Comments on: Why I'm glad The Clash never reformed

By: Tim at The Clash Blog

Tim at The Clash Blog — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 22:22:14 +0000

LOL……yes…the zenith of journalism

By: Karl

Karl — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 20:47:07 +0000

Can’t see it happenin’ somehow, but if it was in the Sun it must be true.

By: Tim at The Clash Blog

Tim at The Clash Blog — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 03:23:38 +0000

Interesting…I’ll have a look around!

By: Andy Parker

Andy Parker — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 22:22:29 +0000

I read that Bruce Foxton and Paul Weller have been working together in the studio for a Weller solo album! Think it was The Sun.

http://www.clashmusic.com/news/the-jam-edge-closer-to-reformation

Do you think Foxton might ask Weller to join From The Jam for a date or two? [screams]

By: Pete Stevens

Pete Stevens — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 18:06:57 +0000

Another huge difference between the two was the fact that the majority of the Stones Roses audience were completely blissed out on E’s and totally oblivious to the shortcomings of the ‘live performance’. As much as I love their first album and admire Ian Brown as one of the great frontman, he couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket at times. I’ve looked at a lot of live footage too as well, believe me. The recorded album though is another matter entirely. Pure genius.

Before I incur the wrath of any lurking mad Roses fans – a limited edition John Squire print of the first album cover, sans lemons and typography hangs above my desk, next to an original signed Kate Simon photographic print of The Clash first album front cover image. I have ALL the early singles and the Stones Roses discs occupy a sizeable chunk of space twixt Stiff Little Fingers and The Stooges. A shame their initial creativity was effectively killed off by their music business contractual wrangles.

Maybe they should have gone in for custom painting and decorating services…!

By: Tim at The Clash Blog

Tim at The Clash Blog — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 17:28:01 +0000

Pete,
Yeah I was comfortable with The Clash being 30ish years ago – the Stone Roses 20th made me really check the calendar! I think the Stone Roses argument is strengthened by the fact that it was only good album they made. Imagine if The Clash followed up their debut with noting much…(then they’d be the Pistols?)

By: Pete Stevens

Pete Stevens — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 17:10:53 +0000

The Happy Mondays really were fairly hedonistic/apolitical. Great band, but they really don’t transcend time the way The Clash do. The Stones Roses, eponymous first album is re-released tomorrow, here in the UK, celebrating 20 years since its original release…Has it really been THAT long….?!??! Because of the influences it’s also quite timeless. There is an argument that it’s the greatest British debut album of all time……

By: Tim at The Clash Blog

Tim at The Clash Blog — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 16:44:33 +0000

Fantastic posts Pete and Bronx…there’s not really much I can add. There’s something (for some of us) that music can do and leave the branding of an experience with us forever. I’m not even sure it’s about The Clash versus having a devotion to Happy Mondays (or whomever)…it’s about the passion and the awareness of events that shape us.

By: Pete Stevens

Pete Stevens — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 16:30:09 +0000

Hi Bronx….

(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais will be playing full blast as I go up in flames mate, I’m planning later rather than sooner though…

It’s about the lasting influence, the philosophy and of course the music. Some of us are luckier than others, seeing The Clash in their prime, burning brighter than anything else in the musical firmament at the time. For anyone in any doubt watch Henry Rollins’ description of first seeing The Clash from Don Letts’ excellent documentary ‘Punk – Attitude’. He has nailed it precisely.

Some may disagree about the term ‘Punk’, but the Clash were about creatively challenging the status quo, not blindly accepting the world as it was both musically and politically and moving forward. Once it had been reduced to a safety pin, a leather jacket and a crazy-colour mohican it was all over.

I’m not sure many would’ve foreseen the massive change in the music industry over the last decade. All the recent reunions have seen ageing groups reform ostensibly ‘for the money’, content to shake their spreading midriffs, as well as their old guitar riffs for the forties, fifties and fatties, in exchange for a sizeable portion of their large disposable incomes.

I didn’t see Elvis, Dylan, The Beatles, Hendrix, The Stones in their prime…I was just too young. The Clash were MY time. Thirty seconds into ‘Safe European Home’ at a crumbling old theatre in Hyde Road, Manchester and my life was changed forever….It’s the spirit, attitude and philosophy which prevails. It’s about thinking for yourself and taking your life forward.

Pete, Acton, London.

By: bronx

bronx — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 08:29:41 +0000

leave it the way it is,as now and again,you can still here and see the clash in one off gigs,the most recent was mick at glastonbury pumping out clash tunes,im sure paul will be doing something away from his painting,and joe still alive in every clash song that anyone sings,from the bedroom to the main stage,they may have split from stage but they never split in spirit,they will be here long after most bands of today and yesterday,as after 30 year and ive never known the clash to be sidelined,from anyone that has came across this music of the people,when im 70 you will still hear white man noising up the retirement home