I wanted to add a series of posts about places that are relevant to the Clash story. I decided to start with somewhere I knew well and (geographically at least) was exposed to from an early age. I grew up about 25 miles North of London and my family originates from North London on Dad’s side and my Mum was from Dublin. Finsbury Park apart from being the birthplace of Johnny Rotten is also just a few hundred yards from Arsenal Football Club’s old ground Highbury (another Clash topic).

Apart from music Arsenal were (and are) a huge part of my life. If you support someone else just bypass that fact, being loyal to your own club is something you can’t or at least shouldn’t ever change. It’s been much the

Arsenal F.C.

same with The Clash through thick and thin you have loyalty built in. However I digress, from memory I think I used to go to football regularly with my brother and Dad every home game from around the age of 5 or 6. Usually we’d drive up to London, park at Arnos Grove and take the tube down. For some matches we’d drive closer to the stadium and would always pass the large former cinema on the corner of the Seven Sisters Road.

My brother, seven years older than me and consumed by music would always say ‘There’s the Rainbow‘ as if it hadn’t been sitting there two weeks prior. I imagine it was that at age 13-15 he was longing to get up to London to see live bands and that was his reference point. If memory serves the likes of the Who and the Osmonds had played there and it was also synonymous with Bob Marley who appeared there in ’77.

The Rainbow, Finsbury Park

The Rainbow was an old art-deco cinema from 1930 with the architecture and flair you’d associate with that. The interior was a reminder of an age before sponsored marquees and plastic fascia as velvet and plush decor  were the order of the day. It held concerts in the 60′s but became a venue for live music exclusively in 1971. I’m sure my memory is more pronounced as it was a ‘new’ music venue when I was about 5 which would have made it more of a topic. On our way up to football all it meant to me was we were near the ground, little did I know it would become somewhere forever associated with the Clash.

In May 1977 The Clash appeared at the Rainbow along with The Jam, The Buzzcocks and The Subway Sect. Since the previous Summer punk had grown from a scattered idea to a real movement and damnation from the tabloid press. Centred in London the energy of this new wave was also spreading throughout Britain although London was still the eye of the storm. Less than a year earlier a punk concert wouldn’t have filled the foyer of the Rainbow and yet by then the 3,100 capacity of the venue was met.

Interior after conversion to a Church

It was the night that The Clash arrived and was well documented by Sounds the now defunct music weekly. I’ll write about it and the other shows by the Clash there in the next installment later this week.

Tim

Oh joy…we have clouds today…nice change!

I’ve learned via twitter that Mick Jones may have performed a secret/impromptu show of some sort over the weekend tying in with his birthday. If I can nail that down I’ll let you know. What I can confirm is that the Mick’s “Rock and Roll public library” is officially open to the public from July 18-Aug 25 Wed-Sun – admission is free.

ROCK N ROLL PUBLIC LIBRARY:
2 ACKLAM ROAD, Portobello Green,
London, W10 5XL
(Ladbroke Grove Underground)
18th July to 25th August 2009,
11am-7pm. Wednesday-Sunday

If you are in London, or going to be in London I ask with great optimism that you might be able to get a few photos and pass on your thoughts. It would be great for Clash fans to see what Mick has collected. The venue is right at the Westway and has added significance for fans.

Also, a quick post from Fox Radio about Mick turning 54 last week

Open to the public !

I’ll be back with part 2 of Up In Heaven (hopefully tonight)

Cheers – Tim

The Clash ‘The Clash’ the timeless debut from ’77 has stood the test of time. Coming from a position of some bias I still am not convinced there are many better debut albums by anyone. People with far better prose than myself have lent plaudits to the record that I can’t compete with.  I simply think it’s a remarkable document of London, being on the dole and feeling bored and cornered. All that with a sound unlike anything that had come before with lyrics that weren’t pulling any punches. I still frequently revisit the disc and few things since get me in the same spirit.

I thought I’d focus on Clash artwork today, that shocking shade of green I subsequently have always associated with the sleeve art. Were it someone else I’d call it a ghastly album cover most likely but for the Clash debut it was perfect. The picture only features the three guitarists, Terry Chimes having walked away and Topper not in place at the time of the shoot. The b/w filtered image bordered by a ripped paper effect edging embossed with a stenciled ‘The Clash’ almost looking like an afterhought. The photo was taken by Kate Simon on a stairway near their infamous Rehearsal Rehearsals studio (no expense spared by Bernie Rhodes). If you know London just hike about 300 yards NW up Chalk Farm road beyond the canal and the Northern edge of Camden Market and the building is on the left.

That part of Camden has been gentrified a lot over the years and is now very busy and touristy. I had a friend who was older than me who said in the mid 70′s so much of inner London was being squatted that areas now associated with wealth were much rougher. My earliest clear memory of Camden Market and surrounds was about 1982-1983 by which time although not poncy was making a comeback. I also remember a stall there who cleared me out of whatever spare money I had to purchase ‘rare’ live bootlegs of The Clash and others. What did I do with those tapes?

I believe the rear album artwork was from the riots at the previous Summers (’76) Notting Hill Carnival. Another epic image, I recall studying it as a kid and thinking I was amazed that all that excitement was just 35 miles from my doorstep.  Great artwork on both counts. I think the American release had a different colour for the font.

Great album, great cover.

Goodnight – Tim