The Clash

[scotty]

Well whats to say? Where they the most important British Punk band.Where were you when The clash where London Calling.How do The Clash compare to the Sex Pistols in the musical spectrum?(well its a stupid question i know but..)What do The clash mean to you after the years have rolled along.Do you think that The clash The clash 1977 Album was a pivotal moment in punk commercialism. Whats you views.Let us know what you thought of Joe ,Mick Paul and Nicky.All aspects welcome.........................

[antipodean]

G'day Scotty,

I always felt the early Clash was the definitive UK punk band - they had a deep sincerity and intensity that IMO was lacking with the Pistols (who sometimes seemed to be playing at being angry and obnoxious). Their punk peak was definitely London Calling, which is an absolute classic album when stacked up against any rock act, let alone any punk act.

As time passed, they metamorphosed into a truly great rock band - a bit reminsicent of the Stones in the late '60s and early '70s, but with even more attitude and credibility. I believe that this was just a natural progression, rather than an attempt to "go commercial". Of course, it couldn't last given the nature of the times and the personalities involved, but it was an absolute blast!

[captsandwich]

The Clash are the definitive band of the late 70's early 80's, punk or otherwise. They are the biggest influence on my guitar playing and songwriting. They brought so much to the table by incorporating ska, reggae, soul, dub and funk to punk. Their first album is probably my favourite because of the urgency of every single track. The Pistols were like a bolt of lightning, but the Clash were like a thunderstorm. 9 album sides in 8 years. I still argue iwth my friends that had Sandanista been a single (or even a double) album, it would be considered as one of the greatest albums of the 80's, maybe even better than London Calling.
The day Joe died, I felt like I lost a family member.

[paologregorio]

Exactly

[sowhat]

My first Clash record, quite a few years ago, was "Sandinista!", and, to tell you the truth, i wasn't that much impressed. I thought they were too cold, too counted, too boring (sorry), too... British for me (now don't beat me too hard, i was way too biased and stereotyped about Brits at that moment thanks my dear school; and if that isn't enough, way back then i thought Benny Hill was actually funny...)
Later on, my impression about both Brits and the Clash has changed dramatically. Not that i've become a huge fan of Clash but from time to time, i find a great pleasure listening to their records. They are indeed different from what i usually listen to. They take a brain to think and time to feel, not only legs to move and heart — together with nerves (forgive me that "metaphor", i'm no biologist, too far from that) — to produce strong emotions.

[randyz]

Back around 1979-1983, I had every record by The Clash and listened to them frequently. Then one morning in 1984 I woke up and decided that they were a very uncool band. I sold/traded all of my Clash records and haven't listened to them since. I can't recall ever having a similar reaction to any other band. Very strange...

[brsmith21]

Back around 1979-1983, I had every record by The Clash and listened to them frequently. Then one morning in 1984 I woke up and decided that they were a very uncool band. I sold/traded all of my Clash records and haven't listened to them since. I can't recall ever having a similar reaction to any other band. Very strange...

That's pretty much what happened with me and U2 in the mid 80's, but the Clash has held up very well IMHO. London Calling is one of my top 5 lp's of all time.

[sowhat]

Back around 1979-1983, I had every record by The Clash and listened to them frequently. Then one morning in 1984 I woke up and decided that they were a very uncool band. I sold/traded all of my Clash records and haven't listened to them since. I can't recall ever having a similar reaction to any other band. Very strange...

That's pretty much what happened with me and U2 in the mid 80's, but the Clash has held up very well IMHO. London Calling is one of my top 5 lp's of all time.

Happened to me, too. Not with the Clash, though, and if i'll ever mention the name of the band that had such an effect on me in this section, i'll have to eat my cap stuffed with my Man's most worn socks.

[steve_hershberger]

Back in the day I loved ALL that stuff - Pistols, Elvis C., all the pub rock bands, and the Clash. To me, when playing that kind of punk or new wave stuff (when I wasn't playing Beatles etc.) there was nothing better than putting on the first Clash album and cranking up the volume. Especially turning it up even more when their version of "I Fought The Law" came on.

If you want to get a real insight into what the Clash was like, I'd suggest everyone read "Redemption Song - The Ballad of Joe Strummer." Fascinating book.

[scott_s]

Here comes a hijack!

What do you folks think of Carbon/Silicon? I've only heard a couple of their tracks on NPR, but I've liked what I heard.

- Scott

[expomick]

THEE most influential band in my life. I'd say The Beatles, but I didn't get into them until 1975, having been born in 1963.

The Clash were a wonderful contradiction, a ever-changing unit that tried to balance music and politics, fashion and beliefs, the personal and the political. They were as much posers as they were "legitimate", but putting that all aside, they made some of the best, most powerful, rock 'n roll I've ever heard.

I feel the overwhelming majority of their songs still hold up. London Calling is my favourite album of all-time. Revolver, number two.

Saw the Clash live in Montreal in early September 1982, and then in Ottawa in May of 1984...not that they were the real thing by then.

Saw Joe Strummer live in Toronto in the autumn of 1999 - an awesome show. Not an oldies act, 'cause the new stuff was pretty good too. Try "Forbidden City", just for one example.

Coolest looking band ever!

[whojamfan]

I loved the fact that Rolling Stone magazine gave "London Calling" album of the decade in the 80s, because it hit our shores officially in 80. I remember all those spandex wankers telling always how much they sucked, and how cool "Cinderella" was. Laughed my *** off for a week, and surprised they voted for that one. I was certain "Appetite for Destruction" by Guns and Roses was gonna get it. Thankfully, I didn't bet on it.

What a great band, but Mick Jones living in the recording studio recording stuff day and night sure helped them out. Everyone loves to give Joe Strummer all of the credit, but they would not been anywhere near the band they were without Mick Jones. If only they could've kept Topper off smack, they would have exceeded U2s success by the time Strummer died.

[atomic_punk]

Then one morning in 1984 I woke up and decided that they were a very uncool band. I sold/traded all of my Clash records and haven't listened to them since.

Would this be around the time they were opening for the Stones?
I remember seeing them open for them and people threw GOLF BALLS at them.

[whojamfan]

You should have seen what they threw at Prince in L.A. when he opened for the Stones!

It's funny how this new generation of punks has no idea how hard the older ones had it. Grown men in their 30s and 40s used to come after you with baseball bats. Jocks, all coked up, used to come to the gigs in packs and try to stomp as many as they could. If you wanted Doc Marten boots, you had to order them from England. It trips me out how now you can get all of this stuff at the mall, and "Hello Kitty" spiked bracelets.

Sorry, on a rant.

[captsandwich]

I moved to a geographically isolated city of 100,000 people, two days before I started high school in 1980. The Doors were still regarded as 'current' by the local FM station. I was physically threatened for having hair that was too short. Like the song says, I found a dozen or two young alien types to step and deare to declare We're through being Cool. Some of them were assaulted, beaten up, hospitalized. Nobody ever jumped me because they thought I was crazy. Plus, I carried a pipe wrench in my overcoat for about a year.
Good times.