The Only Band That Mattered
The Guardian has an article up today about why/how The Clash are still relevant. I don’t normally just link to articles like this, but The Clash are one of my favourite bands ever and they should be one of yours. Irvine Welsh, The Edge, Pete Townshend and others share their favourite Clash singles upon the release of this amazing box set. Carl Barat has this to say about ‘Tommy Gun’:
A mate told me a funny story about the ad lib near the end where Strummer sings: ‘OK, so let’s agree about the price, and make it one jet airliner for 10 prisoners.’ Apparently, he texted it to a mate who couldn’t figure out what the lyrics were and the next morning some heavies from MI5 turned up on his doorstep! That alone proves ‘Tommy Gun’ is as relevant now as it was back then.
Download some of my favourite Clash singles below (‘Clampdown’ was never a single). All songs are from a show in New York on September 21, 1979. The show was at the Palladium and I think it may be the show where Pennie Smith shot the cover for London Calling.
Complete Control
(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais
Tommy Gun
White Riot
October 30th, 2006 22:14
Wow – these are great! Thanks so much for posting these.
I cannot wait for this box set to come out…
November 4th, 2006 00:00
So much fun hearing Tommy Gun. I remember near the end of ’89 my brother and I were comparing our “best albums of the decade” lists, and we both only had one–London Calling. Everything else paled.