And the way they looked too. I can honestly say that for me no other band looked as good as The Clash. They were just the perfect band.
Strummer and Jones weren't necessarily the best singers ever - they wouldn't get past the first audition for something like X Factor thank God, but they were amongst the best vocalists ever.
One of my favourite performances by the band is The Magnificent Seven (although I found out recently that bass line was a loop played by the Blockheads' bass player who was standing in for Paul temporarily). It's the energy of the thing, the excitement you can feel from the speakers at this band from London playing the first white rap tune. It's brilliantly ridiculous, Joe sounding like he was singing what he saw as somebody flicked through the TV channels.
What have we got? Magnificence!
The Magnificent Seven - The Clash
Wednesday, 15 October 2008
What did you want to be when you grew up dad?
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8 comments:
Either one would be a worthy contender for the title though no? I think I'll dig out Rapture later for a listen!
There are so many great Clash moments, White Man is certainly up there, Tommy Gun, Safe European Home, Pressure Drop, Police And Thieves, Jimmy Jazz, Four Horsemen, and on and on and on...
I gave a kid in one of media groups a behaviour mark a while back 'for being rude about the clash' in a lesson, and I'm pleased to say that now they're having to do work to prepare and shoot a music video their group is on a toss up between 'London Calling' and 'I Fought The Law'.
I hate to be contentious - at the time I was never convinced by Joe Strummer, and the more I've read about him since, directly and indirectly, have just compounded this (Andy Blades Eater biog' - being the most recent read).
I don't mind a few Clash tunes, but they seem to be the Mick Jones ones.
i adore the clash but i still really don't know why - there's so much i should despise - the rocknroll posturing the pissing off to america and deserting us when things were at their worst but somehow i forgive them stuff everytime
go easy step lightly stay free
x
I am a big, big fan of Sandinista - in all its undisciplined, lunatic, brilliant, brilliant madness.
A mike and boom in your living room!
Sorry, 'lunatic madness' is a tautology. Adam'll give me a de-merit. Quite rightly.
actually 'Hateful' came on via shuffle today what a tune and 'Train In Vain' and 'Streetcores' a great album too- mate of mine was in a band called Love's Young Nightmare and worked with Joe Strummer for a bit said he was a thoroughly nice chap.
Know what you mean about making you pick up and play Steve Jones was my inspiration (I've even pimped one of my guitars to look like his)
I also love Sandinista, a much maligned album and not so very long ago JC agreed with bitter andrew that Police on my Back was "The one flawless diamond in a six-sided pile of dross"
edinburgh man
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