Alright then, it’s blog time once more fresh from laughing so hard that my sides ache at the Iowa caucus. If you don’t live in the US (or pay attention to it) the election season here is the most protracted and tedious process on earth – the campaigns seemingly begin two years before the election and the media and many members of joe public just can’t get enough. It’s so much work to determine which fawning right wing fundamentalist (this time being the turn of the Republicans to find a new main man) will eventually lose the election in November. I’d really like to see people become more politically active but the popularity contest for President is so long and bizarre I can see why people often vote once and then give up. Perhaps this year will see something really change seeing as the world is an unqualified disaster here in the West….but then again. It’s a circus and if you don’t or never have lived in the States it’s hard to imagine something quite as odd/loud and tiring.

There’s been quite a bit of early season Clash news going on which I need to catch up on so to hasten that day let me continue my review of the most popular posts on the blog last year. So far we’ve covered January through to June so let’s get on with the next three months of the best of 2011.

July 2011 -

‘Covers and Anniversaries’ (July 4th)

For Americans July 4 seems to be a day to celebrate independence (from the UK who were taxing at a far lower rate than today incidentally…) but as you can see from this post last summer there is a more important anniversary to be celebrated than some old war. July 4th also mark the first official live appearance by The Clash which happened to have been 35 years to the day from the post above since that first gig up in Sheffield. A good post overall and worth a read as Billy Bragg defended his roots with The Clash and Joe Strummer whilst Vicky sent in some nice photos of B.A.D. who had just appeared at Glastonbury. Suddenly last summer seems ages ago.

August 2011 -

‘London’s Burning but this doesn’t deserve a Clash soundtrack’ (Aug 8th)

From time to time on the blog I can’t help but write about current events especially if I see it as impacting or somehow related to me or The Clash, either will do for the most part. I know the blog is ‘about the music’ by taking politics out of the equation for The Clash is a bit like playing football without goalkeepers. Naturally not everyone will agree with my politics either which is fine, you can comment and debate to your hearts content but for the most part you can blame The Clash or especially the lyrics of Joe Strummer for much of my interest in the subject in the first place.

Last August was bit different and will long be remembered for the week when the UK lost control as inner London, Manchester and other towns saw a mass outbreak of looting and arson. Rioting was loosely and inaccurately applied to the action in England but it all seemed a bit too opportunistic to me, which isn’t to say the youth should feel bloody helpless at the moment. They are at the bottom of the pile with a huge change taking place in the UK and elsewhere and subsidies that once looked set to last forever are being pulled away in the name of budgets. I expect we’ll see much more of the same this summer to come but my post was about how I didn’t see The Clash as being the most appropriate soundtrack to the events, the most obvious choice of course but typically taken by people who never took the time to study the lyrics of London’s Burning or White Riot. Anyway, I was very happy to see this was one of the most read posts of the summer.

August 2011 -

‘Orlando Bloom seeks to play Joe Strummer, world groans’ (September 7th)

Now there’s a headline worth rioting about. See….the blog isn’t just about politics, sometime we get offended by Hollywood gossip just as quickly and as offensive as this rumour was at least the post contains something enjoyable to read about Joe Strummer’s daughter Jazz. Like it or not 2012 might end up being the year of two Clash films, certainly one and perhaps both might see the cinema later this year and I’ve no doubt that speculation will mount as the projects near completion. I know the films have mixed opinions with many fearing the worst with both the London Calling film and the Joe Strummer biopic. I think the London Calling film has more potential and isn’t as ambitious but for now I’m hoping both films will be decent. Just remember, they aren’t being made for us but for very casual fans instead who won’t complain about Mick’s hair or the way Paul holds the bass in the movie versions.

Right then, I believe that is Friday night taken care of and I have a glass of white wine screaming my name so I better answer. Tim

Good evening everyone and how is your week panning out? I do hope well….here we’re still besieged by stupidly warm weather and I’ve been buried in work so I feel like I’m in work/sleep mode, something I must try and remedy at the weekend. You’ve picked a great night to visit the blog as we are lucky enough to have a guest post tonight from someone who is not only very handy with a camera but is showing some added flair on the keyboard too. It is of course a new contribution from our friend Pete in London and I really appreciate him taking the time and giving my fingers a rest. He’ll be taking over this blog at this rate which might be very good news for all of you! This is a long post but very enjoyable so I’m going to split it up into two parts, I guarantee you’ll be back for the sequel. The topic – Big Audio Dynamite in Bournemouth at The Old Fire Station last week which served as their warm up gig for Glastonbury, from what I’ve seen and heard the warm up show was the one to be at. Over to Pete:

“Aren’t there a lot of similar looking roundabouts in Bournemouth ? This was my first problem arriving down in Dorset for the B.A.D. Glastonbury warm-up gig at The Old Fire Station – yes, it really is an old fire station. The confusing geography meant a short trip to nearby Poole, very picturesque even in the rain, especially some of the beautiful Art-Deco buildings, but was little help in securing a photo pass for the gig. I’d texted The Don (Letts) before leaving London and received a quick reply saying “Cool, no problem” in reply to my request for said pass.

When we eventually found the venue, after at least fifty more roundabouts, it was deserted, even after investigating the rear entrance. Checking into the hotel seemed like the best option, which is what we did…Cider and a gin and tonic or two.

Two hours later, preparation complete, partially inebriated and armed with the necessary kit – my photographic ‘suicide bomber’ outfit, harness replete with four large lens pouches, camera bodies and flash gun we returned to the venue where the front doors and widows were still bolted and curtained. Ever resourceful, I decided to walk round to the back of the building again, whereupon we found the ‘stage door’ open – a fire exit actually, but stage door sounds so much more exciting !

The brilliant Rotten Hill Gang were in the process of soundchecking and I was surprised to see Cole Salewicz filling in on guitar for Andre Shapps ,who has recently become a father. His father Chris Salewicz is a writer of great renown and was a close friend and confidente of The Clash. After a quick exploration of the building during the soundcheck, I ascertained that there were no members of  B.A.D present. It was suggested that we tried the tour bus……What, just climb aboard ?

Mick Jones in Bournemouth, image courtesy Peter Stevens Photography

With nothing to lose I knocked on the door of the large coach/tour bus parked out back to be greeted by a driver who took us to the ‘main entrance’ at the other side. Armed with only four CD-ROMS containing my photos from the B.A.D. performance at The Shepherds Bush Empire on 2^nd April 2011, I climbed the up steps into the semi-darkness to be greeted by a smiling Leo ‘EezyKill’ Williams, relaxed and seated at a small table. After exchanging greetings, handing over a CD-ROM I walked down the centre aisle, whereupon I heard Don’s voice from one of the lower bunks. A hand appeared, the curtain was partially pulled back and there was Don Letts lying, very relaxed on his bunk bed. I was extremely apologetic, but he seemed completely unfazed by my presence and reassured me that my name was on the guest list and photography was ‘cool’. I gave him the remainder of the CD-ROMs – for him, Mick and Greg. Whether they will ever look at them I don’t know, but they’ve got them anyway. I thanked him again and left him to enjoy a little essential pre-gig relaxation.

I’ll now fast forward to the gig itself. Entry was no problem of course and the venue is of a really good size, not too big, but large enough to hold perhaps four or five hundred. Imagine The Garage on Highbury Corner and it’s that type of venue. The Rotten Hill Gang were just coming on stage as we arrived and they launched energetically into their half hour set. I was extremely relieved to see their ‘new’ guitarist Cole Salewicz had survived his quick evening meal, which he’d just minutes earlier had been sharing with us – an incredibly spicy hot ‘Vesuvius’ pizza from an establishment just down the road…..Thankfully he wasn’t required to sing !

The Rotten Hill Gang finished their set with ‘Gotta Pick A Pocket Or Two’ and were gone. Next up were B.A.D. and whilst awaiting their imminent arrival I occupied my time by chatting to a few of the familiar faces pressed up against the barrier at the front, many of whom were B.A.D. veterans – hope I’m not being unfair, but mainly gentleman of a particular vintage – MINE actually ! What did reveal itself to me at least before the gig, was Dan Donovan’s replacement – non other than long term friend and tech ‘Davo’ who I’d first encountered at the Carbon/Silicon Carbon Casino events three years ago. He is the man who has rescued many of the old samples to enable the recent shows to go ahead according to my sources.

Back to me now….that’s a sensational story so far Pete, just brilliant and thank you for spending so much time composing it, you must have scribbled notes when you got back to your hotel seeing as I can’t even remember last night without being prompted. It’s truly the next best thing to being there. I think I speak for many of us scattered around the world who can’t attend these gigs that first-hand accounts like this are really meaningful to us. I love Bournemouth as it happens, wonder if they still talk about me there….

Part two will follow soon, please please join me in the comments in thanking Pete for his writing, photography and facing those roundabouts with such commendable spirit.

Don and Mick in full song, Bournemouth. Image courtesy Peter Stevens

Good evening once more Clash people around the world, I hope all is well. I’m alright I suppose, summer has arrived with full vengeance which in the desert is similar to how you feel if you live in a cold climate when mid-December arrives. Outdoor activities become less enjoyable and with the exception of time near a swimming pool you start to get a bit cooped up. Similar, but not the same, I’d rather endure 10 weeks of sunshine and blazing heat than a single winter in Chicago or Stockholm. There was no blazing heat and very little sunshine at that festival ‘way out west’ this weekend so far as I could tell but I have kept half an eye on events from this years Glastonbury festival. Unfortunately most of the acts (B.A.D. included) that I’d like to have seen didn’t seem to make the ‘official coverage’ so we’ll wait to see what crops up online over the next 48 hours. If you were there and care to recount the concert please get in touch with me.

Ideally we’ll have B.A.D. reports from Bournemouth and Glasto in the coming days and take a quick look at the lack of Dan Donovan in the band and what that may or may not mean.

Tonight I wanted to show you a video which caused a huge response on the Facebook page, I was glad because when I stumbled on it the other day I was simply blown away and stunned by the impact it had on me. Someone (Flip2K) was kind enough to upload to YouTube four separate files of London Calling stripped down to the bare components. There is a file for the chopping lead guitar of Mick Jones that is well worth a listen, Topper’s steady beat and also one of Paul’s bass that makes you shuffle for sure but the one that turned me upside down and many other people based on the response was Joe’s vocals standing alone. They are below for your listening pleasure and I don’t think words will do it justice. You can hear every intake of breath and feel the beads of sweat on Strummer’s forehead as he literally throttles the microphone with his apocalyptic warning not just for London but for the world at large. When you think you’ve been as impacted by old Clash songs as it was ever possible to be and then hear this it leaves the hairs on the back of your neck tingling, it simply does.

If you don’t have time to read today’s post please make sure you press play above

For me the timing of hearing this during Glastonbury weekend was perfect. The festival perhaps became Joe’s most comfortable spot and thinking of him and John Peel this weekend seems to be a celebration of what those two achieved. How this passion is missing as Coldplay and U2 trot out dad rock that really makes you feel music is now far too safe and dreadfully confined. I must have listened to the audio above a dozen times in the last three days so I hope it does half as much for you as it did for me. It just happens that the photo on the youtube video is also my desktop wallpaper…..comfort food.

More soon then and I hope to see you in the comments or on Facebook and Twitter. You can also have a daily update sent direct to enjoy with a pint of cider by subscribing to my RSS Feed here