Right then…here we are again; Bastille day and all that! July 14, 1979 was a famous day for The Clash as they returned to the scene of one of their most famous moments – The Rainbow Theatre in Finsbury Park North London. They’d been there before in May of 1977 which was the unofficial moment that punk became something far bigger then ever before, I’d written at length about the venue and the show before. By 1979 The Clash had cemented their reputation and already outlived almost all of their punk contemporaries from 1976. The concert was almost a cathartic homecoming, expectations were higher than ever and The Clash did more than deliver. This was the same summer that the band had been writing and rehearsing the tracks that were to become London Calling later that year just a mile away or so in Highbury. As it was the concert took old and new Clash songs including about half a dozen that would be new to the audience and won them over playing more than 20 songs with a new swagger and range that had not been seen before. Right before their hometown audience The Clash were turning into something new, something bigger and a band about to release an album that would change all preconceived notions of what The Clash were really about. If ever there was a concert I wish I attended that might be the one.

A quick link to the never dull L.A. Times music and culture blog which features a short interview with Shepard Fairey. Fairey has (especially after the Obama poster) become an artist who is in great demand but I love the fact that he always – simply always – is happiest when discussing Joe Strummer or The Clash. Good man Shepard!

Things via the Clashblog email ~ I’m often asked where to get the full audio for the famous ‘Without People You’re Nothing” quote by Joe Strummer. Happily we managed to get an audio link via Antonino D’Ambrosio today which I’ve added to the AudioClash page on this website. (find it under ‘special stuff’). That page reminds me that I really must do some housecleaning on the website – dead links don’t look good at all. If you have a mop and broom and want to pop over and help, get in touch!

I’ve waxed on about NPR (National Public Radio) more than once before on the blog, but it truly is a goldmine of information and viewpoints. Please enjoy this audio link to a great interview with Chris Salewicz the author of the wonderful Joe Strummer biography ‘Redemption Song’ that was on NPR in 2007. I’ve got to dash – thanks for dropping in. More later tonight or tomorrow…