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!

There’s so much other music that’s great (both old and new) that I sometimes forget to find time to include it on the blog. I’ll try and do a better job of sharing both bands with a Clash connection plus what I listen to from brand new right back to 1978.

New Model Army are a band I’ve enjoyed and kept my ears on for over 20 years now. Sharing a punk ideology and a very political slant to their music NMA have been one of the few survivors from a post punk scene that now seems an age ago. In this interview Justin Sullivan speaks about the band and what (if anything) they share with The Clash. If you’ve never seen them live I highly recommend you do so….it’s a passionate show with some meaning. I’m off to see them on Monday here in Phoenix. For details on tour dates have a look.

If you’re a little older than me (I never get to say that!!) you might have been hugely influenced in the first half of the 70′s by Mott The Hoople. Mott has made a huge (and seemingly magnificent) return to the stage last week and Mick Jones a long time fan was amongst those reliving his youth in the audience at the Hammersmith Odeon (I can’t type the new name). Excellent extended information from Classic Rock Magazine is worth a read.

More from the Clash family tree – don’t forget Viv Albertine of The Slits is playing some very special North American Dates in the coming days:

If you are located in any of these cities it’s time to stop saying ‘I wish I was in London’ and get along to see a bit of history.  The Chicago show is at a great little venue I know well – Schuba’s – so you should try and make it.

Viv Albertine in the States

I also am really keen to know what are your favourite records of the last few years? Hopefully this is something we can expand upon? In the last week or two I’ve been listening to a lot of Hot Club de Paris,  Pigeon Detectives, and Earlimart but I change radically from day to day. If you get a chance to check any of these three please share!!

Cheers for now – Tim

Good Afternoon from a hot and sunny Phoenix. In the home stretch now – probably less than 30 more days of 100+ fahrenheit weather left. A quick preamble, I’ve got some busy days ahead so posts might be a bit shorter than usual in the days ahead. Quick can still be just as lovely, I’ll reduce the use of adjectives and start using these when discussing albums: S/T GETR LC S! CR FHTE and if you don’t understand then I suggest you think about it.

Wanted to buzz around the news wires for you and it seems former Mick Jones accomplice Gary Duke has made headlines in a controversial way. The story has caused a lot of debate about freedom of information and unfair dismissal. My confusion – is Gary Duke the ‘real’ name of Gary Stonadge? The article isn’t more specific than ‘used to work with Mick Jones’ the age is close (I think 47 versus 48) but the photograph isn’t convincing to me. If you know if we’re discussing one and the same…please put me right.

Mid 70′s, Queens Park Rangers and colourful footballers should be a enough clues to know I’m about to mention the unforgettable Stan Bowles *(you were thinking Rodney Marsh!). Stan has given this smashing interview with the Guardian in which he discusses The Clash and that he’s mates with Mick Jones. Whatever next? It’s brilliant when unlikely icons of your youth end up perhaps sharing a pint as a matter of course. Can the revelation of Topper Headon being chums with Alan Hudson be far behind?

This is an inside story from an unnamed source (there was a message on a park bench for me this morning). It seems Mick Jones may well be making an unannounced appearance (performing) at the R+R Public Library this

Zeb!

Saturday Aug 22…around 5ish. A number of others may also be there, perhaps Zebedee. Again this is unconfirmed, but if you can make it to West London on Saturday – bring your camera! (if you are neither British nor born pre 1972 accept my apologies for Zebedee reference, if you were…isn’t it nice to see him?

Some said Michael Jackson was bit off his trolley when he was with us. Seems his death is doing nothing to change that theory as news has broken of this.

Former Mick Jones girlfriend Ellen Foley is appearing at Retrofest in New York on September 10th. Foley has stayed involved in film and music all through the years and will be a future subject of a Clash Vaults story.

Joe Strummer 57th birthday events are here on this site, plus this from Austin Texas, the Kooks playing the aformentioned R+R public library and more as I find ‘em…or just tell me!

Finally the very affable Badly Drawn Boy paints another picture of Joe that warms your heart that bit more. Clash Cup later…get in there!