The Clash
The Clash were an English rock band formed in London in 1976 as a key player in the original wave of British punk rock. They have also contributed to the post-punk and new wave movements that emerged in the wake of punk and employed elements of a variety of genres including reggae, dub, funk, ska and rockabilly.
The Clash
The Clash, pictured by Sheila Rock at Rehearsal Rehearsal studio on Chalk Farm Road, Camden in 1976.
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The Clash
30 August 1976, Joe Strummer and Paul Simonon were under the Westway on Portobello Road during the Notting Hill Carnival when clashes broke out between police and the crowd.
The unrest came amid heightened tensions over police harassment and treatment of the Black community. Joe and Paul participated in the riot, while recognising that it was primarily a Black British protest against police oppression. The following day ‘White Riot’ was written.
Photos taken during the riot were later used by the band. Images taken by a Spanish photographer Rocco Macauley, where used on the back cover of the debut album as well as they cover of ‘Black Market Clash’."
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The Clash
The story behind The Clash's London Calling album cover.
The Clash's bass player Paul Simonon was captured slamming his Fender guitar into the stage at the band’s New York gig at the Palladium in September 1979. Simonon said he destroyed his guitar in frustration when the concert bouncers prevented audience members from standing up, limiting the interaction with the audience that The Clash gigs were famed for.
In a 2011 interview, Simonon said, “Looking back now, I wish I had lifted my face up a bit more.” British photographer, Pennie Smith, who took the photo while travelling with The Clash on their US tour, initially didn’t want the image to be used as the album cover because it was out of focus and blurred. However, Joe Strummer, the band and graphic designer Ray Lowry disagreed and believed it would serve as an excellent album cover.
The London Calling cover is a deliberate homage to Elvis Presley’s self-titled debut album, released in 1956 and the first rock'n'roll album to top the US Billboard Album charts. This was The Clash’s way to signal a new, chaotic punk revolution, mirroring the impact Elvis had on rock'n'roll in the 50’s. Simonon said “When that Elvis record came out, rock’n’roll was pretty dangerous. And I suppose when we brought out our record, it was pretty dangerous stuff too.”
In 2002, Q magazine recognised the photo as the greatest rock and roll image of all time.
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The Clash
1976, The Clash play a showcase at Rehearsals Rehearsals studio in in Camden, London for journalists and friends only.
📸: Kate Simon
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The Clash
11th August 1982, The Clash perform at the Civic Centre in Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA.
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The Clash
The Clash in New York City.
📸: Allan Tannenbaum
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The Clash
1977, The Clash perform at Mont De Marsan Festival in France.
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The Clash
1982, The Clash perform at The Brighton Centre.
#TheClash
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The Clash
1982, The Clash perform at Brixton Fair Deal in London.
📸: Steve Rapport
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The Clash
26th July 1979, The Clash's debut album was released in the USA, one year after "Give 'Em Enough Rope", making it their second release in the US. Can you spot what's different about the cover and which songs were added to the US version that weren't on the UK release?
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