Well good evening to you then following a day which has really been the opposite of Tuesday, but we can’t grumble is days as good as that only come along every once in a while. It looks like the trilogy needs to be started then as I recollect what turned out to be almost the best possible outcome for somebody who spends 365 days (or bloody close to it) a year writing about The Clash. I’d be lying if I said I thought meeting Paul and Mick would simply happen that night but events did reinforce my belief that karma has a funny way of making itself known.

As I wrote yesterday, the weeks and months leading up to Gorillaz actually playing in Phoenix was filled with some abortive attempts at trying to schedule a way to meet with the former members of The Clash. Indeed when I heard from a few people just how difficult it was to get anything arranged back on the East Coast and elsewhere I wondered if maybe it just wasn’t to be. People far better connected than myself were unable to get through all of the hoops presented by promoters, record label people and the like and although I knew this is one of the smaller venues on the entire tour I didn’t presume it would be much easier on local soil (actually we don’t really have soil in the desert it’s more like sun-dried clay mixed with rocks, hence the exceptional surfaces on which we play football). With the gig being on Tuesday by Sunday night I realized it was time to do a little bit of reconnaissance. (as for the photo below…it was taken with a phone, Mick moved…I’m sure my hand was shaking also)

I know it's a blur...but there they were in front of me !!

When Monday rolled around the some of the logistics had been planned or least we thought so, Monday was an off day on the tour schedule and I’d assumed that the band (which apparently numbers in excess of 50 performers in total, which after the concert does seem to add up and help explain the ticket prices) would begin the drive from Denver where the last gig was either on Sunday night or more likely Monday morning. Therefore we checked the drive-time from Denver to Phoenix and pegged it at around 11 or 12 hours and decided a likely window for arrival was early afternoon through until mid-evening. Yes the distances between cities in the western half of the states is absolutely ridiculous, you can drive for hours and see little more than petrol stations in parts of Arizona, Arizona itself is covers more than twice the square mileage of England. It’s big and only houses two larger cities both in the Southern third. Guessing their arrival time I then made sure that tweetdeck was all set to scan for updates on Jones, Simonon, Albarn and Gorillaz in case any clues were being keyed into twitter accounts somewhere. Brandon and I determined that as the venue is right downtown the most likely hotel would be on of the four larger ones closest to the venue itself, each within a few blocks. I looked online and found no mention of any interviews or appearances so then just tried to act like it was a normal day. Later in the afternoon with not a crumb of information I felt the need to do something, bounced some emails back and forth with Brandon wondering could we create a strategy to scour Phoenix that evening and only being half serious we bounced some ideas around. Here was our email lead up to the decision to go prowling:  (BA is Brandon)

ME: Yeah…what would you do if you were Mick Jones…and had an evening to kill in PHX??? It’s fucking tempting to go stalking…maybe keep an eye on twitterfeed? I’m semi serious about going looking..it’s a Monday for fecks sake.

BA: Take the Clashmobile down Central Ave and all the side streets blasting Give ‘Em Enough Rope and see who emerges from the shadows?
Or call all the swank hotels downtown asking if an, ahem, animated bunch recently checked in? Or which floor currently reeks of spliff?

ME: Both ideas are absolutely stellar !!
Am I being childish by being tempted? I take it you think so….. but when will they ever be here again? what are the odds of us finding them? 5 to 1 against?

ME: (later) You realize Jones/Simonon are probably in town now…Should we go to George +Dragon tonight?? Or downtown bars?

BA:  Have you considered calling hotels? You’ve the composure, elan, and accent to make any efforts instantly credible…  Tell ‘em you’re Mick’s dog handler and this was the only number he left…LOL

ME: no…i can’t do that….Mick does like his lager…I’m sure he won’t just sit in his room…..
tell me i’m being daft and it would be a waste of time

BA: Not childish at all – granted the suggestions I made seem daft on the surface, but we have to find a good lead or nugget of hope confirming they’re here…

BA: (later) Who will know? You just want to know if they’re staying at the hotel…you’re not ordering 10 Porterhouse steaks and a crate of Veuve Cliquot to be charged to their rooms! We could get that pint we’ve been talking about AND do some simultaneous sleuthing…
lemme know…I’m in

Thus it was with those last two words that the night was on, operation ClashStalk had officially begun and all we had to do was find a lead. It came unexpectedly…

More later (part two) and I regret this may run to four pieces but I’ll finish them up by Saturday latest…. honest!

Tim

This is all a bit 2009 – but technology has to be respected – so with the assistance of my more modern (read that as younger) friend Brandon, we’re going to bring you Twitter updates of the Phoenix Joe Strummer event. What to expect; short, sharp live updates from the venue followed by beer consumption and a moment or two of weepy retrospective. It needs to be stressed that this is very impressively the 6th annual event in the normally indifferent to live music desert metropolis. That said there are refugees from old punk days on the West Coast, the Midwest (Keith that’s you – Motor City) and elsewhere. The George and Dragon is also the only mock authentic English pub in this city so there a few candidates for extras from Snatch or Lock Stock who may have previously lived on The Isle of Dogs or Milton Keynes, it’s a bit hard to say as everyone goes all Michael Caine with the accent when speaking to local Americans (I don’t include myself in that analysis).

So it is that The G&D hosts the event (I think for the 3rd year running) and now with the addition of a light rail (overground electric train) station right outside the door let’s hope for a good turnout to honour the passing of Joe Strummer. The stage is set and the beers are flowing so I’ll now make this a tweetfest courtesy of Brandon’s phone – I can barely use a phone to make a call but will bow to his texting skills as the feed goes live. We might even get some photos later!!

Oh yeah – it’s a stretch as a link but the owners of the pub are from that lovely port of Ramsgate in Kent which is but a short drive from Dover, the home of Topper Headon. In traditional pub owner style, think The Krays but with less menace. I’ve always been amazed at just how cockney Northern Kent is – but apparently it’s a long standing issue.

We’ll work out which bands covered which songs later on. So with no delay and much nervousness I’ll be on my way and just set the default to be the Twitter Feed (and witty comments to follow later) – Cheers to living memory of Joe Strummer and everyone who made their way out to the event this evening:

TWITTER FEED

930-1030pm

• Finally here… 1st band on… Westway playing on all the tvs
• Lots of tasty geezers here…looks like the New Den  (First and probably not final football/hooligan reference)
• Set break… Coma Girl being spun by the DJ
• Johnny Appleseed… Brill
• Settled in outside @ the George… Ready 4 Newcastle in 8+ hours…   (Brandon is a Middlesbrough supporter….I can explain)

1030-1130pm

• Moving 2 Emperian on Cent in 5wks… Coming 2 grips w/ fact that this’ll b my new drinker   (Moving to new flat, a short drunk stumble from this venue)
• The prisoner lives in Camden Town selling revolution
• Rebel Waltz… Over-deserved love 4 Sandinista!   (A bold effort)
• This Is Radio Clash… Aural ammunition
• TOMMY GUN!!!!!

1130-1230am

• Glass Heroes on early….
• Got a button 4 u T!!!
• Glass Heroes blistering!!

More in the morning….we’ll sort out which band played what and summarise a bit more……

Hello all and welcome back to the blog. Two events coming up on both sides of the Atlantic this Saturday (December 19th) there’s some odd parallels to the two Stummerville events honouring the anniversary of the death of Joe back in 2002 for me that I couldn’t help but notice. The first event is in Cambridge, England which is about 15 miles from where I grew up and the second event starts about 7 hours later here in Phoenix about 10 miles from where I currently live. I like that strange coincidence rather a lot (don’t know why…but if it feels right).

So in Cambridge:

It looks like this will be a brilliant event and I’ve borrowed the text beneath from Strummerville as I think the info will help you go if you are from East Anglia or even fancy a trip out from London for the show.

THE YALLA YALLAS are a fantastic punk rock ‘n’ roll band from Leeds. Their name was carefully and deliberately chosen as a rallying call to unify. “So long liberty, lets forget you didn’t show. Not in my time” a sentiment expressed on an early Joe Strummer recording, one which spurned him on to form The Mescaleros, and one which struck a chord with the band and their audience.. Some members have appeared in other Leeds based punk rock bands The Dead Pets, 3milehigh and The Gushers. Others have built up a solid reputation as solo performers. All of them now share a common goal to bring anthemic mayhem to wherever they play.
http://www.myspace.com/theyallayallas

THE TAGNUTS Cambridge “Gimp-Core” ska punkers are back! After almost a year away The Tagnuts are ready to do it again. This is the hometown night of a UK tour for The Tagnuts that sees them playing across the country. Their unique and energetic live shows have been sadly missed! Good to have you back!!
http://www.myspace.com/thetagnuts

THE TEN-O-SEVENS are real punk rock’n’roll! These four lads combine elements of early punk rock with the sound and attitude of the most obnoxious of garage punk bands. Their songs are fast, loud, nasty, snotty, catchy and sweaty simple chord tight style tunes that will stick to your head like cheap superglue!
http://www.myspace.com/krummylanky

THE DEAD BATTERIES return to the Moon as part of their winter tour with local legends the Tagnuts. They are fast, they have a lot to say, and they say it with venom! Great anarcho punx from Ipswich, don’t miss them!
http://www.myspace.com/thedeadbatteries

There are plenty of great Strummer/Clash related Prizes to be won, as well as the usual stalls selling merchandise and maybe even some late Christmas Prezzies!

Expect punky xmas décor, Last Gang In Town DJ’s playing punk and ska, drink promotions and maybe even a mince pie or two, it’s a Strummerville Benefit and Last Gang Xmas Party/ 6th Birthday all rolled into one! What more could you want for Christmas!!!?

Saturday 19th December
@Man on the Moon, 2 Norfolk Street, Cambridge
£5 adv / £6 door
Doors 7:30pm
Ticket reservations email lastgangintownuk@yahoo.co.uk
http://www.myspace.com/thelastgangintownuk

Meanwhile here in Phoenix, my friend Keith Jackson’s band Glass Heroes are headlining a six band lineup that will be paying respect to Joe and The Clash for the 7th consecutive winter here in the desert. This year each band will perform at least three Strummer/Clash compositions and the DJ between acts always adds to a great night. Lots of prizes and giveaways and all proceeds of course benefit Strummerville. See my previous post for full details – or send me an email.

If you manage to get to either event I hope you have a brilliant time (tell us about it!).