This is a public service announcement: International Clash Day is Tuesday

This Tuesday (Feb. 7), Seattle's KEXP is hosting its 11th annual International Clash Day. 

The KEXP holiday's 11th annual celebration will be a day of on-air programming all about The Clash, with an exploration of present-day human rights issues that underscore the seminal track's ["Know Your Rights"] relevance over 40 years later. 

You can tune in to the station here from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET. All sessions are archived for two weeks here.

Top photo from 2009 shows Ezo's Clash-inspired (and long-gone) mural on Third Street between Avenue B. It was on the wall outside the Nuyorican Poets Cafe.

Dec. 22's parting shot

Joe Strummer (aka John Graham Mellor) died on this day in 2002 at age 50. 

As always, a photo (from the other day) of Dr. Revolt's mural circa 2004 outside Niagara on Seventh Street and Avenue A. 

And now, enjoy this interview on CBS 2 with Joe Strummer and Paul Simonon from 1982...

 

HBD Joe Strummer

HBD Joe Stummer, born on this date in 1952. 

Mural by Dr. Revolt and Zephyr in 2003 ... and as seen outside Niagara this morning on Seventh Street at Avenue A. 

Now enjoy this clip of Strummer playing with the Mescaleros on Letterman in October 2001...

 

Junior achievement

 

Today, Seattle's KEXP is streaming its 9th annual International Clash Day (until 10 p.m. NYC time!) ... The radio station is celebrating the band and the messages of anti-fascism, anti-racism and pro-inclusion that they champion in their music. 

Aside from playing music by the Clash and other projects by its members, the station has been highlighting the many musicians who were so influential to the band (and many other artists). 

One example... Junior Murvin, the Jamaican musician best known for the single "Police and Thieves" — co-written with Lee "Scratch" Perry — in 1976. The Clash covered the song on their self-titled 1977 debut. 

 As Conseuqence of Sound previously noted, Murvin's Police and Thieves record "is a must-own album for any Clash fan with a taste for reggae." 

And:

Midway through a widely bootlegged 1979 show at the Palladium [now an NYU dorm on 14th Street!] in New York City, Strummer tries to make that very point. "You ought to hear Junior Murvin doing that tune," Joe said after "Police and Thieves." "He can sing in a voice as high as this roof."

Tuesday's parting shot

Today marks the 18th anniversary of Joe Strummer's death at the age of 50 ... the image here is a screengrab from the video of "Redemption Song" by Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros ... which features Dr. Revolt  in November 2003 creating the mural of the Clash frontman that remains to this date (after a few iterations) outside Niagara on Seventh Street and Avenue A...

 

Meltdown expected

Derek Berg spotted this discarded iMac G3 on Fourth Street ... with London Calling written across it...



Speaking of the Clash ... International Clash Day is tomorrow. John Richards, morning-show host of KEXP in Seattle, started the event on a whim in 2013 to pay tribute to the band's "message of inclusion, multiculturalism, pro-immigration, anti-hate, anti-racism, and anti-fascism." Now in its seventh year, communities in 16 countries over six continents participate.

Richards and other KEXP DJs have been in London this week for a live broadcast and online event leading up to tomorrow ... you can listen online here. You can find other International Clash Day activities here.

This year also marks the 40th anniversary of the release of the Clash's London Calling.


[EVG file photo from 7th and A]

Today in random birthday wishes: Paul Simonon of the Clash

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Happy Birthday, Paul Simonon! (📷: Pennie Smith) On September 20, 1979, the Clash’s Paul Simonon swung his Fender Precision Bass over his head and smashed it into the stage at the Palladium (126 E 14th St.). It was a spontaneous act of frustration that, thanks to photographer Pennie Smith, has become one of the most iconic images in the history of rock & roll as the cover of the group’s third album, London Calling. - Excerpt from our book, the Rock and Roll Explorer Guide to New York City #paulsimonon #theclash #thegoodthebadandthequeen #penniesmith #rrexplorernyc

A post shared by Rock & Roll Explorer Guide NYC (@rrexplorernyc) on Dec 15, 2018 at 4:50am PST

This interview with Simonon from 2011 has more about him smashing his bass at the Palladium (now an NYU dorm) on 14th Street between Third Avenue and Irving. That bit starts at the 3:10 mark...



... and an undated photo (without a credit) looking west on 14th Street at Third Avenue with the Palladium on the left...



... and why not, again...

Cool confusion

The Clash with "Overpowered by Funk" ... the song is from 1982's "Combat Rock" ... the compilation video (not the official one for the song) is from the 1981 shows at Bond's and includes Mick and Paul at Coney Island...

Clash city rockers

From 1977, four songs by The Clash. Which is what you listen to when your site is down half the day.

For daddy, the Bankrobber

The Clash with "Bankrobber" from 1980. Go Joe.

This is England

"London Calling," the third studio album by The Clash, was released in the United Kingdom on Dec. 14., 1979. The video is for "Clampdown." And in case you don't know that the album cover was shot on East 14th Street... here's a little history about the greatest rock-n-roll image of all time(?).

CBGB Film Festival announced; new Clash film on tap

Per Variety (via The Chicago Tribune) yesterday, the CBGB Festival announced the final lineup of its inaugural film event ... the festival includes the world premiere of the documentary "The Rise and Fall of the Clash."



Other premieres include "Rock 'N' Roll Exposed: The Photography of Bob Gruen" and "What Did You Expect? The Archers of Loaf."

The screenings will take place July 5-8 at the Sunshine, Village East Cinemas and the Anthology Film Archives...

Go here for the times, theaters, tickets, passes, panel information, etc.

Dreaming of a White Christmas

From 1978... I've actually never seen this particular clip of "White Riot," in which Joe Strummer goes down...



And do you know what Kris Kringle's favorite Clash album is?

Santa-nista!

(BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!)



"Charlie Don't Surf" via Sandinista! from 1982... (and yes, I think I have posted this video before...)

You are forgiven

A little something off "Sandinista!"

How DBGB is 'pissing on the grave' of punk rock

So when you visit the DBGB website...

...you might hear something awfully familiar — particularly if you're a Clash fan.

So let's have The Gurgling Cod tell the tale:

I clicked over to the website for Boulud's fancy sausage burger joint, DBGB, and literally could not believe my ears. I thought that I had a stray tab open, for I had no other explanation for why "The Magnificent Seven" was playing over my office computer speakers. But, no. Boulud has, in fact, taken that bete noire of restaurant websites, background music, and extended the whole pissing on the grave of punk rock brand by having the fucking Clash as his background music. For nineteen dollar hamburgers.

I am not an entertainment lawyer ... But, my hunch is that you need to pay to use music someone else recorded for your commercial website. At the very least, let's hope that Joe Strummer's kids get free nine dollar hotdogs when they are in town.

(H/T Patell and Waterman’s History of New York)

This time he's gonna really tell the boss

Prompted by the Joe Strummer mural tagging this week.

Burning sensations

Stay free

The Clash, Capitol Theater - Passaic, New Jersey - March 1980.

Surf's up

On this date in 1980: "London Calling" is released in the United States

The Post has a piece on the anniversary. (It was released in the UK on Dec. 14, 1979.)

And you probably already know about the cover.... well, if not, Pennie Smith shot Paul Simonon on Sept. 21, 1979, at the Palladium...which is now an NYU dorm...

UPDATE:
At Flaming Pablum, Alex recalls buying his vinyl copy of "London Calling" at the Disc-O-Mat on Lexington Avenue between 57th & 58th streets. Which is now a Payless shoe store. Seems about right....