Bloody hell it’s a busy day here at Clashblog central. Fresh from the Topper interview (see Sunday’s piece) is some really good new stuff – busy for a Monday so you’re all spared me going overboard with my attempts at journalism for at least another 24 hours.

John Dillinger, not a terribly nice chap, finds his way into the Clash orbit today by way of noted Clash fan Johnny Depp. Worth a quick visit is this interview with Depp as he promotes the new film about the gangster. When asked ‘What if Dillinger hadn’t robbed banks? the reply -

And if he were a rocker in today’s world — oh, maybe he would be like Joe Strummer when he was with The Clash

Not for the first time Depp makes sure to reference The Clash. Nice going Captain Kidd or whatever the pirate character is called, I see a C.I.A. nomination ahead.

The far more exciting Clash find today is that Mick Jones had his opening blitz at his Rock and Roll public library. It’s been a topic of conversation in interviews and artifacts appeared on the sleeve art of the CSi album. I’ve been really curious about it – if it’s news to you some of the press release is below and here’s some great photos from the event. Worth noting there’s two more pages of links there and a fuller press release.

Mick Jones, iconic guitarist and songwriter with The Clash, Big Audio Dynamite, and Carbon Silicon, has amassed an impressive collection of the paraphernalia of performance and marketing materials of the bands he has worked with. This archive sits alongside a parallel general collection of books, magazines, videos, ephemera, toys and games which mark out his life, times, and influences. In his west London recording studio and adjoining store, customised stage clothes, instruments, flight cases, records, amplifiers and recording gear, posters, books, boxes of correspondence, photographs and song lyrics, etc all vie for attention in a kind of Aladdin’s cave of popular culture.

Quite a pandora’s box of Clash faces old and new were there including Mick of course plus Paul Simonon, Tony James, Lucinda Mellor (Strummer) Glen Matlock, Leo Williams, James Dean Bradfield, Don Letts, Johnny Green and more…visit the site, it’s great stuff. Oh to be a fly on the wall that night. Also looks like the Carlsberg and Stella was free. For any Clash fans reading this I’d love to know more about public viewing and would jump up and down a bit for your account of Mick’s treasure trove. Just email me the site (Tim (at) TheClashBlog.com) if you can help.

As if that wasn’t enough I urge you to hasten over to the D King gallery who have some really nice collectible Joe Strummer posters for sale such as the one below.

Buy me this please!

Busy day – and we welcomed a host of Bruce Springsteen fans to the site today due to the London Calling video, let’s hope they stick around – Joe would have liked that.

Cheers – Tim

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