The Clash

by Paul Du Noyer

The most overtly political of all punk groups, The Clash stormed the music scene in 1976, as part of the Sex Pistols's Anarchy in the UK tour. Formed in 1976, the furious four stayed in the headlines for a decade, until disbanding in 1986. Their debut album, 'The Clash', "the best album of 1977" (Al Spicer) was recorded in just six days and, with its angry, anti-capitalist lyrics-dole queues, race riots, crumbling tower blocks-The Clash seemed the new spokesmen for an angry, anti-captitalist generation. Paul Simonon, Joe Strummer, Mick Jones and Terry Chimes aimed to be the most honest band in the they kept ticket and record prices low (releasing a double LP for the price of a single and a triple album for the price of a double LP), and only signed to major, capitalist label CBS with a promise "to corrupt them from within". When CBS released 'Remote Control' as a single, without informing either the band or their manager, The Clash released 'Complete Control' as a returning jibe. The 1979 release of 'London Calling', with its mix of reggae, R&B and original Clash sound, was The Clash at their best. It lives forever in music history as a reminder of what a truly great punk band should be.

Packed to the hilt with facts and essential quotations from the idols and those who knew them, loved them, worked with them, envied them and hated them, the Modern Icons series is a major celebration of the heroes of rock-n-roll-the good, the great and the idolized.

Titles

Bob Marley
The Clash
Kiss
Led Zeppelin

Genres: Music, Nonfiction

93 pages, Hardcover

First published January 15, 1998

Reviews

[Madame Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Clash are my favourite band. They were complex musicians who had a good run. The songs are still passionate 40 years on. This book brought back memories of why I love them.

[Tori · Rating 3 out of 5]

A tidy little history of The Clash, addressing their music and their image. Glossy pictures and thematically-arranged quips accompany the history of the band, making the book feel like something between a magazine and a textbook. In the end it's more like a textbook: there's a chronology of significant events, a condensed discography, and list of notable people. Everything is cited, and the writing is straightforward and takes no real stance (other than acknowledging others' criticism of The Clash as superficial sellouts, negative criticism which is balanced by similar acknowledgments of critical praise and by the inclusion of quotations from Clash members).

[Richard Herbert · Rating 1 out of 5]

crap.

[Rich · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of pictures... quotes, quotes and quotes. Like a mini-coffee table, I gotta poop book.