhaps CBS should purchase this on our behalf and release this at a special price for true fans rather than yet another Greatest Hits collection of songs/version we already own. Seller is in Glasgow, tell me more if you’ve already seen this listing.

Check out the full listing and let me know what you think – more photos below including a letter about the history of these. Looks like the auction runs til Friday…. Tim (Make sure you read the comments below, some interesting stuff – thanks all)