The members of the Clash were drawn together in 1976, at which point ìthe insurgent spirit of '60s rock was well and truly dead,' as Gilbert writes. The explosion of the punk scene in England that year gave rise to a rash of bands, 'who channeled the anger and frustration on the streets of gloomy mid-'70s Britain into a new kind of cauterising, anti-establishment rock ín roll.' The first indictments served by the Clash came in the form of their debut single (on CBS Records/U.K.), 'White Riot,' issued March 1977, inspired by Strummer and Simononís attendance at the riot during that yearís Notting Hill Carnival, Londonís annual Afro-Caribbean Festival.
'White Riot' set the pattern for the Clash ñ biting, politically charged lyrics underpinned by a musical bed that owed as much of a debt to the minimalist garage-punk ethic of the Stooges and MC5 as it did to Lee Perry and Londonís transplanted ska and reggae roots rockers. This sound that dominated their self-titled British debut LP of early, 1977, The Clash ('White Riot,' 'Londonís Burning,''ìIím So Bored With the U.S.A.,' 'Career Opportunities,' 'Hate & War,''Cheat,' 'Janie Jones,' 'ìGarageland,' and the cover of Junior Murvinís 'Police & Thieves'). Recorded over the course of three weeks, the LP quickly reached ..12 on the U.K. national chart. The Clash was established as a headline act in Great Britain and Europe from their very first tours.
True to British form, the Clash began recording and releasing new non-LP singles in mid-í77. Meanwhile, the debut LP had gone unreleased in America where import sales reportedly topped 100,000 units, making it the best-selling import in history. When Epic/U.S. finally released the album later in 1978, it was resequenced, various tracks were deleted, and several (though not all) of the post-LP U.K. single sides were added, notably Jamaican Lee Perryís one-off production of 'Complete Control,' a cover of the Bobby Fuller Fourís 'I Fought the Law,' and the most recent U.K. 45s, the infectious 'Clash City Rockers' and blistering '(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais.'
With an eye and ear cast on America, the Clash was hooked up with producer Sandy Pearlman (of Blue ÷yster Cult renown) who worked with his new assignees in London, San Francisco and New York. Give íEm Enough Rope, issued worldwide (in one version) in November 1978, showed a tougher rock sound. Strummer found an intellectual peer in Pearlman and the bandís scope broadened to tackle (in Gilbertís words) 'international terrorism, murderous political regimes, and visions of an imminent English Civil War ('English Civil War,' 'Tommy Gun,' 'Safe European Home,' 'Julieís Been Working For the Drug Squad,' 'Stay Free').
The Americanization of the Clash may have been evident when they invited Bo Diddley along as opening act on their first U.S. tour in early í79. But it reached a peak of sorts with their third album, London Calling, released at the end of the year, produced by Guy Stevens, known for his work with Mott the Hoople. The ambitious double-LP set incorporated rockabilly, soul and R&B, even a taste of jazz ('London Calling,' 'The Guns of Brixton,' 'Clampdown,' 'Rudie Canít Fail,''ìLost In the Supermarket,' 'Jimmy Jazz,' 'Train In Vain'). The Clashís first platinum album would earn Rolling Stoneís endorsement years later as ìthe greatest album of the í80s.'
In order to accommodate the prolific outpouring of songs from Strummer and Jones, the even-more ambitious triple-LP Sandinista! was issued in late 1980 ('The Magnificent Seven,' 'Ivan Meets G.I. Joe,' 'Police On My Back,' 'Street Parade'). The Clash had become traffic-stopping front-page news by then, whose albums were paced with a flow of non-LP single sides and 10-inch EPs. A number of these sides (ìBankrobber,' 'Stop the World,' ìThis Is Radio Clash') would take a decade or more to show up on full-fledged album collections.
The machinations of the rock life caught up with the Clash in 1982, not long after the May 1982 release of their fifth album Combat Rock ('Ghetto Defendant,' 'Rock the Casbah,' 'Straight To Hell,' 'Should I Stay Or Should I Go?'). Ironically, the album gave the Clash its first real Top 10 hit and, at the dawning of MTV, a visual cue as well. 'Rock the Casbah,' though co-written by Headon, could not avert his ouster from the band. A year later, Strummer and Simonon decided it was time for Jones to depart as well (he resurfaced on Columbia in 1985 with Big Audio Dynamite).
The Clash forged on with one last album, Cut The Crap ('This Is England'), but their legend endured with collections and anthologies that wrapped up many loose ends ñ demos, live recordings, outtakes, non-album single and EP sides and so on ñ well into the '90s and beyond.
This musical accompaniment to director Julian Temple's biopic of the late Joe Strummer obliterates the traditional soundtrack formula, turning the whole listening experience into an 80-minute radio show, hosted by the inimitable singer/producer/punk rock icon himself. Strummer, a lifelong devotee to the power of radio (he would often bring a transistor on-stage, hold it up to the microphone, and religiously tune in whatever beat-heavy, underground station popped up first), had his own program on the BBC that revolved around his myriad influences and notorious gift for gab. Like Little Steven's Underground Garage program, the music was steeped in its creator's psyche, with old and new favorites inciting rants, raves, and stories that were just as entertaining as the songs themselves. Strummer, a die-hard supporter of world music, filled the airwaves with as many dub, Latin, urban folk, and Middle Eastern dance tracks as he did rare Clash cuts and tracks from rock & roll outsiders like Tim Hardin, the MC5, and Nina Simone, a discipline that's executed perfectly on this lovingly compiled window into the soul of one of popular culture's most inclusive and influential voices.
The Clash Live: Revolution Rock DVDfollows the live transformation of the band, incorporating footage from all phases of The Clash's meteoric career, beginning with live-in-the-studio clips from 1979, through triumphant concerts from clubland (London's The Music Machine, 1978) and theatres (The Lyceum, 1978, 1980), climaxing with a transcendent blow-out performance at New York's Shea Stadium in 1982. The DVD also includes rare footage of the band's performance on The Tom Snyder Show and on ABC's Fridays.....
The Clash Live: Revolution Rock DVD Available now at Amazon
Blackmarketclash: The complete Clash tour site, Blackmarketclash lists all known Clash gigs with performance reviews, info and gig notes!
Strummervile: The Joe Strummer Foundation for New Music: "Following Joe Strummer's untimely passing, his family and friends have launched Strummerville a charitable foundation for the production of new music. The main aim of Strummerville is to provide rehearsal space and studio time to individuals, groups and organizations to enable the production of music by creative young people who would otherwise be preventing from doing so simply because they lack the necessary funds. Our ultimate aim is to have 'Strummerville' studios in key locations around the world.
I thank the people who became a friend deeply. About a sound source (July 12, 2009 upload) I had the owner of the studio look for the sound source that I recorded 15 years ago. The master (DAT) was kept carefully. And I uploaded this sound source at once in myspace. It is all songs, full length. The following is a list. 01.Die 02.Let's Go (June 12, 1994) 01.Anti-U.S.A. 02.Carry On Punk Rock (October 9, 1994) Vo:OKUCCHAN Gu:MITSUHIRO Ba:JUN Dr:MIKKONG Recorded at Sound Network Project Band Contest '94 Special thanks:Junichi Nakamura(PARE TOTAL SOUND CREATOR) The recording is performed in a live broadcasting form. Therefore, all music is recorded only by one take. As for me, a singing voice is childish and is ashamed. But please listen if good.
Hey The Clash , We need your help!!! Please take a look at this site http://adsupport.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=rockthespace.fan&sproutid=uAD8fvCwCIjhnKYz If you like our music, please post this on any website you may have access to. If you post it on your myspace page, send us a message. Once we verify that you have posted our widget on your page, you will recieve one free cd and our promotions manager will promote any item you want for one month. She will even create the graphics for you FREE! This is a great opp for any band or business!!
We are currently holding strong at #3 on the Latin Rock Charts at ReverbNation. Check it out at http://www.reverbnation.com/undiamas If we win this, we plan on having the biggest party that San Antonio, Texas has ever seen! FREE ADMISSION IS PLANNED, TOO!!!
WE LOVE ALL OF OUR FANS!!! - Un Dia Mas
For booking info contact Shell Harris at Marketing@warriorartsentertainment.com
And in this corner, weighing in at 15 tons of Punk Rock Brilliance!!!!
1st verse It was you guys that saved a wretch like me I was blind before I heard you, but now I fucking see God only knows, what I’d be without you The fountain of inspiration, the elixir of youth
2nd verse When I couldn’t walk, you slung me on your back Traversing the landmines, avoiding societies cracks Strummer, Peters, Armstrong, thank you for whatcha do Wrote the punk rock bible, that I’m paying homage to
Pre-chorus And now it’s my turn, bringing you the hits With a left, right, body blow, uppercut Admit it this is the shit!
Chorus Got you up against the ropes kid In the Heroes Corner Do you think you can cope man? In the Heroes Corner
3rd Verse Didn’t heed the call up, I was to smart for that Cause there ain’t been one honest war You know it and that’s the fact The almighty dollar’s been behind every one If Uncle Sam comes a calling, boy just turn and run
Pre-Chorus My words are my ammo; lyrical bombs reign down on you With a left, right, body blow, uppercut Watcha gonna do!!!
Chorus Got you up against the ropes kid In the Heroes Corner! Do you think you can cope man? In the Heroes Corner…
4th Verse The Yuppies just don’t get it You punk rockers sacrificed yourselves Fighters for the freedom, going thru some hell And reminding us just why we’re here To feel some real passion, man I’m shedding a tear
Pre-Chorus
Cause what else in this crazy world has made me feel so good With a left right, body blow upper cut Even Scorsese knows its good!!!
Chorus
Got you up against the ropes kid In the Heroes Corner! Do you think you can cope man? In the Heroes Corner!!!…
And in this corner, weighing in at 15 tons of Punk Rock Brilliance!!!!
1st verse It was you guys that saved a wretch like me I was blind before I heard you, but now I fucking see God only knows, what I’d be without you The fountain of inspiration, the elixir of youth
2nd verse When I couldn’t walk, you slung me on your back Traversing the landmines, avoiding societies cracks Strummer, Peter’s, Armstrong, thank you for whatcha do Wrote the punk rock bible, that I’m paying homage to
Pre-chorus And now it’s my turn, bringing you the hits With a left, right, body blow, uppercut Admit it this is the shit!
Chorus Got you up against the ropes kid In the Heroes Corner Do you think you can cope man? In the Heroes Corner
3rd Verse Didn’t heed the call up, I was to smart for that Cause there ain’t been one honest war You know it and that’s the fact The almighty dollar’s been behind every one If Uncle Sam comes a calling, boy just turn and run
Pre-Chorus My words are my ammo; lyrical bombs reign down on you With a left, right, body blow, uppercut Watcha gonna do!!!
Chorus Got you up against the ropes kid In the Heroes Corner! Do you think you can cope man? In the Heroes Corner…
4th Verse The Yuppies just don’t get it You punk rockers sacrificed yourselves Fighters for the freedom, going thru some hell And reminding us just why we’re here To feel some real passion, man I’m shedding a tear
Pre-Chorus
Cause what else in this crazy world has made me feel so good With a left right, body blow upper cut Even Scorsese knows its good!!!
The Clash 
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