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Stealing All Transmissions: A Secret History of the Clash
Winner
2015 Independent Publisher Book Awards, Silver Award, Popular Culture
Stealing All Transmissions is a love story. It’s the story of how the Clash fell in love with America and how America loved them back. The romance began in full in 1977, when select rock journalists and deejays aided the band’s quest to depose the rock of indolence that dominated American airwaves. This history situates the Clash amid the cultural skirmishes of the 1970s and culminates with their September 1979 performance at the Palladium in New York City. This concert was broadcast live on WNEW, and it concluded with Paul Simonon treating his Fender bass like a woodcutter’s ax. This performance produced one of the most exhilarating Clash bootleg recordings, and the photo of Simonon’s outburst that graced the cover of the London Calling LP was recently deemed the greatest rock ’n’ roll photograph of all time. The book represents a distinctive take on the history of punk, for no other book gives proper attention to the forces of free-form radio, long-form rock journalism, or Clash bootleg recordings, many of which are now widely available on the web. This story, which takes its title from the 1981 single “Radio Clash,” includes original interviews with key figures from the New York punk scene.
2015 Independent Publisher Book Awards, Silver Award, Popular Culture
Stealing All Transmissions is a love story. It’s the story of how the Clash fell in love with America and how America loved them back. The romance began in full in 1977, when select rock journalists and deejays aided the band’s quest to depose the rock of indolence that dominated American airwaves. This history situates the Clash amid the cultural skirmishes of the 1970s and culminates with their September 1979 performance at the Palladium in New York City. This concert was broadcast live on WNEW, and it concluded with Paul Simonon treating his Fender bass like a woodcutter’s ax. This performance produced one of the most exhilarating Clash bootleg recordings, and the photo of Simonon’s outburst that graced the cover of the London Calling LP was recently deemed the greatest rock ’n’ roll photograph of all time. The book represents a distinctive take on the history of punk, for no other book gives proper attention to the forces of free-form radio, long-form rock journalism, or Clash bootleg recordings, many of which are now widely available on the web. This story, which takes its title from the 1981 single “Radio Clash,” includes original interviews with key figures from the New York punk scene.
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
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60 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
May 2, 2018
This is what I don't get: how can a book purport to be about The Clash when it doesn't even start talking about them until 30 pages into a 118-page book? Not only that, less than half of the remaining pages are even dedicated to The Clash. This is a book about New York radio from the late 70s to early 80s...and The Clash have merely been tagged to ride along.
This is my guess: this book was adapted from the author's Masters thesis or dissertation (as a refugee from academia myself, I recognized the telltale buzz phrases and cadences immediately). As such, it carries all the editorial scars associated with popularizing academic writing.
It's no surprise that I liked the Clash sections the best (that is, after all, why I bought the book), and especially appreciated the CSI-level breakdown of how the iconic London Calling cover photo came into existence.
But this is two separate books inside a very short volume. Was there a connection between The Clash and New York alternative radio? Of course there was, but you could make the same (or better) argument about any number of bands.
This is my guess: this book was adapted from the author's Masters thesis or dissertation (as a refugee from academia myself, I recognized the telltale buzz phrases and cadences immediately). As such, it carries all the editorial scars associated with popularizing academic writing.
It's no surprise that I liked the Clash sections the best (that is, after all, why I bought the book), and especially appreciated the CSI-level breakdown of how the iconic London Calling cover photo came into existence.
But this is two separate books inside a very short volume. Was there a connection between The Clash and New York alternative radio? Of course there was, but you could make the same (or better) argument about any number of bands.
October 31, 2020
This is not a by-the-numbers history of The Clash. In fact, the band only graces the book from time to time, showing up like reluctant guests of honor. Instead, what we have here is the story of the crucible that allowed The Clash to invade America, conquer it with nary a shot, and then leave it behind as they self-destructed. The book suddenly ends in 1982 with the start of the Combat Rock tour, telling the story of the band's fall in an extended afterword.
What we do get in an amazing look at how the music scenes in New York and London created the breeding ground for the volatile mix of personalities and styles that made up the band to be recognized and celebrated. We spend time reading about the rise and fall of free-form radio in New York, the heady early days of CBGB, and bands like Blondie, Television, and the Talking Heads. No subject is treated kindly, everyone is exposed and through this, we understand what allowed The Clash to get so big, so fast, while almost entirely flipping off the music industry.
This is not a book if you want to read details of Joe Strummer's childhood or the band's life on the road. But if you want to understand the punk era of the late 70s through the focal point of The Clash, this book is well worth finding. I bought on a whim from a vendor selling socialist and anarchist books at the Heavy Metal/Punk Flea Marker at one of our favorite small venues last year. That seems appropriate given the subject matter.
What we do get in an amazing look at how the music scenes in New York and London created the breeding ground for the volatile mix of personalities and styles that made up the band to be recognized and celebrated. We spend time reading about the rise and fall of free-form radio in New York, the heady early days of CBGB, and bands like Blondie, Television, and the Talking Heads. No subject is treated kindly, everyone is exposed and through this, we understand what allowed The Clash to get so big, so fast, while almost entirely flipping off the music industry.
This is not a book if you want to read details of Joe Strummer's childhood or the band's life on the road. But if you want to understand the punk era of the late 70s through the focal point of The Clash, this book is well worth finding. I bought on a whim from a vendor selling socialist and anarchist books at the Heavy Metal/Punk Flea Marker at one of our favorite small venues last year. That seems appropriate given the subject matter.
January 12, 2015
An interesting look at the rise of punk and The Clash through the eyes of independent radio stations and DJs.
February 20, 2023
The blurb on the front (by Barry “The Baker”, roadie for The Clash) claims that “the maneuverings of American radio DJs, music journalists, and record company execs are deftly woven into the band’s own story.” With all due respect, but for a chapter (a really good chapter), the band is almost an afterthought in the tapestry of this tome.
Which, honestly, I would’ve forgiven if the rest of it was compelling. It wasn’t. The author used more names of 70’s radio DJ’s and call signs than I could possibly remember, and could’ve been trimmed down significantly (although there wouldn’t have been many pages left - it’s not a long book). If I didn’t love The Clash so much, I wouldn’t have finished it and rated it 1-2 stars. For super fans only, bonus if you happened to live in New York during the late 70’s (I was born mid 80’s on the west coast of the US, so a little before my time).
Which, honestly, I would’ve forgiven if the rest of it was compelling. It wasn’t. The author used more names of 70’s radio DJ’s and call signs than I could possibly remember, and could’ve been trimmed down significantly (although there wouldn’t have been many pages left - it’s not a long book). If I didn’t love The Clash so much, I wouldn’t have finished it and rated it 1-2 stars. For super fans only, bonus if you happened to live in New York during the late 70’s (I was born mid 80’s on the west coast of the US, so a little before my time).
April 10, 2025
Slender, dense, with passion - which makes it quite the punk book!
Though the focus of the book is a little misleading - it felt like two books - one about the history of freeform radio in New York, and the influence of particular DJs on the introduction of punk to the mainstream. The other book is about the photo on the cover of London Calling, exploring all the details available as to what actually happened when the camera shutter clicked.
Sketched lightly over these two topics are the general movements of the Clash's rise to fame.
If at times it reads like an expanded dissertation or thesis, there were some genuinely lovely passages when the author waxes punk-poetic, and I appreciate a well-researched and footnoted book! Also, big fan of PM press, the most punk-rock place to have a punk-rock book published.
Though the focus of the book is a little misleading - it felt like two books - one about the history of freeform radio in New York, and the influence of particular DJs on the introduction of punk to the mainstream. The other book is about the photo on the cover of London Calling, exploring all the details available as to what actually happened when the camera shutter clicked.
Sketched lightly over these two topics are the general movements of the Clash's rise to fame.
If at times it reads like an expanded dissertation or thesis, there were some genuinely lovely passages when the author waxes punk-poetic, and I appreciate a well-researched and footnoted book! Also, big fan of PM press, the most punk-rock place to have a punk-rock book published.
December 17, 2017
I loved reading about all the radio stations i listened to as a kid - to me they were just what was on the dial. Didn’t fully realize the impact they had on the music scene that i loved so much.
The Clash changed everything. Nothing was the same for me after hearing the first four chords of London Calling. The Only Band That Matters.
The Clash changed everything. Nothing was the same for me after hearing the first four chords of London Calling. The Only Band That Matters.
March 1, 2018
Not a good read
Best part is the intro. There are a few errors as well. Not much information on the palladium show. A lot of how the radio doesn't matter anymore. More of a book on the decline of radio and not the Clash. If you are looking for a book on the Clash, this is not the one.
Best part is the intro. There are a few errors as well. Not much information on the palladium show. A lot of how the radio doesn't matter anymore. More of a book on the decline of radio and not the Clash. If you are looking for a book on the Clash, this is not the one.
Read
May 22, 2024DNF
I got this book in hopes I would find out more about The Clash, their history, ideas, and influences. Instead, this book seemed to be largely finer details of who met who and how they came to meet, what was being recorded and talked about.
I got this book in hopes I would find out more about The Clash, their history, ideas, and influences. Instead, this book seemed to be largely finer details of who met who and how they came to meet, what was being recorded and talked about.
July 14, 2025
Weird book!
April 29, 2022
Question Authority: Ask me anything
May 14, 2015
This short book (about 134 pages) is more about the people (rock critics, DJs) who made it possible for the Clash to succeed in the USA than the band itself. It covers a broad range of topics including rock criticism and the history of rock & roll radio in the USA. The focal point of the book is about New York City and those DJ’s that bucked the “corporate rock” rules prevalent in the industry and managed to get bands like the Clash on the air. Most of them wound up losing their jobs as we all know that rock radio today is hardly better than it was back then. By necessity, the book jumps around from topic to topic but it never loses track of the most critical fact: the Clash were so great that a single show was enough to convince people that it was the “only band that matters”.
In places the book reads more like a dissertation than a rock & roll history but it certainly does an excellent job of showing how the Clash impacted people’s lives in such a positive way. The book is almost totally based on New York City and barely touches on the fact that the Clash were also successful in other parts of the country. The early Clash shows in Detroit at Masonic and the Motor City Roller Rink were jammed with people and we certainly weren’t hearing the Clash on what passed for rock radio in those days. Yes, there was a lot of hype about the Clash (at least in the rock & roll mags – Creem, Ytouser Press, etc) but the difference was that the Clash delivered where others couldn’t.
Another great part of the book was the forward by Barry Auguste who was a roadie for the Clash through their existence – I would love to hear more of what he has to say. This is a great addition to my Clash library.
P.S. I did remember that there is a book by a Clash rodie, but it's by Johnny Green - "A Riot of My Own" from 1999. I will need to re-read and review this too.
In places the book reads more like a dissertation than a rock & roll history but it certainly does an excellent job of showing how the Clash impacted people’s lives in such a positive way. The book is almost totally based on New York City and barely touches on the fact that the Clash were also successful in other parts of the country. The early Clash shows in Detroit at Masonic and the Motor City Roller Rink were jammed with people and we certainly weren’t hearing the Clash on what passed for rock radio in those days. Yes, there was a lot of hype about the Clash (at least in the rock & roll mags – Creem, Ytouser Press, etc) but the difference was that the Clash delivered where others couldn’t.
Another great part of the book was the forward by Barry Auguste who was a roadie for the Clash through their existence – I would love to hear more of what he has to say. This is a great addition to my Clash library.
P.S. I did remember that there is a book by a Clash rodie, but it's by Johnny Green - "A Riot of My Own" from 1999. I will need to re-read and review this too.
April 19, 2015
Stealing All Transmissions: A Secret History of the Clash continues my reading of rock-n-roll biographies.
Buy the book for this wisdom alone about the Clash, who dubbed themselves "The Only Band That Matters":
"The Clash struck intricate poses...but rarely-if ever-did those poses contradict Strummer's early proclamation about their politics:
'We're anti-fascist, we're anti-violence, we're anti-racist and we're pro-creative. We're against ignorance.'"
This is little wonder that I loved this band as a teenager and played them on the radio when I was a disc jockey.
I'm going to install their album London Calling in my iTunes library.
Read the book. Listen to the music. Rock on.
Buy the book for this wisdom alone about the Clash, who dubbed themselves "The Only Band That Matters":
"The Clash struck intricate poses...but rarely-if ever-did those poses contradict Strummer's early proclamation about their politics:
'We're anti-fascist, we're anti-violence, we're anti-racist and we're pro-creative. We're against ignorance.'"
This is little wonder that I loved this band as a teenager and played them on the radio when I was a disc jockey.
I'm going to install their album London Calling in my iTunes library.
Read the book. Listen to the music. Rock on.
January 26, 2015
There is a ton of great information in this book, but it's not really about the Clash. I like the term "secret history" because the book nicely details the relationship between punk rock and radio. However, there isn't enough Clash-related discussion to say that it's a secret history about this band.
February 6, 2015
More a history of New York rock-n-roll radio than the Clash, this book conjured up my New York youth and those radio stations that helped me learn about the music I'd love. It's interesting, but the prose is a bit utilitarian.
January 13, 2015
What a bore. Less to do with The Clash and more to do with boring disc-jockey politics. What a waste of time.
January 22, 2015
As much (if not more) about the rise and fall of FM radio in New York as it is about the Clash. DJ Meg Griffin gets mentioned almost as often as Joe Strummer. A let-down.
February 14, 2016
This book did not live up to my expectations. I had hoped for a "secret history of the Clash", but found it more about the supporting characters on the New York radio scene.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews