Hello again and welcome back to the blog, I hope your day mirrored mine in that you occasionally see something (a concert, a sunset, a pretty girl) that you know wasn’t exclusively for you but you realise you’ll remember it for years and maybe decades to come. In my years of going to concerts there are a few dozen that I’ll never forget in fairly explicit detail, while hundreds of others were great, good, fair or awful it’s the occasional brilliant moments we cherish.  I had one such moment today, I’ve been following Arsenal since I was a tiny kid and regularly attended games throughout my time living in London. Since leaving England I can’t say my commitment to the team has changed (it might be stronger than ever) and I probably watch 98% of their games even when it involves getting up at 430am to see them as it sometimes does. Over those 35+ years I’ve seen a few thousand goals and although you enjoy them all, once in a while you see one that you know will stick with you for many years to come. So it was a few hours ago when Samir Nasri scored a goal of pure grace today it makes you appreciate the beauty of the sport. I’ll enjoy that for a long, long time.

So this got me thinking about the first time I heard The Clash and the first time I saw them. It made me remember being introduced to songs and bands that become almost a part of who you are as they become embedded in your character. If you’re anything like me you’ll defend the music you love as much you might your own family (or perhaps more). If someone tries to convince me that The Clash don’t belong in a list of the 5 most important bands of all time we’ll have a long debate in store. If a legitimate fan of music tries to say that The Clash weren’t the single most influential English band to emerge from the punk/post punk era we’re going to have to disagree. I also looked at what The Clash and my football club have in common and it’s my big brother, who really introduced me to both.

My older brother turns 50 tomorrow, which I can’t quite fathom. Yes, he has always been 7 1/2 years older than me and the aging process was inevitable but surely he can’t be turning 50 years old. I remember the first post I ever wrote for this blog and reflecting on how my brother’s room was always the home of everything I felt guided by. In 1973 I’d take his Arsenal programs from his wardrobe to read while looking at the sleeves of albums by T-Rex, David Bowie and Roxy Music. The music that came from his  room was a constant soundtrack to being an adolescent and building expectations of what being a teen might be. By 1977/8 I understood that music was more than a hobby for him as it dictated his clothes, his girlfriends and the concerts he attended. I must have been ten when I noticed there was more passion and fire in the singles and albums he was playing, as Elvis Costello, The Clash had begun to dominate his turntable, replacing Queen and Wings. Later that summer of ‘78 when I just turned eleven was when it all made sense to me. He took me to record shops, I started my own collection of vinyl. He started taking me to concerts, I began my own journey of determining what live music represents. I was already obsessed with football and suddenly I had to find time read the NME, Melody Maker and find the extra cash for the next single that he recommended.

I’ve no idea if I would have found The Clash and so much brilliant music without my brother, I’d like to think so but I can’t be sure. I’ve no idea if I may have instead found love for cricket or rugby if it wasn’t for him, probably not as we lived to play football when I was five…but I might not have attached myself to Arsenal. I’m so lucky my big brother left his bedroom door ajar for me to listen and I can simply say ‘Thank You’.

Happy 50th David.

Good Morning, welcome back (or thanks for your first ever visit), I’m armed with coffee and a touch of melancholy today. Some sour things (there’s a trio of deaths lingering around us this week….these things really do happen in threes) are offset by the fact that the sun is out the breeze is lovely and Arsenal just won another critical game (staying alive one game at a time) and if Wolves can win in the next hour a pint of lager will be in order later on.

I’ve only got one real bit of news this morning but I’m quite excited about it. Since the earliest days of the blog I’ve always felt it natural to lend our support to Strummerville as much as possible. As most of you know Strummerville was established shortly after the death of Joe by Lucinda Strummer who oversaw the original ideas behind the trust, she remains a trustee. I don’t think it would be wrong of me to say that for many of those who love Joe and The Clash that Strummerville has become a living, breathing idea keeping alive the spirit of Strummer. If not the embodiment of what Joe was all about then certainly as near as we can ask for. If someone had to keep the ideals going, far better that it was the people who work hard each day for Strummerville than CBS/Sony, the rock and roll hall of fame, or some other option. Elvis has Graceland and Strummer has Strummerville, having experienced both I know which side our bread is buttered on. What’s remarkable about the trust is the growing diversity of projects that they support, you may be surprised at the breadth of work that they now do. The assistance they provide in developing new music is about the most fitting tribute to Joe Strummer that I can imagine.

Joe was someone who never gave up his desire to make a difference via music and relished sharing his love of new artists from all avenues. From his boyhood days in boarding school being obsessed with listening to pirate radio under the covers, to his final touring when nothing made him happier than digging through a record shop to see what he could uncover and add to his carrier bag. His passion for music never waned. For some of us the importance of music in our life remains as critical in our 30’s, 40’s, 50’s as it did when we waited for the next single by our favourite band when we were thirteen. It seems though that for so many getting an education, a good job, having a family, new hobbies gradually relegate music until it becomes little more than a soft soundtrack to life in general and the passion for new music flickers out and then dies. I can’t relate to that. I’ve been asked ‘why do you still care so much about music?’ and ‘why didn’t you grow out of being excited about new bands’ – I’ve been just as confused by their stance when reality TV, a bigger car, or new golf clubs take the place in their heart and desire that used to be occupied by music. I’ve never found a substitute for music and I hope I never do – I feel lucky to be in the same place that Joe Strummer always seemed to be – that the next record you hear might be one of the best you’ve ever heard. Accidentally (as usual) I’ve gone way off topic.

I write about Strummerville today as I’m thrilled and honoured to announce an exclusive interview with Trish Whelan the Charity Director at Strummerville. Trish is just getting all the loose ends together for the trip to the SXSW festival in Austin which is having a huge slice of Strummer related events (see yesterday’s post). As much as I lament living in a world without Strummer (I constantly read ‘we really need Joe Strummer in days like these’) I think we should be thankful that we have a world with Strummerville and the work that they do.

I’ll ask Trish as many questions as I can think of but hoped you might be able to help me out with other ideas? If there is a specific question you have for Trish about Strummerville I’d love to include it when we speak. Email me via the blog – or contact me via the facebook page or twitter – I’ll do all I can to get all questions answered. I know Strummerville are proud and excited at the growth of these last six years and a growing profile in North America can be anticipated. Get in touch – this will be fun.

Cheers – Tim

It’s probably a sign that you are thinking about The Clash Blog too often when you find yourself in the shower singing ‘Guns of Brixton’. That in and of itself isn’t such a bad thing until I tell you it was the excerpted version from Sandinista! as sung by the child. So there I was singing the kid’s version out of key and at the wrong speed looking for that perfect match – the acoustics of our bathroom lending credence to my poor poor effort. Easy money trivia question for you – who sings this version on the album and who are they (in relation to the band). Off topic from The Clash but football is relevant to some of us, based on this story where do you think this situation is going to end? My area of expertise if I have one was apparently economic and based on that information something is going to give quite soon and I fear it might be the whole house of cards.

So where did the Clash stand when it came to football (soccer to one small percentage of the planet)? I know that the beautiful game was seen as the ideal team building exercise during the rehearsals for and recording of London Calling in the Summer of 1979. By all accounts Mick was the closest the band had to a natural player with a fair amount of flair to his game but perhaps lacking in physique to take much punishment in a midfield role. I think Joe was a very casual player and there’s little account of him being terribly ’sporty’. Paul loved art and I don’t think had much time for football, also worth noting that football in England in 1976 was nothing like today, a very white and British streak ran through 98% of teams as players from elsewhere were a luxury (or novelty) depending on your point of view. Prior to 1979 there were but a handful of players in the league who were back much to the discredit of the game. Thankfully that is no longer the case, the game is completely integrated and racism on the terraces is greatly diminished and in most circumstances essentially eliminated (I should add an asterisk for Spain). I can’t imagine Simonon relating to a very brutal game and segregated scene as it was in that era. Topper? I’ve no idea….perhaps his autobiography will reveal more.

Mick is by all accounts a pretty loyal Queens Park Rangers fan who does attend games, the once fashionable yet small West London club had their

Stan Bowles in action for QPR in 1975

best spell in the mid-late 1970’s (sounds like The Clash?) and over the last two decades have been away from the top flight and out of the public eye. For a few short years Q.P.R. were not only playing some great stuff but also attracting some of the more flamboyant players in the league, this was in the day when mixing booze, gambling, women and long hair was all in good standing so long as you did the business on a Saturday afternoon. Rangers home stadium is a long goal kick away from Shepherd’s Bush and the Westway making it a natural club for all things Clash related.

As for Joe despite naming a song Tony Adams (if you have to ask who he is I’ll be insulted…so try google) he wasn’t an Arsenal fan although Johnny Rotten most certainly is. Strummer showed a moderate interest in the fortunes of Chelsea, who occupy the rich and famed end of West London. It wasn’t always so in the 1970’s and 80’s Chelsea were the third biggest side in London rarely rising above average and nothing like the current bankrolled team. I used to always worry that if I ever met Joe Strummer would I be able to keep my dislike for Chelsea to myself? Being a football fan is the most annoying heritage sometimes if you meet someone and you know who they support. Twice in my life I met musical legends (to me anyway) and both times I put my foot in my mouth about football almost before saying how much I loved their musical talent. So thanks to Billy Bragg (West Ham) and Damon Albarn (Chelsea) for humouring me and especially Damon who wrote 1-0 Chelsea repeatedly on my arm and anything else nearby worth signing when I met him in Chicago many years ago.

I’ll explore the Clash/football aspects further for the blog – if you’ve anything to add the usual way to contact me applies!

Cheers