Hello again, I’m just about to have a bit of lunch so I thought I’d get a short update together while I’m at it. Hope the weekend went well and you’re fighting the good fight at work or school. After yesterday I didn’t fancy the loss of another icon but indeed I hear that Ken Russell has died at age 84 today – if you ever wanted to know what a punk rock filmmaker in the 60′s & 70′s looks like you’d do well to check out his career. I’d sum him up in one word – brash – in an industry that is so often dull and predictable which makes it more of a shame that he spent the last 20 years on the sidelines from notable success. Right then, some Clash related things to rifle through.

I’ll argue at length that alongside The Clash one of the most important British punk bands were Buzzcocks and even if others may have developed a bigger following I think they have inspired loads of great bands since in addition to their own brilliance. What was very unique about them was that a key member left right as the band were getting started. Howard Devoto was an integral part of their formation but departed after they only played live eleven times but not before they had completed the brilliant spiral scratch EP. Devoto didn’t vanish though as he immediately formed the very different but exceptionally good Magazine who soldiered on until 1981. Therefore if you’re one of the few who saw the original lineup of Buzzcocks you’d be one of a very rare breed of probably less than 3,000 people. Does that apply to any of you? (we may need proof). However I just read via Louder Than War that the original members are going to play two very special shows together for the first time since ’77 next year. The concerts take place May 25/26 in Manchester and London and I know that’s a long way off but if you’re interested I’d nab a ticket immediately if I were you. I should get over eh? Ticket details are via the linked page above.

Clash collections might be getting a little larger in the printed variety this week with Uncut Magazine released a 148 page special edition devoted to nothing but The Clash. I don’t have a copy yet but it will feature reprints of old interviews, some summaries, dozens of photos and a specially written introduction by Mick Jones. I’ve picked up a few of Uncut’s previous specials and they are good if you’re a collector so look out for one. If you’re in the UK they are at newsagents for £5.95 if you’re elsewhere good stores that offer import magazines should have it within a week or so. Failing that you can order a digital version online here and also be environmentally friendly or ask someone on the blog or facebook page to send you one for Christmas. You can help me get one or grab me a coffee over on the right too….

I need to get back to work, but you can keep in touch via Facebook, Twitter or get the RSS feed  thanks for reading. Tim.

Good evening, a buoyant Arsenal inspired mood then last night (that’s how you do it Manchester(s) and Chelsea) and a heady dose of medicine has me on the happy train. Thanksgiving has been spent sleeping which sits with me more effortlessly rather than celebrating the events that unfurled due to the European expansion in North America. However that’s a longer tale for another day. With that said a short post is probably best for all concerned and I think I’ve got just the thing.

I can’t profess to have seen every single video clip of Clash related footage that exists online, nor can I verify the authenticity of everything I see. I do know that there are some serious Clash anoraks out there who (it seems) are aware of every single live recording and the origins of all video footage available for public consumption. One of those experts may well explain that the video below exists elsewhere or was taken from source a or source b – but I know for myself this is the first time I’ve seen the video below. With that in mind I hope it will be first time for many/most of you also. If you have seen it before my advance apologies, but it’s still worth a watch I’d venture.

Background on this: It was sent to me by a Rikki E who asked me to take a look at the Super 8 video footage that he’d just converted to digital (thank you Rikki). The video was filmed in 1979 and while he’s not sure of the exact date I decided to do some research. Based on the weather and chronological events early in 1979 this looks like it was the day of the infamous cancelled appearance at Beaufort Market on March 31st, 1979. The market was to be closed down and the partial owner (I believe) had arranged a benefit show for free with a number of punk bands that day. Punks streamed into the Kings Road and it seems The Clash were present but the gig was canceled before it ever took place due to a very heavy police prescence and sporadic outbreaks of violence between the police and those who would have made up the audience. I’d only ever read about this event and see one photo of Joe in the crowd before things turned ugly but never seen video before.

The video below is fascinating for the first 1:25 just for the scenes of that part of west London in early ’79 and the fashion of the young punks (they look incredibly young!). At around 1:27 you’ll see a group standing on the pavement and the back of a hat which then cuts forward to reveal none other than Joe Strummer mingling with the kids. Is that Gabby to his right by the way? I need a historian. Things did get messy that afternoon with more than seventy arrested and a number of policemen injured. Were you perhaps there that day?

Enjoy this – it’s rather cool and please join me in thanking Rikki for sending the video over, I genuinely hope it to be unseen (of course most of it certainly is, I refer to the Strummer ‘appearance’). The only similar footage I’ve seen is much of the work compiled by ‘Captain Zip’ between ’78 and ’81 all along The Kings Road and Sloane Square but none of it features Joe Strummer. I remember finally getting down there in early/mid 1982 when hadn’t yet turned 15 to still find stragglers with giant mohicans loitering about, but by then the scene had changed to being one where photos of the punks were exchanged for money or cigarettes.

Archive footage of punks and Joe Strummer. Kings Road, London March 31, 1979

Hello again and thanks for dropping in to the blog, I’ve got a last bit Monday energy to burn off today which is odd seeing as I was absolutely knackered last night. I hope your week began in a good fashion. I wanted to say a large thank you to those of you who have been kind enough to contribute to the ‘Clash blog fund’ so far (see the icon in the right hand margin) I really appreciate it and you can contribute any amount you wish – no minimum amounts required or such nonsense. I’m actually trying to work out something with Strummerville so a portion of all funds will be donated directly to them, at present they are not registered as a charity outside of the UK so I’m hoping that is something we can overcome and allow people to make tax deductible contributions via the blog though it might not happen til next year. More news on that topics soon I do hope, ideally we’ll work something out.

Excellent response to yesterday’s post about 1977, I spent another hour or so looking at music charts from 1977-1980 yesterday. I can’t even begin to express how much ice was broken by punk when you compare what was happening from 1973-1976, things were so stale it’s almost unreal. I’m glad I was 13 in 1980 and not 1974, I think I would have gone a bit mad. I’ll definitely do some more research about those charts and share it with you as I think it’s fascinating. Many feel, which I partly understand that ‘Punk was crucial but what do we have now?’ – and while that argument does hold some water you have to also agree that recent years have at least seen bands (whether or not you like them) who are young and guitar based. I don’t think Arctic Monkeys or The Cribs compare especially well with Wire, XTC or Buzzcocks but it’s huge improvement over what was happening before 1977. I’d be interested to see whom Clash fans would say have been the best bands over the last 5, 10 or 15 years. Bands that have begun within those spells – I’m sure we’d come up with some great names and have a few disagreements. I’d have to give that some thought although Doves, The Libertines, Los Campesinos, Gorillaz, Frightened Rabbit, Elbow and many others come to mind. There’s also been a lot of bands who seem capable of a good album or two but then lose my interest. What’s been your favourite album of the last year? Was it by an old favourite or a new(er) band? I’m convinced that there are more good new bands around now than there wereat the beginning of the 1990′s but much of that could be due to it becoming easier than ever to find new music. Perhaps a more difficult question – does anything in the last decade remind you of The Clash or inspire you the same way? Or how about this – if you’re under 30, who has been the most inspiring newer band of the last 15 years to you, a band that makes you want to get involved and change things? That’s the type of artist I struggle to find – someone with something to say.

Just wanted to go through a few things on The Clash and related newsfeed tonight and there’s certainly plenty to follow this week but I’m aiming for more frequent posts to help overcome that. Off we go then.

Strummercamp Festival 2012 tickets are on sale now! Best news of all they are offering a special early bird price for a limited time. Take my word for it, you will not find a better price and value for a music festival next summer so take advantage now and warm up by making plans for next summer. Here’s the official blurb, Strummercamp 2012 takes place June 1,2,3. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.

EARLY BIRD TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE. In recognition that money is tight we have decided to release cheap early bird tickets for a limited period. For just £50 (or £25 under 16, £100 family 2+2) you can enjoy 3 days of festival fun over 5 stages. Be sure to book your ticket as soon as possible before the early bird tickets sell out.

Strummer film latest: Not sure if this is the project we spoke about at length earlier in the year which I’d assume to be the case, or if that has been shelved and this takes it’s place as the forthcoming Joe Strummer biopic. However this is not to be confused with the film about London Calling, are you still with me? According to Cinemablend.com the film has now been titled ‘The Right Profile’ (still not ideal if you ask me) and will be directed by Julie Delpy which contradicts what we were hearing at the start of the year. If I had my notes that would be more useful but I’ll seek it out.

Former Mescaleros support Noel Gallagher: I’d meant to mention this earlier too but my secretary was on holiday but The Hours which features Anthony Genn and Martin Slattery are providing support to the former Oasis bloke on his current US tour. His new band is called Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds which always reminds me of Monty Python’s Flying Circus which incidentally was almost brilliantly going to be called Owl Stretching Time. The word on the tour was very positive, I don’t know whether they’ll be the opening act for forthcoming Australia/NZ and European dates but if you’ve heard please let me know.

Right then, I ought to consider some dinner I suppose, I don’t feel particularly brilliant tonight so it’ll be an early one with warm milk or something. Don’t forget to share the blog if you can and wish to plus remember you can keep current via Facebook, Twitter or get the RSS feed  thanks for reading. Tim