I guess Richard Smith at the Guardian got a little sick of all the Joe Strummer coverage of late (Julien Temple's film on Strummer is due out any day), and so took it upon himself to write an entertaining, though rather unnecessary, defense of the Great Mick Jones.
While Joe is without a doubt, my fave of the four, Mick always ran a close second. (It does not escape me that I sound like I'm writing about the Monkees.) After all, Mick wrote and sang both "Train in Vain" and, the second-best Clash song of all time, "Stay Free." (The best being "White Man in Hammersmith Palais," in case you were wondering.) Whereas Joe was the soulful, political, heart of the band, Mick seemed dirtier and in that way, kind of sexier. When I was a tiny little punk rock, I developed a mad crush on a guy simply because of his resemblance to Mick. Though he's been playing music fairly consistently since he got kicked out of the Clash, lately Mick's best known for snorting lines with Kate Moss and Pete Doherty.
On second thought, maybe he is due a defense.
That's a great pic of Mick. Love the big yellow teeth.
Posted by: m | May 21, 2007 at 09:22 PM
Usually I don't correct my friends but I'm sorry to inform you of an error in your post, since I'm sure you meant to say that The Guns of Brixton is the best Clash song of all time. Complete Control is a nice 2nd and Train In Vain always knocked me flat (a good thing)...
Seeing them do The Magnificent Seven with Kurtis Blow (These Are The Breaks! Break it up, break it up, break it UP!) was a nice moment in my life too...
In honor of all four, I've superglued a smoke to my bottom lip (outside, left) and am wearing a low-slung bass all day long.
Posted by: ComaBoy | May 22, 2007 at 08:26 AM
Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! White Man!!!!
Posted by: Judy McYouAreSadlyMistaken | May 22, 2007 at 08:52 AM
i know i haven't commented in a while, but i think you meant to say the best Clash song was "Police and Thieves", followed closely by "Clampdown"...
Posted by: CapnJon | May 22, 2007 at 09:08 AM
Noooo, I meant "White Man!" Though you're correct--"Clampdown" runs a close second, knocking "Stay Free" down a peg to number three.
Posted by: Judy McKnowsWhatShe'sTalkin'Bout | May 22, 2007 at 10:12 AM
Judes, I am totally with you on White Man and Stay Free (Robin Banks!) But I have to put a word forward for Julie's in the Drug Squad, just on principle.
Posted by: Jules | May 22, 2007 at 11:40 AM
Oh sure, CapnJon gets his song to move up the list just because he's right? What kind of system is that where the right answer moves up?
Clampdown is amazing, I do admit, but I stand by Paul Simonon and his funky, funky beat...
Posted by: ComaBoy | May 22, 2007 at 01:49 PM