I NEVER saw The Clash play live. I was just 10 when the band sacked Mick Jones but if I could go back in time and had the choice of seeing any band from any era or any country play, I’d pick The Clash. Every time.
On Saturday night, I didn’t quite go back in time but I saw a little piece of history being made – the first time Mick Jones has played Clash songs live on stage without Joe Strummer by his side. The fact that it was in Liverpool was fitting. Liverpool has always loved The Clash and Mick’s other band, Big Audio Dynamite, who picked this city to play their first comeback gig after 20 years away back in March. I was there that night in the O2 and it was brilliant. However, nothing can top seeing Mick Jones singing ‘Train in Vain’ in The Olympia and seeing the smile on his face as he and The Farm and Pete Wylie blasted through ‘Stay Free’, ‘White Man…’ and countless other classics from first The Clash and then BAD’s ‘Rush’.
Everything about the night – the venue, (a proper venue, as compare John Rob commented in his excellent review of the night), the cause, the politics, the crowd (Reds, Blues, old punks, skins and music fans of all ages) and the music – was perfect. Joe Strummer would have loved it.
Picking just 10 songs for this list was not easy – even ‘London Calling’, ‘Bankrobber’ and ‘Train in Vain’ didn’t make the list. I’ve left out songs I’ve loved for years but made the task slightly easier by excluding all covers – despite the fact that ‘Police on my Back’ and ‘I Fought The Law’ are two of my favourite tunes ever. Anyway, here’s my personal Top 10 from the coolest band ever – how many would make your list?
10. Rudie Can’t Fail
9. The Magnificent Seven
8. I’m Not Down (Long version)
7. Complete Control
6. Piano Song (From ‘Rude Boy’)
5. Straight To Hell
4. Gates of the West
http://youtu.be/AuhQf3ds14k
3. Spanish Bombs
2. Stay Free
1. (White Man) In Hammersmith Palais
Mick Jones has played Clash songs without the Clash. He did Jail Guitar Doors with Primal Scream at Reading Festival one year. 94, I think.
Tha Call up and The Magnificent Seven are my faves. One funky band the clash
This is like choosing 10 favourite ever goals or whatever, impossible!
Train in Vain would have to be on there for me, and This Is Radio Clash.
If I HAD to pick a favourite, then Complete Control would be number one for me I think.
Saw them on an under 18s Saturday afternoon matinee show at Erics with The Specials supporting them back in 1979-80…both bands were awesome…no chance of putting 10 best tunes in order
You must have been very satisfied that he did your 1&2
Wish I could have made it up for this, alas I’m 5,000 miles away but by all accounts Mick has a brilliant time. We’ve been trying to work out the top 64 songs by The Clash for ages over on my blog, we’ve set up an FA Cup format called The Clash Cup. Clash fans might like it and we talk a bit of football too. http://www.theclashblog.com
Some of yours will make the final ten.
Good luck to your lot this season in your battle for 5th with the Tiny Totts who we will be beating at the weekend. Cheers for The Clash passion.
Tim
Police and theives has got to be one of my favorites.
Great to see that Mick Jones is playiong the Hillsborough Justice Campaign tour, and that he will be playing Clash songs too:
http://www.nme.com/news/mick-jones/60311
What about london calling?? Cant forget about that one. And dont forget about their new box set http://smarturl.it/TheClashSoundSystem