.. started out dubious .. (& know not why ..) mebbe cuz i had to sell my vinyl once upon a time .. so bummed me you did .. ?
Best editorial i read & needed ‘in the moment !’ .. Gets another READ.. later today.. headphones on stun - dimly comprehendo in Canada eh .. that American Fascism could ‘come for you..’ & ‘just because it’s True .. th hell y’say !! 🦎🏴☠️🍁💋
Thank you for the kind words. But yeah, I’ve had to sell off vinyl due to life changes a couple of times now — never a happy thing, but the first time was the hardest because it was almost a complete clear-out save for about 10 autographed albums and about 100 rare 45s. This last time, I tried limiting the sell-offs to records I could easily and affordably replace when the mood struck; although as mentioned here I hadn’t quite counted on the renewed demand for vintage Clash vinyl!
I agree 100 percent with your Fuck Fascism Forever statement! I never thought my country would fall for this BS. I don’t see how any decent person could be proud to be a Republican?
I had heard punk before but it never spoke to me until I heard “Clampdown” and “London Calling” on the local radio station. Both songs, and the album they appear on, are still magnificent.
Kudos to you for sitting all the way through “Rude Boy”. I think I dove in with a VHS rental tape of it sometime in the early-90’s and it was as dreadful as I had read it was. I did enjoy that live concert sequence you referenced, but later when Mick Jones in character yelled at our protagonist Rude Boy to “Get the f*ck off the stage!”, I’d was right there with him and dumped out for good.
Hahaha! For years after watching the film, my friend Brian and I would crack each other up by moaning "MOOAAAR CLAYSHE!" like Ray Gange did into the mic at that show.
One of the greatest songs ever recorded. That footage is almost certainly from the Ladbroke Grove/Westbourne Park Rd area back in the day, it's the kind of image I saw every time I was round those streets.
First of all, your dad had one of the coolest addresses possible. Mad props! Second, I remember watching Rude Boy at the 8th Street Playhouse (when their speciality was rock n' roll movies) and the teenaged boy in me was particularly struck by what happens to Ray in the toilet stall. I still and always will think that London Calling is one of the great works of art from the latter 20th Century. Seeing The Clash at Bond is one of my best concert memories.
Hahaha — yes, the infamous toilet stall scene! I remember it well... Sure wish I'd seen The Clash in person, though; I've heard bootlegs from some of the Bonds shows, and they were on fire!
This record will always hold a special place in my story, as it was a gateway album to another world far, far away from the KISS & AC/DC I'd surrounded myself with to that point. I was 14, & got "London" along with The Boomtown Rats "The Fine Art Of Surfacing" as presents for graduating 8th grade. After that, my world was never the same again.
Thanks for a typically thoughtful piece there Dan, connecting the dots between your introduction to the Clash and the frustration that a rock song like "Working For The Clampdown" is more relevant now than it was at the time. Strummer and co. so loved the USA and its culture, and living here now, feeling it be strangulated from within, is unbearably painful. I always thought we were going to leave the world in a better place for the next generation, and I know there is still time for that to happen. In the meantime, from Green Day to The Clash to James (yep, sorry Dan!) us Substackers will continue to do what we can to highlight the music that screams Fuck Fascism Forever.
Brilliant 🥲
🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
.. started out dubious .. (& know not why ..) mebbe cuz i had to sell my vinyl once upon a time .. so bummed me you did .. ?
Best editorial i read & needed ‘in the moment !’ .. Gets another READ.. later today.. headphones on stun - dimly comprehendo in Canada eh .. that American Fascism could ‘come for you..’ & ‘just because it’s True .. th hell y’say !! 🦎🏴☠️🍁💋
Thank you for the kind words. But yeah, I’ve had to sell off vinyl due to life changes a couple of times now — never a happy thing, but the first time was the hardest because it was almost a complete clear-out save for about 10 autographed albums and about 100 rare 45s. This last time, I tried limiting the sell-offs to records I could easily and affordably replace when the mood struck; although as mentioned here I hadn’t quite counted on the renewed demand for vintage Clash vinyl!
Will get back to ya later .. yer light years beyond my southwestern Ontario farm lad → DJ VJ evolution & ultimately hand held ‘freelance shooter etc
I agree 100 percent with your Fuck Fascism Forever statement! I never thought my country would fall for this BS. I don’t see how any decent person could be proud to be a Republican?
Dark days for folks with souls.
Indeed. Happy to still have mine, at least!
The only band that matters!
I always admired the balls behind that slogan, even if I could never defend its veracity.
I had heard punk before but it never spoke to me until I heard “Clampdown” and “London Calling” on the local radio station. Both songs, and the album they appear on, are still magnificent.
They truly are!
Kudos to you for sitting all the way through “Rude Boy”. I think I dove in with a VHS rental tape of it sometime in the early-90’s and it was as dreadful as I had read it was. I did enjoy that live concert sequence you referenced, but later when Mick Jones in character yelled at our protagonist Rude Boy to “Get the f*ck off the stage!”, I’d was right there with him and dumped out for good.
Hahaha! For years after watching the film, my friend Brian and I would crack each other up by moaning "MOOAAAR CLAYSHE!" like Ray Gange did into the mic at that show.
Though it's not on London Calling, another Clash lyric came to mind this week due to Trump's state visit (urgh) to the UK:
If Adolf Hitler flew in today
They'd send a limousine anyway
And so they did…
You just sparked me to play it…WHAT A SINGLE!
That Rasta dude walking in the beginning is awesome:
https://youtu.be/96UtZPLiT90?si=KuobEriG1hSlIIxx
One of the greatest songs ever recorded. That footage is almost certainly from the Ladbroke Grove/Westbourne Park Rd area back in the day, it's the kind of image I saw every time I was round those streets.
Perfect, sadly...
Really enjoyed this piece, Dan. It makes me want to throw on London Calling tonight while I play Civ 7.
Thanks, Chase! Do it — I think it'll make a lovely soundtrack to empire-building!
Recently rewatched Straoght to Hell. Strummer is one of the main characters.
So ng by same name is what turned me onto them in 83’
That film’s kind of a mess, but Joe had great screen presence.
I like messy. The salsa ketchup song, the Pogues. It was a good silly edgy break from current bs.
Definitely not a master piece.
Shot in three days I believe.
First of all, your dad had one of the coolest addresses possible. Mad props! Second, I remember watching Rude Boy at the 8th Street Playhouse (when their speciality was rock n' roll movies) and the teenaged boy in me was particularly struck by what happens to Ray in the toilet stall. I still and always will think that London Calling is one of the great works of art from the latter 20th Century. Seeing The Clash at Bond is one of my best concert memories.
Hahaha — yes, the infamous toilet stall scene! I remember it well... Sure wish I'd seen The Clash in person, though; I've heard bootlegs from some of the Bonds shows, and they were on fire!
My one and only live Clash experience:
https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/the-clash/1979/st-paul-civic-center-st-paul-mn-6bd7c2ba.html
Damn - the live debut of “Clampdown”?!?
This record will always hold a special place in my story, as it was a gateway album to another world far, far away from the KISS & AC/DC I'd surrounded myself with to that point. I was 14, & got "London" along with The Boomtown Rats "The Fine Art Of Surfacing" as presents for graduating 8th grade. After that, my world was never the same again.
That’s two great albums, right there!
Thanks for a typically thoughtful piece there Dan, connecting the dots between your introduction to the Clash and the frustration that a rock song like "Working For The Clampdown" is more relevant now than it was at the time. Strummer and co. so loved the USA and its culture, and living here now, feeling it be strangulated from within, is unbearably painful. I always thought we were going to leave the world in a better place for the next generation, and I know there is still time for that to happen. In the meantime, from Green Day to The Clash to James (yep, sorry Dan!) us Substackers will continue to do what we can to highlight the music that screams Fuck Fascism Forever.
Even if their music does little for me, I am happy to have Green Day and James on our side!
So apparently yesterday was the date that in 1979 CLash played the Palladium in NYC and Paul smashed his bass. The things you learn. Cheers Dan...
I have friends who were at that very show — and I am forever jealous of them!
Other bands are equally great, but no band feels like The Clash do.
High-five for the respect shown to I’m Not Down, but don’t forget Spanish Bombs.
I mean, I love every track on the album - but that one’s a fantastic example of how good and interesting they were as songwriters.
Fuck yeah!
✊🏼
It’s really a perfect album. All bangers, no filler. So of it’s time and yet timeless.
Amen to all that!