Good morning….creak (that was my neck)….just thought I’d mix it up with an early post for once. Just some quickies for you and then I’ll be getting on with the day ahead.

Michael Foot in 1958

News from England – a huge political figure from my youth has passed away at the age of 96. I could scarcely believe Michael Foot had reached that age until I read his obituary this morning. Foot led the labour party during the early years of the Thatcher regime in Britain and lost the party leadership and failing to win the election of 1983 versus a Falklands inspired Thatcher (and so continued the longest decade). Foot was a rebel with a commitment to the working man and although he upset a lot of people he can’t be accused of hiding from an issue or selling out on his values. He led labour during some of their most difficult years as a nation enamoured with Thatcher rejected labour at the polls and thus changed the direction of Britain forever. I hope his beloved Plymouth win this weekend for him.

Also, a few Jail Guitars Doors updates worth a mention. Wales online have an interview with Billy Bragg about the project and the USA Jail Guitar Doors initiative has added a Facebook page to help you keep current.

This is great – the audio from the BBC Six Music interview with the creators of ‘Meeting Joe Strummer’.

More soon ~ Tim

Saturday night and I should be out seeing the sites but domesticity and a stomach flu keep me on a very short rope. I was explaining the kid’s rhyme ‘Oranges and Lemons’ today (to a child) and found myself getting the words mixed up – all due to Clash City Rockers I expect. I’ve a few things to be getting through tonight so let me cover the off topic matters first. Everton Football Club I must thank for keeping my hopes alive in consecutive weeks and cheers to Amy Williams who won Britain’s first Olympic individual gold medal since 1980! Is it true that Robin Cousins used to listen to Rudie Can’t Fail over and over again on his brand new Sony Walkman back in 1980? Seems such a long time ago…..my excuse is that the UK is severely lacking in mountains and snow (well at least up until the last two winters). On to Clash related matters some time soon…I hear you mumble.

I need a secretary to get through all of these bits and pieces as I just reviewed my list of pending stories. I plan to update the stats on the Global A Go Go page soon also as the US traffic to the blog is now leading the UK by a sizable amount – so I’m going to lay down a challenge to my homeland to catch up! I realise the US has 5 times as many people but The Clash are ours and the blog traffic should reflect this. (this is all a bit tongue in cheek of course).

I feel a bit remiss in failing to spread the word that the Jail Guitar Doors ‘roadshow’ is doing some dates this week and next. All the details are here and there is still time to make it along to Nottingham, Bristol, Southampton, Cardiff and London. Billy Bragg is on the bill and of course a chance to see the film so please show support if the schedule fits. Speaking on Billy Bragg (so long as he keeps talking about The Clash I’ll reciprocate) there was a good article profiling his career and recent activities in The Times.

The Sidebar in Baltimore (downstairs I'm guessing)

Clash fans near Baltimore/Washington (maybe Philadelphia?) need to consider dropping $5 next Saturday night to attend the 3rd annual ‘Night of The Clash’. Seven (!!) bands will be performing Clash cover versions – so there should be something to your taste on the menu. Event takes place at The Sidebar Tavern in Baltimore starting at 5pm (seven bands after all) next Saturday.

Weren’t we just talking about Manic Street Preachers? I thought so…was glad to read about a bit of a battle of principals in Glasgow this week. Seems that Manic Street Preachers Nicky Wire had a good old go at the bloated carcass that is Radiohead. Bad words were exchanged and the whole nasty event has reached the music press. At the heart of the issue is downloading killing music (you know where I stand) and Wire accused Radiohead of only being bold enough to offer free or near free downloads after they became multi-millionaires. I must say he has a point when you think about it. Things simmered until MSP performed during which Nicky Wire said this of Ed from Radiohead (I’ll have to censor the ‘c’ word…probably the only word I won’t put on the blog….and I don’t mean country music although the first syllable is the same)

“Apparently Ed O’Brien called me a wanker, I’m really fucking scared, go back to your boarding school you ****!”

Full details are on the NME. Worth noting this a festival of bands that had previously played there marked the 20th anniversary of the famed King Tut’s in Glasgow. This made my radar because the owner was interviewed by the BBC and he was asked what was the best over gig at the venue, naturally he had the sense to say Joe Strummer and The Mescaleros in 1999. Link to that story right here. I need a rumour confirmed or denied and I know someone will know the answer (ideally someone reading this). Did Mick Jones really appear on The Damned’s Machine Gun Etiquette as an uncredited vocalist? If so what track? I thank you. Finally for now please read this article from the wonderful Quietus about some quotes attributed to John Lydon. I’m not someone to downplay the importance of the Sex Pistols and PIL but the jury is out on where Lydon resides today (and I don’t mean Los Angeles). He just seems to have morphed into something that is 50% parody and 50% confused, it would be nice to see some of the earlier (music based) output from Lydon – failing that get an agent who ensures you get better press.

Right…that’s me out for now, more tomorrow and thanks for visiting.

Hello Hello….hope all is well in your corner of the world, I can’t complain from mine. Austin, Texas sounded a good place to visit until the news today that a looper who (was) angry about taxes and the IRS lit his house on fire, and then flew a small plane into government offices that contained tax employees (apparently). I believe the only person to die was the protester or at least I hope that is the case, newswires have it that  he was quoting Karl Marx in his postings of discontent while simultaneously complaining about taxation?? A tad confused eh? You’re giving Marxism a bad name down in Texas chap, knock it off would you please? Austin remains on the agenda however for the Jail Guitar Doors initiative and the early news is now trickling in from Strummerville.

Latitude 30 will be the temporary home of the ‘British Music Embassy’ on Monday March 15th as the venue is turned over to the JGD project. Confirmed acts appearing on the night include Billy Bragg with special guests The Good The Bad, (does that mean what I think it does) and Beans On Toast. MC for the night is Foo Fighter Chris Shiflett. More news to follow nearer the time, if you are heading to the festival that week please get in touch with me as I’d love to ensure we get photos and on the spot reports for the Strummerville related events that are scheduled. There is of course also the premier of the Don Letts Strummerville documentary to look forward to.

If you are a collector of Clash literature and more specifically rare interviews I highly encourage getting over to the website for ArthurMag.Com. In the Spring of 2002 they published a very special edition of the magazine as a tribute to Joe Strummer. The included interview had been conducted the prior Summer with it being intended as a feature in that edition – the sudden unexpected death of Joe led to that edition becoming an issue that was focused on Joe; including the interview but also a slew of extra featured content revolving around Strummer. Its easier if I just share their blurb:

Arthur holds a wake in print for a man who mattered. In addition to stunning photographs by Ann Summa and excerpts of back-in-the-day Clash coverage from Slash magazine, we present reflections on Joe by Kristine McKenna; a lengthy, poignant interview with Joe from 2001 by McKenna; a consideration by Carter Van Pelt of the Clash’s embrace of reggae, featuring insights from Clash collaborator Mikey Dread; and a brief on Joe’s legacy: a forest in the Isle of Skye.

The interview was conducted by Los Angeles arts chronicler Kristine McKenna which adds even more credit to the cause. The reason I want to share this with you is that Arthur are down to their final 50 copies of this special issue and no reprints are possible. Please visit their site for lots of extra information about what this contains but I guarantee it is something work picking up if you like to have a very complete chronicle of all things Joe. I’m getting mine this evening before you all have had a chance to read this. You can order from this link, and if you need global shipping please contact me and we can work something out offline.

Okay then, please tell me I haven’t mentioned this before (it was on my ever growing pending list with a question mark next to it) but another single benefiting the victims of the Haiti disaster is being released. Apart from the cause being worthy of your support the EP also features a cover version of Coma Girl by Joe and The Mescaleros. The band are Class War Kids (fair enough) and they come from Newfoundland which is a place I rarely pronounce as my diction always results in the word ‘found’ appearing in the middle which is very wrong. Class War Kids myspace site features a number of songs if you want to check them out but not Coma Girl, I’d suggest ‘Break Me’ which has a very likable Stiff Little Fingers guitar sound (and nearly vocally too). Perhaps Newfoundland is full of former Ulstermen? Enlighten me….I thought it was more Scottish than Irish? Full details about the charity EP are here or you can hear Coma Girl here (it is good fun…and priced to sell $3 for the download).

Right, that got my energy levels up. Ever been on Ebay and seen a series of bootleg live Clash CDs for sale and felt cautious about what is worth buying versus skipping? I’ve been stuck there since going to Camden Market in the early 80’s and buying bootleg tapes which were very hit or miss. Fortunately someone has put together some decent summaries of some of the more common bootlegs you might be able to find so that you can purchase with a bit more confidence. Set lists and notes are worth the read even if you’re not shopping, regardless here is the link and thanks to BigOzine for the input!

I’ve been asked why I don’t write about the special edition “Converse/Clash” sneakers/baseball boots/trainers (whatever your poison). The truth is that I think they are a bit crap and you’d be better off purchasing some more Clash albums or at least go and see a new artist or too rather than buy them. I’ll add the links to the images when I get really low on other material…sound good?

Earlier I mentioned Stiff Little Fingers….so continuing that 1979 thing one of the very best (to my mind) US punk acts were Husker Du. You probably need no introduction or if you do you really need to get some of their discs in your collection. Tonight I found a brilliant audio interview with former Husker Du member Grant Hart (Bob Mould tends to get the press)….its really worth listening to and learning about what he’s been up to. Link to NPR is here (bless NPR for their DAILY and needed contribution to culture here in the States) so if you have 30 minutes please give it a listen.

Right…somehow this has turned into a very long post. I really do need to catch up – apologies to any unanswered emails you’ve sent lately as I’m nearly a week behind. Cheers for now.