apparently it's strummer day today which is all a bit lady di for me. i'm not keen. it stinks of mass hysteria and idol worship and horrid phonies. and record company cash.
i stood in the rain on ladbroke grove and raised a clenched fist and fought a trembling lip while fat bald men sobbed on a horrible december 29th a while back but i won't have any part of this.
i will have clash day instead. i'll celebrate the 30th anniversary of their first lp.
and i'll demand people say as many nice things about topper simonon and jones.
the clash are still a mystery to me - i can't explain why they still excite me and how they stir my old punk heart. i mean there's the records obviously, but if we're brutal that's just half a first lp, a couple of singles, one song off of 'give em enough rope, a side of 'london calling', the odd bit of sandinista, ''straight to hell' and you're done. but then i adore sandinista in all it's sprawling messy glory even if i can't remember the last time i played that much of it, i nicked off school for london calling and read every bit of cover and inserts and runout groove on the bus home, and those singles are complete control and white man in hammersmith palais. i never bought cut the crap but still braved alsatians in the lobby at brixton to see them one last time.
and they were rock which i despise and they left us in the grip of thatcher with only the specials for protection so they could support the who (for gawd sakes) and combat rock was so pityfully bad (but i'm glad topper made a few quid) but then i play armagideon time and always shout 'okay okay..don't push us when we're.. hot' and i forgive them almost anything...
so we'll have none of this deifiction of strummer. no one bought melscaleros records, everyone laughed at his acting (although he's great in mystery train), he looked awful with that mohican, and he should've never sacked jones. but we'll miss him.
let's just put on our classics and have a litle dance
stay free kills me. every single time. i'm a bit teary just thinking about it.
the clash - stay free
and it's typical that a cover version on a b side ended up being almost my favourite thing
the clash - armagideon time
i've only just discovered the scrapped mick jones version of combat rock, rat patrol from fort bragg, which all of a sudden makes should i stay or should i go listenable again. you can download the whole lp from these nice people
happy clash day my friends.
and if you've forgotten just how beautiful a live thing they could be here's a reminder...
there's a lovely proper moving strummer tribute by the fabulous buckeroo kid that will bring a lump to your throat here
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