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

Very short notice (sorry) but if you’re near a radio in the UK – or the internet globally I suggest you take a quick visit to BBC Radio 2. At 2230GMT, 1730EST a very special broadcast featuring Don Letts is taking place. Typically BBC 2 are really good about archiving shows for a week or two so I hope that’s the case here. (I’ll update when I find out).

The broadcast reviews the history of Notting Hill and it’s connection with music and features Paul Simonon as well as a cast of worthy characters. Save my typing fingers here’s the blurb from the BBC:

Starting in the shadow of the Westway, Don walks the streets and takes us to the hotel where Alice Cooper kept his snake in the bath. He tracks down the café where Mick Jagger used to hang out, the Rough Trade shop that ignited a DIY musical revolution, and Basing Street Studios where Bob Marley threw a punky reggae party and Band Aid fed the world.

Along the way Don exclusively interviews Damon Albarn (Blur, Gorillaz, The Good The Bad & The Queen), Paul Simonon (The Clash, The Good The Bad & The Queen), Lemmy (Motorhead), homegrown reggae legends Aswad, Viv Albertine (The Slits), Nik Turner (Hawkwind), Andrea Oliver (Rip Rig & Panic), Huey Morgan (Fun Lovin’ Criminals), Michael Moorcock (author & Hawkwind collaborator), Joe Boyd (Witchseason Label) and TV presenter Davina McCall. Together with cab drivers, cafe owners and locals, they tell the story of The Other Notting Hill.

Hope you can listen to this…will be doing so myself. 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!