Good morning and thanks for dropping in, my apologies if you’ve again had troubles accessing the site in recent days. Hacking bastards have been striking wordpress sites on our hosting company this week and being a nuisance, if it happens again we may need to change to a hosting company with better security than Gadhafi. A drain pipe? Seriously, I thought these types of chaps were supposed to have a secret hideaway inside a volcano. I’ll even venture that we have no idea what really transpired in Libya this year. Anyway, it’s extra frustrating when I write this and people can’t access it to read it. Going back one post I’ll have part two of Joe Strummer/Palmers Green put together as soon as I can. For the time being I hope your weekend is good and you’ll spend some time reviewing some other news that I needed to get current on. Please check back Sunday/Monday as I’ve got something Clash related that might make you want to move to Australia or at least visit.

This story reminds me of when an old footballer has to sell his FA Cup medals to pay for surgery but it’s pretty sad to read that Alan McGee is selling off his old Oasis memorabilia, even though the clear reason as to why isn’t documented. You’d have to guess cash though surely? I know Mick Jones (as evidenced by his Rock and Roll Public Library) is a keen collector but do you wonder what Bernard Rhodes might have sitting in his flat from the early days of The Clash? Rhodes is someone that causes a lot division amongst Clash fans but you can’t overlook his contribution to what the band were – I know the band acknowledge his impact. For better or worse he tends to keep a very low profile these days and as a rule has caused controversy on the rare occasions when he opens his mouth. In the very early days of the blog I tried to write about Rhodes and get some sort of pulse beyond all the accepted wisdom. I genuinely believe the truth is that his return to the band was the single most important ingredient in both The Clash reaching new levels of success (work harder boys!) but also planted the inner tensions that led to the band removing Topper and later Mick Jones. Whether one day Rhodes will tell his full tale looks pretty unlikely at this late stage but I think we’ll find out a great deal more next year with some Clash related books I’ve been expecting. (more on that soon).

Back in 2009 I even exchanged a series of semi-cryptic emails with Bernard Rhodes but they led to a mounting pile of riddles versus something quotable. I offered him a forum to tell his side of some events or simply tell us about the intervening years, instead I was asked numerous questions about myself and why I would be interested in looking back at something that was so misrepresented. That misrepresentation was inferred rather than stated but it was clear that Mr. Rhodes was not that keen on how history (or at least the history of this band) has marked his card. What can’t be doubted however is that were it not for him in the first instance the very idea of The Clash as we know them could probably never have happened. That in itself dictates enough attention to explore in more depth if you ask me.

The last time I communicated with him was immediately after the sad loss of Malcolm McLaren to offer extended condolences for which he thanked me. While the two men are seen in hindsight at great rivals (they were) it can’t be overlooked that they were also deep friends and inspirational to one another. The real tale of Bernie Rhodes will probably remain known to him and a few others only which is a shame as it’s one I know people would love to know. He still is an observer and a man with a profound legacy on an era of music and counter culture (the counter culture was truly his greater focus) that mattered a lot to so many of us. Moreover punk but what followed because of it changed the industry forever and indeed changed many of us just as dramatically.

If by some odd chance you read this Bernard, I hope all is well with you and the offer stands if you ever want to share even a part of your past or indeed your present with us. We’re a pretty open minded bunch as far as I know. I know only one thing for sure – he would love all of the #occupy events taking place globally, he’s been writing about the corruption for years on his website. I know many readers of the blog have had some very unique brushes with The Clash but did any of you ever have any experience meeting their manager either during his two stints in charge or during the subsequent years? I hope it’s not just me who sits and wonders about many such details? Right then I’m off to play football but you can t remember you can keep current via Facebook, Twitter get the RSS feed for the blog or email me and as ever thanks for reading and circulating the blog wherever and whenever you see fit. Tim

Tuesday afternoon – welcome back. I need a break from looking at numbers so I thought instead I’d write some words and see what came out, ideally a good ratio of them will be related to The Clash so you’ll want to read the whole thing. Apart from the heat it is a beautiful day here and one that makes me wish I owned an old TR4 and take a spin on west London’s most exciting road. Now I hope that you’ll know what a TR4 is and failing that realise which road I’m referring too. It is such a sunny day that I think we should take a run with the traffic on the Westway – our quick stop review of assorted good, bad and oddities in the world of all things Clash. So if we’ve got enough cash for petrol we’ll ease on and see what lays ahead.

 Do you miss your Big Audio Dynamite vinyl? You can follow that link to get a full mp3 download of The Globe 12″ from almost 20 years ago. I wish that wasn’t true but it is (early 1992) saw the arrival of this often overlooked single plus more remixes (4) than you can shake a stick at. The new version of B.A.D. were very different from Mick’s first line up and this track remains one of the very best in my humble opinion. For added MP3 goodness there is also the 8 minute mix of Rush. Thanks to the site Fun With Vinyl – always a great site and something I’d love to do if I had some spare time.

Some Joe Strummer art. Yes it’s pictured to the left but please visit the website of Amy Hood instead for three reasons. 1/ It’s a bigger image and therefore better quality 2/ You can learn about Amy and see more of her work 3/ It’s Joe Strummer. You don’t need more reasons, she’s also looking for feedback on her work. I can’t create art so I bow to everyone who can, especially when they realise a Clash member makes a good subject. Yes, Joe does have a hawk perched on his shoulder and Amy explains why on the site.

Bob Gruen interview and exhibition: Regular readers will know that I’m a huge fan of great Clash photography and Bob Gruen sits right up there with Penny Smith when it comes to The Clash. They should do a speaking tour together, can you imagine both of them discussing so many of the greatest photos ever taken of a band? Gruen’s track record is long and remarkable and his work alongside his deep friendship with Joe Strummer and the rest of the band can’t be undersold. This interview with Gruen in The National Post is short and sweet but it’s in conjunction with his ongoing exhibition at the Liss Gallery in Toronto which runs until Nov 3. Hope some of you can get along to that!

Shepard Fairey and Joe Strummer: The Vinyl District is an exceptionally enjoyable site and they’ve come up with a great piece about Fairey and Strummer in relation to the recent mural that I covered last week recently completed in Asbury, New Jersey. Angie compiled this article and it’s well worth a read as it reviews Fairey’s work on the mural along with earlier work, his influences and her opinion of the significance of his art. I can’t help but feel he might be the ideal candidate to create something ‘official’ (not that I like that word too much) in London to recognise Strummer. Anyway, please read the piece and leave a comment if you can.

Frank Turner interview explains the Strummerville connection: Remarkably this came from our local listings/music rag Phoenix New Times. I highly recommend Frank Turner’s new disc by the way and read the link to find out about how he became involved with Strummerville. He’s a rare breed indeed, an English solo artist who is achieving a little bit of a following on this side of the pond with music that actually has something to say.

Just like that we’ve buzzed through five new pieces, I’ve got another large pile of tales and links waiting so I’ll be sure to bring you some more Westway traffic in the next few days. If you see, read or hear of something that you think might be of interest to the blog please get in touch. I’ve also revised the recommended signage to sit above the A40 (The Westway) as you head into London below, what do you think? I’m off then – but remember you can keep current via Facebook, Twitter get the RSS feed for the blog or email me and as ever thanks for sharing the blog wherever and whenever you see fit. Tim

Hello again you wonderful Clashites (is that a word?) and welcome to a happy Monday. It’s happier than usual here as it’s a holiday Monday of sorts, something to do with some bloke who claimed to have discovered America. The native Americans and Vikings might have something to say on that matter although I’ve already discounted the piece of folklore that it was initially an Irish monk, although every other person here does claim to be partly Irish. I, on the other hand, actually am to the tune of 50% (cheers Mum). Right, I’m sure you didn’t land on the site today to learn such mundane facts so let me leap over to a wall in New Jersey for something more interesting.

Most of you will already be familiar with agitprop, politico and cultural artist Shepard Fairey. More importantly than that he’s also a huge Clash fan which raises his profile significantly as far as we’re concerned. Amongst his most famous pieces were Obama ‘hope’ (but the republicans don’t wanna share any) and a very nice Joe Strummer piece or two. I like Fairey’s work a great deal but I don’t like his name as I have to check the spelling every single time I write it.

Anyway Mr SF has been up to more great things with the recent completion and unveling of a giant mural on the wall of famed Asbury Lanes in Asbury Park, New Jersey. I’ve never been to Asbury Park although it’s famed in Clash lore from previous visits by the band – it looks a little bit like Southend meets Clacton. Correct me if I’m wrong. The mural is rather lovely and holds exta significance to us as it features Joe Strummer as one of the six punk icons on the piece. I may be biased but I also think that Joe looks by far the coolest of the six, I also take issue with who those six people should have been. At present the representatives are Joey Ramone, Johnny Rotten, Joe Strummer, Glenn Danzig, Ian MacKaye and Henry Rollins. I’d probably take the first three and Henry Rollins (who deserves something for longevity). I’d probably include Paul, Topper and Mick but the wall isn’t big enough and let’s stick to one member per band. You could make a very good case for removing Danzig and MacKaye (maybe if I was exposed to Minor Threat at the time I’d feel differently?) and replace with any two from Dave Vanian, Pete Shelley, Siouxsie Sioux, Stiv Bators or Jello Biafra. I’m sure I’m missing other equally worthy names but nobody asked me. What do you think?

Let’s not get away from how cool the wall is however and I think/hope this will become another one of those places that must be visited if you’re in that part of the world. I do of course think yet again that this reiterates a huge gap in West London. We need something Clash inspired and permanent.

Please click on each photo for a larger view and before I forget I must give credit to those who took them, the top two are from Jason Persse check his stream as there’s some great stuff , while the final image titled Mount Rushcore was by Breathless Conni (apparently).

There is space (based on the last photo) for at least 3 or 4 more but I’d have to assume this is he completed version. Art lovers let me know? Okay time to enjoy some sunshine, remember that you can keep current via Facebook, Twitter get the RSS feed for the blog or email me and as ever I appreciate you sharing the blog wherever you can. October is off to a great start for visits so keep coming back if you like. Tim