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7th out of 130 books
—
39 voters
Passion Is a Fashion: The Real Story of the Clash
by
Pat Gilbert
The only internationally successful, million-selling group to emerge from the late seventies London punk scene, the Clash set out to change the world with a potent mix of politics, iconic imagery, and blazing rock �n’ roll. It was an agenda mirrored in the Clash’s music, which swiftly evolved from ferocious punk rock to incorporate reggae, ska, funk, jazz, soul, and hip-ho...more
Paperback, 424 pages
Published
May 11th 2005
by Da Capo Press
(first published 2005)
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Jan 22, 2008
Joe Blow
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Good Music Lovers
Recommended to Joe Blow by:
Andy
This book just solidifies that The Clash is still "the only band that matters." I read this in about week, I could not put it down. It goes into each band members life before the band and life in the band. I can't say enough about how great this book is. I love it.
Probably the most intelligently written music biography I've read. The Clash deserve it, as they are one of the few great bands to truly derive their complex political and philosophical viewpoints from lived experience. Gilbert seems to allude that the views they represented were the very reason that the band was predestined to a relatively short lifespan. Those viewpoints - the foundation of the band - did not mix with success. Punk music was not about success. Once the band achieved that succ...more
a cool bunch of guys who were real nice to people and real dicks to each other.
Great bio on the Only Band that Mattered.
Police and Thieves was the first Clash song that I remember hearing. Andrew had the Story of the Clash on two cassettes and I fell in love right away. I remember then getting The Clash on Broadway three CD set and listening to disc 2 especially over and over in my room. While I have always loved the music, I admit that I knew very little about the group before reading this book. Would I have liked as much if I didn’t love the music? Probably not. The book is a fascinating look at four very diffe...more
Nov 07, 2011
Misssharice
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Fans of punk music, fans of The Clash
Recommended to Misssharice by:
Saw it in Waterstones
A really interesting insight into the history and creation of the legends that are The Clash. It goes right back to when the band members were children and right to the death of Joe Strummer and the band's activities after this event. A really enjoyable read for fans of The Clash and punk music alike.
I love the Clash. I do. I love everything about them. So why did it take me this long to read this book? It's dense. Jam-packed. Every paragraph has at least two different anecdotes. This isn't a bad thing. Not at all. Actually, it's a good thing, because you really get to know their band personalities and how they interact. It's light on the personal info (which is fine, that's all been covered in other sources mentioned in the last chapter), but heavy on band inspirations, interactions and imp...more
Mar 31, 2010
Paula Hartman-Carlo
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anyone who loves The Clash
This is the definitive biography of The Clash. Pat Gilbert not only interviews just about every person who was involved with the band but he also paints a detailed picture of what England was like in decades following WWII. The book is well organized and the reader can easily imagine what it was like to be on the road or in the studio with The Clash. Gilbert provides a discography and a bibliography. The only thing I was disappointed with was the lack of photos. There were a few pages but it was...more
Loved it. Great history of The Clash.
My other favorite Clash book
This book is both sad & hilarious all at the same time. You get to see many sides of the many people that made up & surrounded The Clash from start to finish.
For anyone who isn't jaded enough about punk rock, this is the book for you! What do you get when you mix a Woody Guthrie worshipping pubrocker, a couple wahed-up glamrockers, a reggae fanboy who can't play bass, and a several drummers of varying importance? Throw in a tyrannical manager, and you might just have something. A definite good read that any fan of the Clash won't be able to put down.
Kattava ja läpikotainen, kelvollisesti käännetty The Clashin elämäkerta, joka opasti minut syvemmälle punkin hämmentäville alkulähteille. Kirja antoi myös paljon inspiraatiota ja innostusta, ja mikä tärkeintä, ajoi levykauppaan ja The Clashin tuotantoa hankkimaan.
Mielenkiintoinen musiikkielämäkerta muillekin kuin The Clashin faneille.
Mielenkiintoinen musiikkielämäkerta muillekin kuin The Clashin faneille.
A great book about one of the best bands ever. It's a very entertaining story, and really makes you feel what it must've been like to be in London in the late 70s. I also love the epilogue, which is a great tribute to Joe Strummer, who passed away before the book was published.
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If you're a fan of The Clash and want to read an informative and engaging account of their turbulent career, then this book fits the bill. Grab it and read it, you won't be disappointed.
Finally finished! Very good read and a great insight into a great band. Highly recommended to fans and the musically curious.
A good read. I love the nature of the story. It's good to see the chaos behind some of my favorite albums.
Enjoyed the book overall......maybe 'lessened' its impact by reading another Clash biography very soon afterwards
I've read just about every current book on The Clash and none of them hold a candle to this one.
Glosses over things a bit, but not bad.
not as good as last gang in town
One of the greatest bands ever.
May 16, 2013
Mike Whiting
marked it as to-read
May 16, 2013
Marisa A.
marked it as to-read
May 14, 2013
Jason Lawless
added it
May 14, 2013
Dorami Chan
marked it as to-read
May 12, 2013
Sergio
marked it as to-read
May 08, 2013
Tami Nelson
marked it as to-read
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