Hello again and welcome back to your Clash Blog, I feel a bit like a man without a mission tonight as I’ve spent the last seven posts writing exclusively about the events of last Monday and Tuesday. I think it was worth it though and certainly represented the most important Clash related news here in the desert since I started the blog, let’s be honest the only Clash related news here since that time. But like a good war correspondent we spent one night on reconnaissance and another behind enemy lines and finally meeting face-to-face with the German soldiers, okay my analogy ends there but you get the general idea. I hope you enjoyed my retelling of events, when I’m old(er) and even grayer I’m sure I’ll look back on last Tuesday with fond memories and now I’ve got the summary written down forever along with the photographs.

I’ve also got my super slick London Calling lyrics sheet signed by Mick and Paul which I must get scanned and get up on the blog for you to see. I plan on framing it so I must do that this week and frame it at the weekend. I know we all have unique experiences if and when we get to meet certain musicians or others of note, if anybody reading wants to share their experiences perhaps during this Gorillaz tour or better still from years gone by with any members of The Clash during or after their existence as a band please write in and I’d love to post it.

So what’s been going on in the world of The Clash during the last week then? I’m supposed to be telling you right? Normally I like to think I’m a few steps ahead with general Clash related happenings but I’ve been dragging my feet putting together that 8,000 word essay. As a result I’ll probably need 48 hours (and 48 thrills) to get back up to speed and provide your normal information and opinionated prose. For tonight then just two short pieces one of which we’ve covered before but so what.  Before I forget the Strummerville documentary (part 2 I believe) is on Sky in the UK just 1245am (the after midnight version) tonight (Thursday) if you’re awake and somewhere near a television. Don’t forget!!

Joe’s Strummer’s BBC world service shows have now been uploaded by some courteous soul to iTunes and are available for free download. I don’t think it covers every season but there’s a good batch of episodes to enjoy if you like that downloading lark and have one of those i-Tune player thingies. Recently I was in the world’s most soul destroying shop (Best Buy) and looking at MP3 players and iPods or whatever they’re called. The bloggette was explaining how I can transfer my entire CD collection of several thousand discs onto this chunk of metal that was thinner than my wallet. It wasn’t extravagantly expensive but the whole notion of listening to my music in a way that I just don’t relate to (shit I feel older saying it) made me get a cold shiver and head for the exit rapidly. I like vinyl and I’ve learned to like CDs but I don’t think I’ll learn to like a little personality free box filled with every song that I’ve ever loved. If you are giggling at my age restrictiveness just remember I’m the one tweeting and Facebooking and soon maybe podcasting myself to death in the name of The Clash. Technology fears be damned, we’re heading for 2011 or so I’m told.

One last thing before I get out my old cassettes (they were small plastic rectangles filled with tape on two spindles which contained albums and were popular in the 1980s, in truth they were crap and I always had suspicion of people with large tape collections but only a few records). Paul Simonon’s son noted model Louis Simonon has been at it again and he’s a dead ringer for his dad although Paul probably looked better and was in a rather good band! Have a look at much more via this link and also on your left. Seems Simonon Jr got with photographer Sharif Hamza to recreate a series of retro looking album covers, I must confess they remind me of my mum’s vinyl collection. Pretty cool stuff and well worth a look at the whole set.

I’ll be back within the next 24 hours with much more and the normal groove will continue. Thanks for all of your feedback on the Clash prowl/Gorillaz concert posts, I hope it was half as much fun to read as it was to experience and write about. Cheers – Tim

Morning all, how is it then? Ahhh yes Saturday – that’s welcome news although there’s enough to be done around here that it won’t feel very weekendesque. First things first then, those video clips yesterday of The Clash in Tokyo from 1982 I’m told made the transfer to DVD a few years back which is the good news, the bad news is that its a PAL DVD region 2 so will no use to you unless you are in the UK or have the right sort of player. PAL discs do seem to invariably work on computers although its a bit hit and miss depending on the player installed in your PC/Laptop. Either way here is the link to get it in the UK and its very affordable (thanks Hutsville) or in the US/Canada where incidentally its six times more expensive! I think at the price in sterling its a good shout.

Image Courtesy Strummerville Foundation

More good news if you are in the UK next week (bah…it’s warm and sunny here at least) as there is some recommended late night television coming up for you courtesy of Don Letts and Stummerville. Full details are over at the Strummerville site but essentially on Monday just after midnight and then again on Wed Nov 3 and Wed Nov 10 a three part documentary will be airing for the first time on Channel 4 in the UK. The documentary takes a look at the charity and the roster of bands associated with it with features from throughout what has been a great year for Strummerville. Presented by Jaime Winstone it will feature footage from the campfire at Glastonbury, The Notting Hill Carnival Party and the recently completed Westway round the UK tour. Wish I could see it, so if you do let us know what you think. I’m sure some of you managed to amble along to the Westway tour so perhaps you can see yourself on telly too! Incidentally there are a series of great photos from that tour on the Strummerville Facebook page so have a look at that too. As ever if you want to help I recommend the Strummerville shop as a good place to do good and get something nice.

Two tiny things – thanks for all your support over on our facebook page (you can hook up via the right hand margin on this page) we just reached the 1,500 mark in our little gang. Also, if you get time and click on wikio at the foot of this or any post it will help our ranking a little in our quest to become a top 20 music blog. But…we won’t appear on Top of The Pops.

Right then, loads more later including a video I don’t think many will have seen and news about an intriguing podcast. Talk soon – Tim

Good evening to you, I want to register a complaint about the return of 100f heat to this dusty city. Someone needs to remind whoever is in charge that it is the middle of October and this just isn’t acceptable. I just looked at my feed and there are a host of new articles concerning the .5C/G tour that I’ll need to do a monkey review rating for tonight but before we get to that a couple of other things. First of all don’t forget the Strummerville showcase tour is zipping its way around the UK at present tonight is Manchester (well its taking place as I write this) and there is still Newcastle and London to follow. Its a great chance to see some really good bands for less than the cost of a round of beers and proceeds of course help Strummerville out. To find out more please make sure you visit the link right here and if you managed to get to any of the gigs thus far please write in and share your thoughts. I’d like that!

Speaking of Strummerville I trust many of you found out about the Prince Blanco project last year that was produced for the cause…its an excellent CD (Shatter The Hotel – A Dub Inspired Tribute to Joe Strummer) which you can find out more about here and also download. Prince Blanco doesn’t rest on his laurels though and also plays with Rockers Galore, there’s a nice Clash element running through that as well, have a look at the video below:

Right then, as you’d expect the list of features about Mick and Paul playing in North America continues to grow so I thought I’d get some of those posted for your chance to review with our previously chosen monkey scoring method. As ever I’m more than happy to hear about your experience in seeing Gorillaz, how it felt to see the boys after so long and if you have any special stories that might be enjoyable. Any contributions are welcome 200-1,000 words as you see fit. Email, tweet me or use facebook to get in touch and I’ll get it added to the blog. So here’s what I’ve found…

Simonon in full Clash pose

WeLoveDC.com wrote an excellent summary of two shows (namely those in New Jersey and Virginia) and also included some rather tasty photographs to boot. Full credit to the author Michael Darpino for being a serious Clash fan, but more than that putting together a review that is an entertaining read and captures a good flavour of what sounded to be two more excellent concerts. Two extra interesting points, Michael was also able to see them at the Coachella Festival in the Spring so was in a position to compare how the live experience has evolved since then. He also noted as have many others that a 3rd guitarist is on stage for at least some songs and its worth noting as its none other than Simon Tong, your man from The Verve, very late period Blur and of course The Good, The Bad and The Queen. Perhaps we are more likely to hear ’80′s Life’ than some 80′s Clash before the tour is out? Don’t want to tempt fate but Tong tends to join bands when they are just about to end…..     great review though 4.0 Monkeys

Express Night Out wrote a nice review of the Patriot Centre concert. Not sure what city that is, Patriot, Liberty, Freedom Fighter arena they all run together to a certain extent for me. As for the review that recurring theme of how bloody happy everyone looks on stage keeps popping up….I never saw Paul as much of a smiler (onstage anyway) with The Clash so seeing him grinning a lot is a new concept. Hopefully its a reflection of the sheer joy of playing and what I’m sure makes for an interesting entourage on tour. I wonder if Paul finds the string section cute like I do? Clash bloke fans need something to look at too you know. 3.0 Monkeys

The Philadephia Inquirer pumps out a reasonable if slightly little pedestrian review in that ‘big paper’ way that I find so dull. A few facts, uncomplicated opinions and a little dig (at Blur’s US lack of success and Mark E Smith) but nothing that you probably don’t already know and a bloody stupid simian reference to Albarn. 2.0 Monkeys

The Oakland Press (suburban Detroit) actually does a preview and comes up with some proper writing. Two reasons that make this article worth a read, surely a writer like that deserves a happier fate that living within sniper rifle distance of Detroit? The preview is a curious piece looking at bands who along with Gorillaz blur the line (bollocks, my turn for a puerile pun) between being real bands and created consortia. Think The Monkees et al and you’ll see where the writer is going. It applies of course but its worth remembering that Damon refused a proper tour until they had enough material to support and a fleshed out live band to propel it. The escape from cartoons was right on cue, as recently as 2008 Albarn was evasive as to whether Gorillaz would proceed to a 3rd album and much of this touring lineup were very much a part of the recording process. Yes it’s dance rock but the new album has more songs than the first two that can be stripped down to bass guitar and drums which equates to a rehearsing band. Anyway…go and read that one. 3.5 Monkeys

That should keep you going. Thanks for dropping in tonight and to my dear friend who just moved flats…welcome home and best of luck!