Friday morning at last, it’s been that sort of a week. Funny how the events this week with Billy Bragg sent more than just me into a bit of a frenzy. It’s not every day that 50% of The Clash get together to re-record an old Clash number and better still in this day of online promotion you can get pretty much ‘real time’ access to exactly what’s going on. It reiterates a theme I’ve dwelled on a few times and that is just how much the music industry and media has changed in the 30 years since The Clash were active. In the 70′s and early 80′s the music press held all the cards. If you wanted news you waited for the NME or Trouser Press to be kind enough to share it. If you wanted to hear the songs it was late night sessions on the BBC or perhaps independent radio in the US. When did college radio kick in in the States to help indie music? 1982-3?

If you wanted to see the band wait til they finally toured in your town or city, by the time MTV came along and made music videos the norm The Clash were already close to the end. With all that said I did a quick scan of the reporting about the Jail Guitar Doors event this week and wanted to share some with you:

Consequence of Sound went with the somewhat bold “The Clash reunite, well kind of…”

The Telegraph promised even more as “The Clash Musicians revisit one of their classic tracks”

The New York Times (consistent Clash support) keep it up!

Uncut was more subdued as it just stuck to the details

The Guardian kept up their Clash campaign with a nice “Topper and Mick collaborate on charity single’

The Mirror (wankers) decided to cease the Strummer baiting long enough to fire out a story which was even vaguely accurate!

UKPA announce ‘Clash duo reunite for a Jail Project’

I’m excited on two counts, it shows that the level of interest in the Clash remains high in general which cannot be a bad thing. It also brings a lot of added awareness to the Jail Guitar Doors program specifically and the film just before the release date. Needless to say I hope the Clash Blog will be your preferred source for Clash news but nice to see a story create such a buzz this week. I must get my head down to some work, Clash Cup tonight and some assorted stories this weekend.

Cheers – Tim

Good Morning, thanks for your votes in the cup and ideas for a new ‘tournament’ although it’s a large time commitment it’s under consideration. I wanted to meander through a variety of Strummerville matters so sit down with a cup of tea and some biscuits and enjoy these.

First up a reminder for a Strummerville event which I’d mentioned a few weeks ago. This Saturday (Sep 19th) sees a concert in Sydney featuring 4 acts under the banner ‘Revolution Rock – a tribute to Joe Strummer‘ the official details are here and I hope some of you that read the blog from Australia might be able to attend what should be a great night. If you do make it along please get in touch with the blog so I can share your report and images if you get some.

Staying with Strummerville (and I’m always happy to do so) they are firmly backing the Jail Guitar Doors film project ‘Breaking Rocks‘ which I’d written about in more detail on this earlier post. I’m excited to announce that I’ve been in contact with the film’s director Alan Miles and we are planning a quick interview about the project and the film next week. I’ll have this documented and released to you to prior to the premier of the film on October 1st. If you are in London I greatly encourage you taking the time to get along to see the film, information is via the links above. If you have any questions for Alan please contact me before Sunday of this week and I’ll include them in our conversation. Don’t forget Alan was also the man behind capturing this event for posterity, a night that will not be forgotten by a Clash fan worldwide.

Finally for our friends in the Bay area (San Francisco for global readers) don’t forget another great Strummerville event is booked for Oct 2nd in the city. Admission is just $10 and considering that typically might buy you a turkey sandwich and a pepsi in that town it’s quite a bargain. Hope some of you can make it along, official information is all here – don’t forget the cause people!!

Thanks for reading, and if anyone reading is associated with forthcoming Strummerville events be sure and contact me.

Tim

Combine two musicians I’ve held in the highest regard  since I was a kid, add a unique charity that looks to provide postive rehabilitation  to prison inmates via guitars, wrap that up with a documentary exploring the process and what do you have? In this unlikely case you have a film heading to the 2009 Raindance festival.

Image courtesy www.jailguitardoors.org.uk

“Breaking Rocks” is the documentary in question and from a Clash standpoint of course it features performances by Mick Jones and Billy Bragg, along with the project being chaired by Bragg. The Jail Guitar Doors project was always a huge nod to The Clash and paired with Strummerville and was begun in 2007 by Bragg with Mick becoming actively involved since. Strummerville having been actively involved with the making of the film.  Related events are all coming up quite soon so here is a summary of what can be looked forward to:

Jail Guitar Doors documentary “Breaking Rocks” will have it’s World Premiere at The  Raindance Film Festival on Thursday 1st October 2009 at the Proud Galleries, based in Camden. (Site of Rehearsal Rehearsals) The premiere will be followed by a live concert with Billy Bragg, Get Cape. Wear Cape Fly and many special guests. The night will be accompanied by the punky/reggae sound system Radio Clash, who will be looking after the decks on the night.

Full information, map plus poster are here:

“Breaking Rocks” will have it’s cinema debut on Wednesday 28th October 2009 at  The Prince Charles Cinema, just off Leicester Sq, London.The screening will be  followed by a Q&A with Billy Bragg, Alan Miles (director) plus JGD graduates Jonny Neesom & Leon Walker. Tickets here

Other useful links:

Information on director Alan Miles

Official Site for ‘Breaking Rocks’

Jones/Bragg image courtesy web.me.com/madinertia/

Jail Guitar Doors site

Proud Galleries