Yawn…..I’d make that a big 22 point ‘Tahoma’ yawn if I could but it wouldn’t look particularly good on the blog. How is it where you are then – I hope well. Sorry for the gap between posts this week, best intentions have been overridden by the need to catch up on sleep these last few days. I’ve been looking at my old vinyl the last few days and it struck me as quite remarkable that there’s nothing else in my life that I’ve owned for 20,25 even 30 years that is in better condition. No clothes, books, collectable items from my pre-teens and early teens have made that journey with me to probably a dozen homes in 5 cities on two continents. Not sure whether that signifies just how important my old records are to me or how little I’ve invested in other things. I was just holding some records and it dawned on me that they’ve been ‘in my house’ for so many years when so much else has come and gone. Odd…in a rambling sort of way, I’ve yet to have coffee and this is how much focus I exude before caffeine gets me on track.

I wanted to point you in the direction of Strummerville this morning as they have added something rather special and very limited to their online shop that I wanted make certain you are aware of. These new shirts have a very a limited run of just 101(‘er) in each size so when they’re gone they’re gone (I sound like a car dealer). Here’s the official blurb:

The designs of each T-Shirt have been based on original artefacts from Joe Strummer’s personal items (Set lists, scrawled guitar string packs and other personal notes). Each design will be very limited to 101 shirts in each size, (S, M, L, XL) in reference to one of Joe’s early bands – The 101’ers.

After these initial run of 101 tees are sold, they will not be available or reprinted again, making these tee shirts very ltd and ‘a soon to be,’ collectors item for any fan.

The site now boasts a growing selection of merchandise in the Strummerville shop, each item helping to fund the foundation. Recently added are some rather nice polo shirts and what is apparently a ‘distressed’ hoody. What could a hoody possibly have to worry about it’s either ‘up’ or ‘down’ right? Please have a look at the new items over at the Strummerville shop when you can, especially those t-shirts.

Also worth noting if you ‘live by the river’ is the 2nd annual (I think) River Rat Pack which is supported by Strummerville. It features Beans on Toast, Bastille, The Joker & The Thief plus others traveling on barges performing plus playing at riverside pubs as they navigate the Thames from London to Oxford. Unfortunately this already kicked off earlier in the week but continues until Sunday. Full details are on the Strummerville site or via the official site here. I was convinced that this year’s event wasn’t until next week so apologies for the late notice on this. I wish we had something similar here but we’d actually need a river to manage that and this is about as near as we get in this part of the world.

Right with that said I’m going to brew some beans but I do plan to be back this evening, have a terrific Thursday and see you in the comments I hope. Tim

Hello Clash friends, decent weekend? I hope so, mine was alright but filled with obligations so it felt like it passed at an even quicker rate than usual. Therefore any chance I had at writing a post last night was snuffed out. In fact it’s 10pm as I write this without much of a story in mind so I’ll see what I can shake out of the trees and/or finish the post tomorrow if needed. Have you ever considered how many great bands have hailed from Scotland over the last 30-35 years and when you consider the population is just over 5 million it is quite a testament. One of these days I’ll put together a list of my favourite Scottish bands, I’d have to say the vast majority would be post 1980 but that really covers my (relative) area of expertise. It was a thought that never occurred to me when The Clash were active but you almost have to consider that Joe was half Scottish or at least inspired by that to some extent, I’m English born but with my Mum being Irish I’ve only ever really considered my ‘half-Irishness’ more as an adult. I know that Joe was more drawn to that part of his heritage in his later years. I always felt like a mutt really. Who were the original/better Scottish punk bands anyway, nothing is springing to mind from 1977 (ish). I think the post-punk period was more favourable North of that border, but go ahead and prove me wrong.

Vince White is still going update. For those in the minority that still think The Clash MKII were full of good ideas you might enjoy this link to a new song by Vince White. Even if you don’t like the song you might enjoy his hair. Even if you don’t like his hair you might remember the 4:03 you spent as time you’ll never get back. —update — Good news, this is another Vince White, apologies to the real Vince White, that one is still busy plotting the overthrow of government in London. I was misled by the video being tweeted hashtag The Clash!! —- Actually I’m being unfair, it would be a poor  retelling of history to suggest that the stand in members of The Clash over those final years were treated well, particularly at the very end. Nor were they on much more than a hiding to nothing once that final album went into to the studio. It’s a piece of Clash history that I feel really unqualified to tell and judge it on the music only, those weren’t good times for Joe or Paul if interviews are anything to go by. I did see that final lineup of the band live and it wasn’t awful. I know many of you have good memories of their live performances at the time even allowing for the lack of Topper and Mick. There seems to be a lot ill-will from that period of time so examining it in much detail doesn’t seem to be very healthy and Joe for obvious reasons and Bernie Rhodes for personal ones aren’t filling in the gaps. As a rule of thumb I’ve somewhat excluded that part of The Clash story on the blog although it hasn’t been a conscious decision, perhaps I need to revisit that?

If you’ve wondered recently whether Mick Jones might get pulled back into another stint as producer of The Libertines (if that reunion was to be permanent) you probably received your answer with the news that Pete Doherty has been sent back to prison for six months. It seems that will be the final straw that closes the book on The Libertines and the patience of Carl Barât with regards to Pete. It seems that based on the last six or seven years that jail is not where Doherty is going to find successful rehabilitation which only underscores the tragic waste of of his talent in my opinions. Not only does that put paid to his UK tour but also I think the hopes of a full reunion of The Libertines. There’s also other unfinished cases of guilt by association over Doherty regarding the deaths of ….you know what I won’t even bother you can look it up in the gutter press which now appears to officially be The Daily Mail. Just type Daily Mail and Pete Doherty into your search engine and ask yourself if that outstanding newspaper just might have a vendetta of sorts? On a slightly more positive note I’m looking forward to the forthcoming Libertines film perhaps getting a US release (or at least a DVD). It has been released in the UK and here’s a link to the interview with director Roger Sargent at the London premier. I think there are some strange parallels to The Clash even beyond the music.

This has hardly been my most positive/focused update ever has it? Ah well, I’ll be back tomorrow with some Strummerville news that is worth knowing about. See you in the comments – Tim. Oh and Ryan Giggs….I guess add me to the list of those to be sued, you had an affair with Imogen (don’t call me Michael) Thomas.

Friday afternoon then and welcome to the 48 hours you’ve been waiting for. I just got bloody drenched trying to out think the new sprinkler out in the back garden, not only is that little yellow plastic contraption obviously far more intelligent than me but it is also notably quicker. Thus I sit here somewhat sodden and bemoaning the logic that said ‘don’t worry about watering the grass today, it’ll be fine’. I did want to get a quick post out tonight so that you know what the weekend has in store. I finally got around to purchasing the new Gorillaz CD last night so I hope to spend a bit of time listening to that this weekend to see if I can determine what level of contribution has been made by Messrs Jones and Simonon. I hope to get a brief podcast done for the weekend if time allows, failing which you can nail it on for a definite weekly or bi-weekly return next week. If I do the pod I’ll do the drawing for The Clash-The Singles boxset live on the podcast, failing that I’ll announce it on tomorrow’s post. The drawing will still be ‘live’ and random you just will have to read it rather than hear it. I do want to do the podcast more often but I’m not sure if it’ll be interesting enough listening to me ponder this and that for 10-15 minutes each week? The goal is to have you keep coming back to the blog, not run away screaming. It does though open up the chance to share some thoughts in more detail, play some music and do some interviews, so I’m not giving up yet. If you want to help with the contact process for key people please let me know, extra connectivity never hurt.

What I wanted to share tonight though is a really special exhibition in London for Clash fans being hosted by our old friend the Subway Gallery at Edgware Road tube (actually underground in the main subway on the ticket concourse). Regulars to the blog will know that this special little gallery hold a steady rotation of excellent events and are more than a little partial to things that have a definite Clash flavour. So it is again that starting today and running until May 28th Robert Gordon McHarg III will be presenting a special and unique collection of copies of the lyrics, thoughts, doodles and sketches of Joe Strummer. It provides a very special and rare opportunity to see so much of Joe’s handwriting and personality. Joe loved to write and communicate, a keen love of cartooning and sketching never left him and this collection is something I’d love to see. I do hope that many of you in and around London are able to make it along and if you do happen to go and would like to submit photos for the many of us too far away please get in touch and I’ll get them up on the blog. Beneath is the official blurb and you’ll find links at the footer.

McHarg brings Joe Strummer centre stage by covering the gallery with photocopies of Joe’s lyrics, images, thoughts and scribblings. This installation is based on Strummerville’s Rehearsal Rooms that McHarg has had a hand in art directing/installing – The Roundhouse in London, Oh Yeah Music Centre in Belfast -
and the “Joe Strummer Past Present & Future” exhibition – London & Tokyo – curated by McHarg.

On the 22nd of December 2009, as a tribute to Joe, McHarg named the Subway Gallery’s pedestrian subway were Strummer used to busk and roam,
JOE STRUMMER SUBWAY. In Gordon’s words “It was an act of love and rebellion, for an artists who’s words, music and actions have left me better off.”

You can see his previous work here (The Joe Strummer Subway)….the new exhibition is called Strummertime and links and added detail for the Subway Gallery (location, etc) is here.

Finally tonight the very sad news about the death of Lloyd Knibb of The Skatalites at age 80 from cancer. He’d been receiving treatment in Florida but wanted to get back to Jamaica one last time which he successfully did. If you’ve ever enjoyed Ska – this man was the king of the Ska beat….essentially he was one the very originators of the music. The man was a legend, if you ever wanted to work your way back to pre-reggae sounds to rocksteady, bluebeat and ska which channeled through R&B all roads will eventually lead to The Skatalites and Lloyd Knibb. A really sad loss, exploring older ska has been one of my favourite musical adventures as an adult and The Skatalites were amazing. I’d recommend this link at OC Weekly to read more. I’ll be back tomorrow, see you in the comments and hopefully some of you can get to Subway?  Tim