Good afternoon, just a quick one for now and hopefully I’ll have some time to tackle something a bit meatier later tonight – failing that tomorrow. So how was your day? Pretty good if you are Russian or Qatarian (??) I’d imagine, otherwise it was a pretty stupid day I must say. When I say stupid I mean corrupt and oblivious to environmental or human rights issues when it comes to just how bloody blinkered FIFA have become. The Clash Blog is going to be an international football free zone I think. I’ve got to compile some of the press and comments about the London Calling film but that can wait for another 1/2 day or so. There is a rumour that makes the reasoning behind the film tempt me to disown all such concepts but I need to find out more first.

Instead let’s look at something that is definitely going to take place although the exact date remains unconfirmed (this feels like the vague blog at the moment) but as you are aware Sony are going to be releasing a 30th Anniversary edition of Sandinista! with special extras sometime soon. The original intention was surely to have it coincide with the actual release date back in 1980 of December 12th but that isn’t going to be the case. As nothing 100% certain has yet to be trotted out I’d guess that February would be a good guess. Until that time you’ve still got the original 36 tracks to enjoy or you might want to get your hands on the fantastic shirt below. PhilosophyFootball.com have for years been offering some of the coolest shirts around including an already superior selection of Clash themed shirts – you might remember the ‘riot of my own’, ‘hate & war’ and Garageland lyrics shirts. Pretty nice stuff as is the special Sandinista! shirt below. Here’s the official blurb and it would make a perfect gift I’m thinking – just send people you know that know you like The Clash the link as a subtle hint. Here’s the link to nab the shirt.

SANDINISTA! 30th Anniversary T-shirt

Thirty years ago, December 1980, off the back of the huge success of their London Calling album, the Clash released the incredible 36-track Sandinista! album, an extraordinary mix of punk with hip hop, dub and jazz . The 145-minute record was inspired not just by the band’s affection for the global jukebox but the Nicaraguan Revolution, barely a year old and already besieged by CIA-backed rebels, and it was about to get a whole lot worse when Reagan came to power in January 1981. Philosophy Football’s anniversary shirt is inspired by the design of a 30-year-old Nicaraguan postage stamp, to celebrate both the Revolution and the Clash’s musical response to it. STRICTLY UNOFFICIAL available from www.philosophyfootball.com

I’ll be back soon – don’t forget to check those other shirts on the P-Football site. Cheers – Tim

This is a blog service announcement with keyboard! I rarely write at lunchtime but many of you have probably already seen the news as it crept in to all sources, I found out about 12 hours ago (thanks Clash fans in Australia) and now its hit the NME and The BBC and everywhere else of course. There will be a film made about London Calling, or more specifically The Clash and Guy Stevens and the making of London Calling and production work starts next year. The good news is that Paul Simonon and Mick Jones are executive producers (why no Topper) so that a initial feeling of quality control and authenticity is built into the mix. No casting has been announced but the film will focus on the relationship between the band and Guy and how the album came from that partnership.

I went to bed last night not knowing what I thought of the news and woke up no wiser whatsoever. I think this coming hot on the heels of the news about the Joe Strummer biopic is 50% calculated and 48% absurd…either way late 2011 or 2012 promises to be an interesting time to go to the cinema…or avoid it depending on your point of view. The first talked about film ‘Joe Public’ (change that title) has caused a lot of dissent and worry amongst what I consider most of you to be – deep and impassioned fans of the band. The risks seem greater than the reward for many of you it seems and is there even a point is another query I’ve seen. To suddenly within a few weeks hear of another film is quite astounding – two positive emerge instantly – the involvement of members of The Clash as a high level and the premise of a story. Having just completed the excellent book about the making of THAT album by Marcus Gray I’m not sure how you convert that into a film. What is not in doubt is that two of the most important characters are no longer with us – I wonder if its partly fueled by Mick and Paul wanting to set the record straight. But what needs to be set straight? Lily Allen’s mum is producing the film…I need to do some homework eh? We can debate whether London Calling was the best Clash album I guess (it was…just…but ask me tomorrow) but it is certainly one of the best albums ever made for reasons I can dive into and bore you to death. The chemical reaction with Guy Stevens was important but certainly so was the huge role that Bill Price played…if anything maybe as important picking up the pieces. That said the film could be fantastic – the story itself obviously is. Value in telling it on the big screen…I don’t know…I hope so. I like my gags that Sandinista! will be a trilogy and Cut The Crap reality TV. Maybe I can make this blog into a book?

I’ll read more about it and formulate thoughts during the week – so much for a quiet day in Clashblog Towers! Best – Tim

Good morning all from a legitimately cold desert today, I could see hints of frost this morning and I don’t mean the ace 1970′s interviewer. I must write about the special reissue of the film ‘Straight to Hell’ this week – I even bought an Alex Cox book yesterday to get me in the mood, he’s done a series of new interviews about the subject many of which ask about Joe Strummer – some interesting reading although his memory seems as patchy as my brothers. Not ideal.  Anyway I need to sit and watch the film again for the first time in quite a few years also which I must. Are you like me in that you own a number of DVDs but don’t often feel like watching them again? I’ll always watch Shaun of The Dead or Scorsese films but that’s about the extent of it, probably as I’m usually listening to music instead and music allows you to do something else simultaneously which a film doesn’t afford you. Anyway, miles off topic once again as its actually time for ‘Lost in The Supermarket’ where I have a quick trawl for Clash related items for sale online from the collectible to the chintzy. As usual just click the link for more purchasing information or the thumbnail photograph for a better view.

Clash 1979 US Tour Shirt – One of the better visual creations by CBS records was for a marketing poster for the first US tour by The Clash featuring the Statue of Liberty tied up in thick rope and clutching her new copy of ‘Give ‘em Enough Rope’. I think it was a great image but not one that became terribly symbolic of the band although it should have. This shirt is just a reproduction but rather cool and affordable and just $12.99 on ebay although it would be shipping from Thailand so allow a few weeks for shipping I’d suggest. Vintage shirts are usually everywhere online but chose to feature this as the ’79 tour graphic is rarely used.

Joe Strummer Stencil - Visually this is pretty stunning, not inexpensive but an original. Here is the blurb -Awesome 12″ x 16″ canvas with acrylic transfer, acrylic paint, and a 3 color stencil. Signed on the back. Excellent condition. Amazing original for The Clash icon. The artist for this piece is Chuck Keppler. – Ships from the US and priced at $250 on ebay..

Shepard Fairey Original – If anyone reading this blog has $7,900 sitting around I’ve got a business investment we need to discuss, but if you’d sooner pick up a one of a kind piece of Clash memorabilia this might work instead. I’ve no idea how to assess the value of art of course, I was told once that art is worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it and so it goes with this piece. It is of course the image used for the Antonino D’Ambrosio film ‘Let Fury Have the Hour’ and taken in Victoria Park in April, 1978. The official blurb – Original Screenprint on Wood with Hand Finish. Limited Edition 2 + 1 AP（Artist Proof）Total 3. This is very rare Artist Proof. Signed and Dated by Shepard Fairey, Size: 605 x 455 x 40 mm, 23.82 x 19.91 x 1.58 inches. Condition: Perfect New condition.  This famous live scene from “Rude Boy” and “Let Fury Have The Hour”. The Clash live at Victoria Park in London 30th April, 1978. Paul Simonon on Bass – I’ve liked the image since I first saw it for both the original photo and use of colours. If you insist on getting it to me for Christmas I won’t say no.

Sandinista! Poster (record shop dealers special) - Much more reasonably priced and something I’ve never seen before but having worked in record shops as a teen we’d get cool stuff like this for free. The poster is made for dealers and proudly displays for purchase price for the shop of £3.64 *and 1/2 for the shops. No wonder The Clash were struggling to make returns on their first albums, a triple album at that dealer price was madness but they wanted to compete with standard albums during the Christmas rush. I think it originally sold at 5.99 or 6.49 but I could be wrong. Still it is a lovely poster and there is a live auction right now with current bidding being at £20.99, bidding ends tonight!

With the holidays upon us I’ll try and do a mad dash through much more of these in the next fortnight. I’m off to bid for the Sandinista! poster….Tim