Good evening once again and thanks for dropping in to the blog. Depending on how the next 24 hours go this may very well be my final post of 2011 in which case it’s probably not a bad idea to acknowledge the passing of another year into the mists of time. I don’t know about you but I think 2011 has just flown by, it’s been a busy year personally, professionally and here on the blog because of all the activities relating to The Clash which isn’t bad going for a band that wrapped up proceedings such a long time ago. Oddly there’s been more to write about this year than at any time since the band were active with the return of Big Audio Dynamite, another great year for Strummerville and of course the events just this month on the Justice Tonight tour which saw Mick and Paul playing Clash songs together on stage for the first time since WarGames was pulling people (idiots?) into the local cinema. Yes, it really was that long ago.

Joe's New York mural last week

In between the big stories there’s been loads of other events worth covering and our rotating look at Clash news both recent and old and in the New Year I’ll work like mad to continue networking and hopefully keep the blog somewhere worth visiting. Now would be a good time to thank you all for reading, the blog has has almost 400,000 visits this year which is nearly double the total of a year earlier – numbers that I never really expected – but it’d be nice to see us pass the half million mark next year. I couldn’t honestly do it without your help – you know who you are. I’m stuck out in the desert in Arizona and it’s your coverage, guest posts, videos, research and wonderful photos in Europe and all other corners of the world that make the blog as fun as it is. I hope I can count on similar assistance next year. Clash fans are a brilliant bunch, very generous and accommodating not too mention intensely loyal and with strong opinions. I love your comments and debates, opinions and ideas and most of all the shared experience of knowing just what this band still means so many years later. Before writing this blog there were (and remain) a few blogs that I read daily or every other day depending on output and they’ve become as much a part of my daily routine as a cup of coffee and checking my email. I always hoped this blog could become the same and if that’s happened then it’s all been very worthwhile. Thanks for being part of it and I hope you can contribute or join me in the comments or on Facebook & Twitter even more often next year.

Before the year ticks over though I think we should quickly remember that the passing of time also means we head into 2012 without some great people we were very accustomed to having around. These gaps don’t get filled but the spirit and energy of these people can only live on through you keeping them in your hearts and on your lips. To that end a sad goodbye from me to:

Trish Keenan the brilliant singer from Broadcast who died in January from pneumonia at just 42.

We also tragically lost Poly Styrene due to cancer aged only 53. That one hurt.

Amy Winehouse deserved much better than to lose her life aged just 27, a reminder that the media didn’t know what to make of Winehouse except act like voyeurs but she was a young woman with immense talent.

One of the saddest losses was the suicide of Wales football manager Gary Speed who took his own life, if you know someone who struggles with depression never underestimate the difference your friendship and support can make.

Away from music we also lost Christoper Hitchens  – never dull, controversial but a brilliant writer without compare, Socrates (the genius footballer and featured in Clash and B.A.D. songs), Ken Russell who made films that changed the landscape before The Clash were about and we also lost Steve Jobs who ensured people care more about their fucking phones than each other – thanks Steve.

I’m sure I’ve forgotten some important names and there are also the people who were in your everyday lives that some of you have lost – carry them with you. Have a safe and happy New Years Eve wherever you may be spending it and let’s hope that 2012 isn’t the year of the Newt. I’ll be back soon – Tim

Hello again and thanks for dropping in to the blog, I’ve got a last bit Monday energy to burn off today which is odd seeing as I was absolutely knackered last night. I hope your week began in a good fashion. I wanted to say a large thank you to those of you who have been kind enough to contribute to the ‘Clash blog fund’ so far (see the icon in the right hand margin) I really appreciate it and you can contribute any amount you wish – no minimum amounts required or such nonsense. I’m actually trying to work out something with Strummerville so a portion of all funds will be donated directly to them, at present they are not registered as a charity outside of the UK so I’m hoping that is something we can overcome and allow people to make tax deductible contributions via the blog though it might not happen til next year. More news on that topics soon I do hope, ideally we’ll work something out.

Excellent response to yesterday’s post about 1977, I spent another hour or so looking at music charts from 1977-1980 yesterday. I can’t even begin to express how much ice was broken by punk when you compare what was happening from 1973-1976, things were so stale it’s almost unreal. I’m glad I was 13 in 1980 and not 1974, I think I would have gone a bit mad. I’ll definitely do some more research about those charts and share it with you as I think it’s fascinating. Many feel, which I partly understand that ‘Punk was crucial but what do we have now?’ – and while that argument does hold some water you have to also agree that recent years have at least seen bands (whether or not you like them) who are young and guitar based. I don’t think Arctic Monkeys or The Cribs compare especially well with Wire, XTC or Buzzcocks but it’s huge improvement over what was happening before 1977. I’d be interested to see whom Clash fans would say have been the best bands over the last 5, 10 or 15 years. Bands that have begun within those spells – I’m sure we’d come up with some great names and have a few disagreements. I’d have to give that some thought although Doves, The Libertines, Los Campesinos, Gorillaz, Frightened Rabbit, Elbow and many others come to mind. There’s also been a lot of bands who seem capable of a good album or two but then lose my interest. What’s been your favourite album of the last year? Was it by an old favourite or a new(er) band? I’m convinced that there are more good new bands around now than there wereat the beginning of the 1990′s but much of that could be due to it becoming easier than ever to find new music. Perhaps a more difficult question – does anything in the last decade remind you of The Clash or inspire you the same way? Or how about this – if you’re under 30, who has been the most inspiring newer band of the last 15 years to you, a band that makes you want to get involved and change things? That’s the type of artist I struggle to find – someone with something to say.

Just wanted to go through a few things on The Clash and related newsfeed tonight and there’s certainly plenty to follow this week but I’m aiming for more frequent posts to help overcome that. Off we go then.

Strummercamp Festival 2012 tickets are on sale now! Best news of all they are offering a special early bird price for a limited time. Take my word for it, you will not find a better price and value for a music festival next summer so take advantage now and warm up by making plans for next summer. Here’s the official blurb, Strummercamp 2012 takes place June 1,2,3. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.

EARLY BIRD TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE. In recognition that money is tight we have decided to release cheap early bird tickets for a limited period. For just £50 (or £25 under 16, £100 family 2+2) you can enjoy 3 days of festival fun over 5 stages. Be sure to book your ticket as soon as possible before the early bird tickets sell out.

Strummer film latest: Not sure if this is the project we spoke about at length earlier in the year which I’d assume to be the case, or if that has been shelved and this takes it’s place as the forthcoming Joe Strummer biopic. However this is not to be confused with the film about London Calling, are you still with me? According to Cinemablend.com the film has now been titled ‘The Right Profile’ (still not ideal if you ask me) and will be directed by Julie Delpy which contradicts what we were hearing at the start of the year. If I had my notes that would be more useful but I’ll seek it out.

Former Mescaleros support Noel Gallagher: I’d meant to mention this earlier too but my secretary was on holiday but The Hours which features Anthony Genn and Martin Slattery are providing support to the former Oasis bloke on his current US tour. His new band is called Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds which always reminds me of Monty Python’s Flying Circus which incidentally was almost brilliantly going to be called Owl Stretching Time. The word on the tour was very positive, I don’t know whether they’ll be the opening act for forthcoming Australia/NZ and European dates but if you’ve heard please let me know.

Right then, I ought to consider some dinner I suppose, I don’t feel particularly brilliant tonight so it’ll be an early one with warm milk or something. Don’t forget to share the blog if you can and wish to plus remember you can keep current via Facebook, Twitter or get the RSS feed  thanks for reading. Tim

Greetings from Clash Blog towers, how are things in your particular corner of the world then today? I’d have to say bollocks to the last 24 hours here, not only was this very site once again taken out by the vague needs of extremely infantile, bored and annoying people (hackers some call them) but our new roof added this summer faced it’s first very heavy rain overnight and failed miserably treating our hallway to a leak and partial ceiling collapse. Thus a very annoying day has been spent trying to get that repaired and resolved. As for the issues with the blog we’ve been promised improved firewalls from our hosting company but if that doesn’t prove successful in the weeks ahead then I’ll need to switch hosting which also means taking the site offline for a few days so it’s a bit of a lose/lose when you’re trying to provide a regular bit of Clash type updates. I know, I know, all of this is intensely dull but I didn’t want you to think that it’s always wine and roses for your blogger. Cold tea and nettles would better sum up the last couple of weeks.

Anyway let’s move on past that and send a loud volley of information from Strummerville that I alluded to on an earlier post and am a little late in bringing to you, therefore a decent chance exists that you already knew about this. If not then you’ll be pleased as punch – I know I was. By all accounts Strummerville are ramping up to make 2012 their biggest and best year to date which I think is wholly appropriate as the sad 10 year anniversary of Joe’s loss will hit us next year. I’d like to make many more people aware of Joe and of Strummerville in the next 14 months so bear with me if we cover some old ground from time to time. Much more from Strummerville in the weeks ahead but to kick off 2012 they have announced the release of a very special Joe Strummer commemorative calendar to take us right through next year and honour his anniversary in fine style. It’s not the same old stuff recycled for the umpteenth time either but far more select than that. Here’s the official blurb and rather excellent video:

We are releasing a 10th anniversary Joe Strummer calendar for 2012. Marking 10 years since Joe Strummer’s passing, the calendar will include 12 months of Strummer’s most inspirational quotes, previously un-seen images and hand-written artifacts from his personal archive. “We are very excited to present this calendar as our first offering for Joe’s 10th anniversary next year. It’s interesting how even ten years after Joe’s passing some of his words of wisdom are more pertinent now than ever before and we hope that this is reflected in the calendar and that it will be celebrated by Strummer fans around the world.” - Strummerville

Forever Strummer

As if that wasn’t enough there is also an addition to your Christmas card choices this year – you’re hopefully already familiar with the Joe Strummer hand painted card that has been available the last few years. This year sees the addition of a new card featuring the fantastic image below that features Joe in New York captured by none other than Bob Gruen. Once again I defer to the official text from Strummerville.

We will also be releasing two Joe Strummer Christmas cards this year. One is Joe’s last hand-drawn Christmas card (Strummer would send hand-drawn Christmas cards to his close friends every year) and one is this previously never seen before photo of Joe, taken by Bob Gruen in New York, when Joe was giving money to a homeless person.

“I never saw Joe pass a needy or homeless person without giving them something.” – Bob Gruen

My thanks as always to Strummerville for allowing me to help them in promoting the foundation via the blog (Cheers Steve & Trish ) for me it’s an honour. Beneath you’ll find all the links needed to place your orders:

PRE-ORDER NOW FROM THESE LINKS:
Forever Strummer 10th Anniversary Calendar 2012
Limited Edition Bob Gruen / Joe Strummer in New York Christmas Cards (Black And White)
Joe’s Last Hand Painted Card

Thanks as always, I hope you can help out Strummerville – that’d be great. I’ll be back soon. Tim