Hello you lot and a warm welcome back to the blog for the very first post of 2012. I prefer odd-numbered years so my expectations are lowered somewhat but if you look at some of the greatest things to happen in the last 30 years they happened in odd numbered years, try it out yourself – pick your 3 favourite moments from that last 20 years and you’ll see that his formula works . I’m not consigning 2012 to the pile of shit years just yet though and seeing as it’s only one full day in that would be a bit unfair but you’ve been warned, drop your expectations a bit. So the new year has arrived and I’d love to say that I didn’t get to writing a new post until January 2nd because New Years Eve was such a heavy evening with endless entertainment, libations and brilliant camaraderie. However I live on Phoenix so you’re expecting too much, the truth is with our move to San Diego to take place later this month the first two days of the new year have been consumed with sorting out just what we keep when we move versus sell or donate. Endless work and tiring as well and after a few days away from work, working tomorrow looks increasingly inviting.

Anyway, I hope your New Years Eve was enjoyable and safe and you didn’t get in a fight or dumped by your lover for example. My resolution this year is to listen to more new music, go and spend time at the ocean at least once a week (effective February) and write more. One of those outlets will be this blog of course so expect a bit more frequency and variety but based on this post so far there might be a modicum of impact to quality. I’ll try not to let that happen though – we’ve a big (albeit not as good as we expect) year ahead of us. For today though I thought I’d look back at the most popular stories in terms of total readership with links to the posts from 2011 on the site starting with January through March:

January 2011 -

‘Big Audio Dynamite – Why I’m Excited about this Reunion’ (Jan 23)

As the year kicked off the rumoured tale of a reformation of B.A.D. was confirmed at last. The on again/off again news was almost certainly delayed by Mick’s extended commitment to Gorillaz in 2010 but conversely I suppose you could argue that touring with Gorillaz convinced Mick that pulling the band together wasn’t such a bad idea. It certainly turned out later in the year that Damon Albarn had suggested to Mick that B.A.D. were in many ways the blueprint for Gorillaz which I think does shine through with the very notable exception of the fact that B.A.D. never used guest vocalists. At the time and as you can read on my original post opinions were very sharply divided amongst Clash fans about the reunion with opinion falling into three main camps. 1 – There were those who couldn’t wait mixed with those who had never seen B.A.D. the first time round, the fact that it was the original lineup also cemented interest. 2 – Those who assumed (incorrectly it turned out) that the shows would be a poor nostalgia trip for a band that were no longer vaguely relevant. A common opinion but one that totally disregards what B.A.D. set out to achieve, so much of it was years ahead of the curve. Then there were those who simply pulled Clash comparisons which was about as useful in 2011 as it was in 1985. Thirdly were those that didn’t think much of B.A.D. in the first place and yes, there still are quite a few in that camp. I’m not one of them as you know, I think the first three B.A.D. albums were amongst the best of that era. Anyone my original post looked at a piece in the Guardian that asked if B.A.D were more influential than The Clash, interesting but not something I’d agree with.

February 2011 -

“Big Audio Dynamite ‘First Photos of the Return” (Feb 21)

Almost a full month after the reunion was confirmed the first photographs of a now more senior B.A.D. made this February’s most popular post. It was a bit like seeing a picture of an old school chum who you’d lost contact (pun) with for many years and then suddenly they friend you on Facebook (I keep having that happen). Of course we all knew how Mick and Don Letts were looking circa 2011 and for some of us we’d kept tabs on the members of Dreadzone but seeing the original lineup for the first time was pretty exciting, even if it reaffirmed that we’d all aged twenty years as well. Getting older is such a strange thing, when you look in the mirror or at your loved ones each day you hardly notice the impact of the months and years but suddenly a contrast photograph from 1986 is going to wake us up. I’m happy to still have all my hair I must say although I wish it were still dark and angry instead of a losing battle with the silver. The coolest things about the photos (linked above) were the band were wise enough to choose the same setting as the PR shots for the debut record so many years back. If memory serves tickets also went on sale in February and the buzz was tangible, as was the rumour of North American dates. A rumour that we again were correct about!

March 2011 -

“B.A.D. add concerts in L.A. and New York, venue promptly catches fire” – (Mar 9)

You’re a consistent bunch, I’ll have to hand it to you as again a B.A.D. related story was the most popular post of the month for the third consecutive time. It’s good to go back and recall what a large amount of expectation surrounded these gigs and it turned out some new music to boot. Better still the live performance seemed to get better and better with the passing years seeming helping the technology whilst also beefing up the guitar sound, especially after than band got tightened up (another BAD pun, how does he do it). All that remains is for me to kick myself firmly in the arse for failing to make it to the gigs in Los Angeles. I’m still regretting that on a grand scale.

Image courtesy the AmateurChemist http://www.flickr.com/photos/amateurchemist/

So there we have the first 3 months of last year, the biggest stories dominated by B.A.D. and the return of a band that lived up to and for many people beyond expectations. Whether there is more to come remains to be seen but I think it’s at least quite possible. More soon including part 2 of the 2011 summary. Tim

Hello again everyone and thanks for spending a moment on the blog. I hope that everyone who wanted to nab a ticket for the Mick Jones Review (not really, see yesterday’s post) was successful in their quest, London is already sold out. They ought to add another night(s). I hope I’ll be able to cajole a few of you into compiling some notes about the tour, sending in set lists, photos or moments of madness. Perhaps we’ll start a sweepstakes for the Clash songs that he’ll add to the mix for the 6 night tour. It would be really special if he chooses a dozen or more to rotate and give hundreds of people a chance to hear different Clash songs performed ‘live’ by a member of the band for the first time ever in some people’s cases. I think it is class/common sense that if the song featured Joe on lead vocals he hands the vocal duties over to someone else. It would be extremely odd to hear Jonesy sing a Joe part. Has it ever happened before trivia lovers? Let me know.

In the fog of war this week I almost forgot that in London this Thursday night The Good, The Bad and The Queen played that special Greenpeace anniversary show. Paul Simonon of course reprised his place in the band along with Damon Albarn for what could be but hopefully isn’t a short lived return for the band. Did some of you make it along? Initial thoughts? Get in touch via the usual channels and I’ll dig out some reviews if I can find some.

Paul on Thursday Nov 10, Image courtesy Greenpeace UK

I’d give my eye teeth to see that band live, in such high regard do I hold the solitary album that they recorded. For the time being (I’ve got more stuff later don’t worry) I’ll have to share the video below that features the band performing this week a cover version of sorts as they borrow a song from Gorillaz – Melancholy Hill. What is interesting is that the seeds of that song were written during the making of TGTBaTQ album in the first place according to Damon’s introduction. Make sure you watch the entire video as a special guest appearance is made halfway through and results in a brilliant performance with Paul in particular pulling out some great shapes with the bass. Thanks to videohound Gil W for alerting me to the video earlier today *(yesterday by the time you read this). Alright then, that’s all I’ve time for at the moment with more to follow. Have a splendid weekend and do something worthwhile. Tim

‘Melancholy Hill’ – The Good, The Bad and The Queen (plus special guest – watch the entire video!)

Morning, I believe it’s now Sunday? Played football (the proper kinds without helmets) last night and slept like a baby and awake to find only my left ankle now hurts which is a better result than last night. The weather is finally cooling off and reminded myself that the glass things in the house actually slide open – fresh air after the 4 month desert heat is most welcome.

Right then, coffee at the ready so let’s get through some of the recent events so we can again look forward. Keep an eye on these #occupy events, it’s going global so if you’re making a homemade sign and joining the action please share the details. In addition, Americans might have been the first to land on the moon and have the biggest army in the world and all that….but why don’t the protestors work on some chants that carry a bit more conviction than what you might hear from 11 year olds? Also, if you’re marching but sipping from a Starbucks cup you might be part of the problem. They could start with reading some Clash lyrics and then work forwards from there.

Mick Jones image courtesy http://www.flickr.com/photos/kamikazewords/

We should really start with wrapping up the summer commitments of B.A.D. and as if to emphasise my blog lagging ability it’s now 3 weeks since Mick’s reformed bunch made their appearance on the Isle of Wight at Bestival 2011. I’ve never been to the Isle of Wight, just seen it from the mainland, but by all accounts Bestival is fast becoming one of the best music fests of all and has the added significance of being the last big one of the summer. However based on recent weather in England it should have been this weekend. I’ve read a number of comments and by all accounts it was another stunning set from Big Audio Dynamite who seemed to grow back into reworking songs that have laid dormant for so many years. It seems that the addition of Davo has really beefed up the guitar sound, overall energy and allowed Mick more free rein to enjoy himself. With all that said there’s a definite risk that this could have been the last concert by the band, I’m going to be optimistic and say we’ll see more next year. There’s more events in Europe plus I’m sure they could fill some halls in Asia and Australia/NZ if Mick wants to commit the time to more travel in 2012. If he decides not to I’m fairly sure we’ll see him on the circuit with Carbon Silicon or something else. I think he’s made more lives appearances in the last 4 years than he probably did from 1994-2005 collectively – a very good thing. One of which was Liverpool which I’ll get to in the next post although that one’s been well documented elsewhere.

As for Bestival – thanks to Heston 68 for the YouTube uploads below of B.A.D. live (really good audio and loving Mick’s suit) and an interview with Mick and Don Letts. Rob Peter, Pay Paul certainly merits a release and on vinyl too please. Has anyone heard/read any other official word on whether other new songs have been written? Mick does some offer some clues in the interview beneath. They’ve spent the better part of 5 months rehearsing, touring and playing so you’d hope so. Enjoy the videos – more shortly. Please share the blog if you can on Facebook, Twitter and such – it’s appreciated. Tim

Big Audio Dynamite at Bestival, September 2011 17:48

Don Letts & Mick Jones interview at Bestival