Sorry for my time away and I hope you haven’t made too many visits in vain? I’m committing to Clash fans at least a short post daily through these hectic few weeks and then you can count on the daily updates and full news round up – analysis – interviews and more that you’ve come to expect from the Clash Blog. Works been busy and there was an avalanche of other daft events that left me with little time for the blog. I started the blog with the intention of daily updates and remarkably there is more than enough news to make that worthwhile. So thanks for your patience (if you’re still with me) and I’ll endeavour to make this your Clash spot for a long time to come.

Suddenly the Christmas season is almost upon us – I know it’s a bit taboo to even say the ‘C’ word in the States but I took a big chance and just mentioned it – Christmas…there, I did it again. Speaking of the holidays, if you are in the UK there’s time to get your hands on something very special from Strummerville if you act quickly. Joe’s last ever hand painted Christmas cards are available as a reproduction for a limited time (image beneath).

What could be nicer for any Clash/Strummer fan in your life than this piece of art from Joe? Speaking of Joe Strummer I’ve got a list of Strummerville events to preview over the coming days as this is the month where they typically peak. In addition to major events in London and here in Phoenix there are others too. If you want to be sure yours get mentioned please email me at Tim – @ The Clash Blog.com and include your information. Thanks!

Also on tap for the holidays is the Shatter the Hotel CD (more to follow on this) an events all around the world; London, Berlin, Glasgow, Phoenix, Bologna, Cambridge and Brighton to just name a few. I’ll spotlight each event in the days ahead for you.

If you are in Arizona (anyone?) I hope to meet you at this:

7th Annual Joe Strummer Memorial Gig.
Sat. Dec. 19th @ 8pm.
Where: George & Dragon Pub (Phoenix Az.)
4240 N. Central Ave.85012
Why: Celebration of Joe’s life and Music
Who: 8 damn good bands
How Much: $5.00 donation
8pm till 2am

Finally, I’ve seen better photos of Lily Allen but kudos on her shirt at least!

Saturday morning – welcome back to the blog or hello for the first time. I’ve a few things to be catching up on so let’s get straight to it.

If you don’t visit The Quietus website you really should. They offer a great range of news, interviews and opinions. It’s one of my favourite sites for indie music interviews and they never fail to deliver thought provoking interviews and break news as quick as anyone. Thumbs up as usual to the site for a great interview with Pete Shelley of the Buzzcocks. Pete is always a good conversation and this is no exception as he discusses Joe Strummer, the legacy of his band and punk rock. An articulate chap he also muses on the (huge) gap between London and Manchester.

“We found this whole other world of ideas, but tried to temper all that meaningful stuff with humour. Really, punk was about questioning things”            Pete Shelley

Next then………..as much as I like and admire Joy Division and New Order was it enhanced by the antics of Peter Hook? Yes he plays mean bass and of course he was instrumental in the appeal of both acts but he never struck me as anything other than a difficult chap. If more evidence was required (it’s not) here’s some from a recent story in Rolling Stone.

Another good article about the demise of albums that is worth a read. In a very suitable analogy is compares the record buyer of 1980 who purchases London Calling thus acquires the equivalent of a novel, while the ipod generation (need a term for that, leeches seems weak) are essentially cherry picking songs and never getting the full flavour of an artist. I tend to agree and I’m sure the gap can be bridged especially when a 13 year old can spend $40-$50 on a PS3 game, you could get 3-4 cds for that. Come on parents – do the right thing!

This sounds like a good book to look out for – Who Shot Rock & Roll: A Photographic History 1955-Present. Fans of The Clash won’t be surprised to see Bob Gruen (happy birthday yesterday Bob!) and Pennie Smith feature in the book. There’s something about those black and white images that just completes the legacy. I look at the Bob Gruen Clash book at least every week as those photographs are simply magic.

Speaking of books there is a new release for Clash fans:

New Clash Book released...

The Clash: Essential Interviews (Rifftastic!/Rock Reader Books) – compiled by John D. Luerssen

Here is the link and part of the blurb:

From its first-ever gigs with The Sex Pistols to the creation of its triumphant 1979 album ‘London Calling’ and on to the global success of 1982’s ‘Combat Rock’ and everything in between, THE CLASH: ESSENTIAL INTERVIEWS collects the group’s most candid and indispensible media interactions. It is a must-read for any Clash fan.

I’d be happy to write about a review copy if I was sent one (hint hint…again) but can’t imagine there’s a great deal I’ve not read yet…but prove me wrong!

Okay that’s all for now. More news this evening.

Tim

Hello everyone, we’re nearly there as round one is almost complete. Enjoy the next few days of voting because beginning next week I can almost guarantee that every decision will be a lot more difficult. If you’re new to the blog, for the last 3 weeks we’ve been voting on Clash songs in a knockout ‘cup’ format. Song with the most votes continues and the loser is vanquished. We’ve had to say so long to some great songs but only 64 tracks can make the really interesting stages. For today we’ve got some earlier results now official and both were very one-sided:

Lost in the Supermarket defeats Listen 34 – 2

Revolution Rock defeats One More Dub 32 – 5

So a very good day for London Calling, with a few bouts still to go I make it that at least 10 Tracks from the masterpiece will make the final 64 and at least 5 have yet to be voted on. So maybe 16 of 19 can go through! For now though I turn your attention to the random number generator for a fresh foursome of Clash platters to be reviewed. As always links and comments will follow, your deadline for voting is overnight Sat/Sun.

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Are You Ready? - I’ve linked on purpose to the original demo version from November 1983 which is very different from the recording that appeared on Cut The Crap. The demo isn’t great but it’s a defined upgrade on the eventual version that surfaced. Based on the sequence of events this would have been one of the earliest tracks recorded without Mick Jones and featuring his two replacements. This almost sounds like a Clash song, not a good Clash song mind you. Maybe I didn’t get enough sleep….

Julie’s Been Working For The Drug Squad – This on the other hand does sound like a Clash song although very unlike anything on the debut album. This version is a GTER demo which is radically different to the song you know. No piano so the song is driven along by horns and a saxaphone solo. A real skiffle and shambling song, I can only image this was recorded before the producer had his say.

Rebel Waltz -One of the songs that made me wonder should I try and learn bass rather than guitar. In the end I did nothing til I was much older (fool) but the bass line is really majestic. A fine fine vocal performance by Joe Strummer and I’m fascinated to see how the song fares in the voting to follow.

Something About England – This is definitely in my personal top 20 Clash songs. Lyrically one of the most ambitous songs that Strummer wrote with The Clash. The roles played by Mick and Joe are so diverse that it makes the song a magical event (Joe IS the old man). One of those songs that I’ll forever associate with wandering around Piccadilly and Leicester square as a 16 year old in the rain, no money to spend and just observing London. I can’t listen to it and not feel that I’m anywhere other than near Soho waiting for my sister to finish work and drinking a can of strongbow while listening to the Clash on my walkman. You can play this song to me every day and I’d listen to the whole thing gladly. I miss London.

Vote vote vote….thanks as always.