Joe Strummer – Passed Dec 22, 2002

When Joe passed six years ago my life changed almost as much as when my brother took a then impressionable 12 year old little brother to see The Clash back in 1979. I don’t think I’ve ever missed anyone as much in my life – the saddest part for me was after ten years frozen out of the music industry by a naive contract signed by The Clash, Strummer was writing and touring again and gradually receiving the accolades he was always due.

Nothing has been the same since; it was the loss of something you can’t quantify but also reminds you of the power and perhaps importance of popular culture/art. Joe Strummer was not a genius or a scientist but he was an idealist and for 23 years of my life I always felt I was lucky enough to be a fan (a gang member?) of the only band that matters – to me the ideal band. My passion for music was nurtured by The Clash, and my idealistic hopes for a somewhat better society was fueled by 4 angry punks.

Thanks as always Joe – you never left.

Tim

When you blame yourself, you learn from it. If you blame someone else, you don`t learn nothing, cause hey, it`s not your fault, it`s his fault, over there. (J Strummer)

Thanks Joe

A belated acknowledgment to 22 December, the five year anniversary of a tremendous loss. The poet, artist, statesman, deity; Joe Strummer, gone entirely too soon.

His ideals are still omnipresent, providing never-ending lessons and still-relevant  allegories:

‘ In the end all bands influence each other and there are only 12 notes, so there’s is only so much that can be done. But I think that there is definitely still a place for the whole punk, thrash thing. Largely because of two main elements – it’s fun and it’s noisy and let’s face it even vicars must have times when they want to turn the music up.’

(thanks T)

If we can learn anything, it should be that many genres and artists can be connected, broadcasting the same message, albeit in different applications. Me personally, I’ve gone back to such pre-Clash staples as The Who, Bob Dylan and Neil Young. The message is all the same: isolation, fear, celebration, change, acceptance/refusal of change, social consciousness…the gamut.

Essentially, do not fall victim to voluntary pigeonholing. Embrace those artists and themes you feel you may have outgrown or disassociated from for sake of social acceptance. As long as the music isn’t shit, and has a cogent message, reacquaint yourself away!

BA

undergrounddiscs.com

Whatever happened to…Paul Heaton (ex The Beautiful South, The Housemartins)

Sometimes when a band splits up it seems that the members disappear into the debris of society never to be heard from again. When The Beautiful South came to a conclusion earlier this year after 18+ years of fantastic output I hoped it didn’t signal the end of Paul Heaton’s recording career.

I’ve been a huge fan of Paul since  the earliest singles by The Housemartins back in 1983. Never a band to overstay their welcome the Housemartins disbanded after just 2 albums, a clutch of memorable singles and some brilliant live shows. When they ended in 1988 Paul, Dave Hemingway and former roadie Sean Welch formed The Beautiful South.

TBS were superb for such a long time, as I look back now to the debut album - it was wonderful to see the evolution of the band over a nearly two decade span that featured 11 albums plus 3 greatest hits collections. In fact ‘Carry On Up The Charts’ was one of the best selling albums of the 90’s in the U.K.

Sadly The Beautiful South never experienced great success in the U.S. – of all major British acts of the last 30 years, TBS plus the Jam and Madness have never made it big in the States – and I think the common reason being that they were simply too English.

As for Paul, he actually released a solo album as ‘Biscuit Boy’ in 2001 – backed by members of Joe Strummer’s Mescaleros.

Well, it’s taken less than 9 months for Paul to be back on the road and recording. He is currently on a U.K. tour and might be heading to the States next year. If you take time to visit his site there are audio and video links to some of the new material. The new recordings sound wonderfully stripped down and as always lyrically without equal.

It’s great to see Paul back in the picture – not a shock at all…and destined not to vanish for long. If you’ve not got his back catalogue – I’d suggest ‘Painting it Red’ by the Beautiful South, and the recently released ‘BBC Sessions’ for The Housemartins. For getting to know Paul – I highly recommend ‘Paul’s Gang’ on you tube. A brilliant BBC documentary about the making of ‘Painting it Red’ filmed in 1999 and 2000.

“Too many Florence Nightingales, not enough Robin Hoods”  Flag Day – 1986 

Cheers

Billy Bragg in Canada – Mick Jones coming to the States !!

Although the recent scope of North American dates by Billy Bragg was somewhat limited I’ve read a number of impressive comments. reviews and blog entries.

Seems the nearly 50 year old Billy (I can’t believe he is 50 in December…how did that happen?) is still mixing the banter and brilliant back catalogue to amazing effect. It’s also great to read that he has included 4 or 5 new songs on the mini-tour which apparently will see a new year release. My main reason to write was to direct Bragg fans to a great audio recording of a recent show by CBC. About seven songs are available online and the sound quality is really first class. Tracks include really radical reworkings of “A New England”, “Valentine’s Day Is Over”, “Sexuality” and the almost 80% reworded “Great Leap Forwards” my favourite line being “I don’t believe you can defeat no axis of evil by putting smart bombs in the hands of stupid people”.

Anyway – check out the link to the songs, the article is good also.

In other news I was very excited to read Carbon Silicon (Mick Jones of the Clash-B.A.D & Tony James of Gen X) are going to be playing their first ever dates in the U.S.

Concerts have been announced for Los Angeles Dec 3rd and New York Dec 5th. I really hope to get to the Los Angeles concert and will write more afterwards. Hopefully it’s a test the water situation to gauge the interest in the States as their debut album ‘The Last Post’ (after working together for 2.5 years) has just been released). If you are in L.A. or NYC try and get to the shows as these two are legends who need no introduction – not to mention that the new stuff sounds pretty good. One idea Mick…..the CSi band tee-shirts will have people in America thinking that you watch too much primetime TV – not that you are following an iconic band from London !!

Cheers for now

Billy Bragg / Jail Guitar Doors project

One of the more worthy & interesting projects I’ve heard about recently was founded by Billy Bragg. The Jail Guitar Doors project provide instruments (guitars of course) for use by gents/ladies staying at “Her Majesty’s Request” or as you might say in the States – inmates/prisoners.

Far more worthy then a counselling session or sitting in front of TV the plan is to provide inmates with custom made guitars. The instruments were designed by Bragg and feature famous lyrics by The Clash. The goal being helping to find a positive source of release for inmates. The project has been drawing plaudits throughout the UK and it would be great to see an artist doing something similar here.

In addition philosophy football are offering shirts with The Clash logos and limited edition sets of postcards. The ‘Riot Of My Own’ set contain some of the same images that appear on their range of T shirts which also benefit Jail Guitar Doors: Hate and War, Garageland, English Civil War and London Calling designs. Plus International Brigade banner, Rock against Racism and Hope not Hate.

To get your free postcards, send your name name address to admin@philosophyfootball.com – ask nicely and they will send them to the US !!

Lastly, Billy’s gig at this year’s Labour Party Conference saw £3,500 raised by raffling one of the Jail Guitar Doors-decorated acoustic guitars. Money from the raffle was supplemented by donations from the GMB, the National Union of Mineworkers, Thompsons Solicitors, and, in a welcome show of support for our initiative, the Prison Officers Association, who donated £500 to the cause.

Cheers

The Clash – The only band that matters

I just wanted to write a few words about a book I just completed – it’s been out a few years and I’ve no excuses – I should have read it earlier.

“Passion is a Fashion / The Real Story of The Clash” by Pat Gilbert ISBN-10: 030681434X

What a fantastic read – it’s now 28 years since I was first introduced to The Clash. Even though they sacked Mick Jones when I was 16 and came to a halt by the time I was 19 The Clash were the reason I developed a love of music, built my social awareness and the overall potential of what a band could be. In those subsequent pre internet years I still followed Mick in Big Audio Dynamite and waited for Joe to comeback from his self appointed “Wilderness Years” – when the Mescaleros formed at the end of the 90’s I was 13 all over again.

The Clash were the background music to my youth, my social barometer, my fashion statement and political savvy all rolled into one. I may have wandered away during the 90’s a little but timing (maturity) made me return to my roots in the last decade. Music this good never goes away – and the memories brought back by this book were outstanding.

I thought I knew the Story of The Clash….and before this book I did…to a degree.

Gilbert interviewed everyone connected to The Clash and fills in the pieces. It took me reading
this book to fully understand the dynamics of Joe, Mick, Paul and Topper. Not to mention Bernie Rhodes, Caroline Coon, CBS Records and Terry Chimes. This book may leave you (like me) wishing to be a fly on the wall in ‘77 and saying “Don’t sign with CBS” or forwarding to ‘81 and saying “Help Topper out lads…you need him!!”. Moreover it will leave everything explained and the passion and pure adrenaline of the band leaves you wanting to read more. The Clash were like your first teenage love – heart on the sleeve, commitment, and unabashed energy. The events of the 5-6 year rollercoaster ride of this band left me breathless and yet totally inspired. Music can be this good – it can be this important. Cultural Diversity and Friendships do matter – and fighting against complacency and wrongs does count.

30 years later we call it punk – perhaps even naive. I call it real and vital. The Clash were the right 4 guys, thrust together and brave enough to challenge the status quo – and also treat their fans as friends. Joe Strummer left us far too early in 2002 – but the legacy of this band and the convictions they held should inspire anyone.

A wonderful book – as befits the most important band of the last thirty years.

Cheers

Tim