acknowledgments & sources

We Are the Clash book Kickstarter event. (Photo by Mark Andersen.)

Any book as ambitious as this one will necessarily rely on a vast array of sources to have any hope of success and/or credibility. Four key works were fundamentally important to us, even though our interpretations sometimes differ significantly from theirs, and any errors are, of course, our own. They are: Vince White’s Out of Control: The Last Days of The Clash; Danny Garcia’s film and companion book, The Rise And Fall of The Clash; Nick Hall’s film I Need a Dodge!: Joe Strummer on the Run; and Chris Salewicz’s Redemption Song: The Ballad of Joe Strummer. Vince, Danny, Nick, and Chris were all exceedingly generous with their time and sources. Their works not only form an essential complement for We Are The Clash, but their kindness exemplifies what is best about the ongoing Clash community, as did the support, patience, and inspiration of Kosmo Vinyl, Nick Sheppard, The Baker, Johnny Green, Jesús Arias, Jon Savage, Gaby Holford (née Salter), Alex Michon, and Caroline Coon. Mark Jenkins was crucial in helping us edit and condense this book—an immense amount of work that he did out of love, for no compensation at all. Alex Dent made lots of great suggestions, particularly to add a new opening to the introduction. Kate Crane/Smashpipe and Joseph L. Flatley/TheVerge.com also helped spread the word. Robin Bell rescued us at a key moment with his film production skills, and Luca Lanini and Federico Vacalebre stretched to fill us in on the Italian tour of September 1984. Similarly, Charlotte Manning, Niall McGuirk, Chris Magee, Nichola, and Chris Tipton/Upset the Rhythm provided amazing hospitality during Mark’s research trip to the UK and Ireland, as did Colin Coulter and everyone with the “Clash in Belfast” conference. Craig O’Hara of PM Press and Tim Merrick of The Clash Blog also provided key support and encouragement, while much respect is due to Justin Sullivan of New Model Army for the use of his penetrating, heartbreaking lyrics from “The Charge” for the epigraph that begins this book and helps open Chapter Nine. Antonia Tricarico, Saverio Giovacchini, Athena Viscusi, and Alexandra Getz Escudero assisted us with translations, while Maura Pond helped set up our wearetheclash.com website. Words can’t sufficiently express our gratitude for these extraordinary contributions—thanks so much, brothers and sisters!

At the same time, both Ralph and Mark have been working on this book in some sense since we each first heard in early 1986 that the new Clash had broken up, archiving clippings and puzzling over unanswered questions. The mystery behind this sudden dramatic crash, the lofty ambitions precipitously abandoned, the enigmatic album Cut the Crap—all of it intrigued and haunted us, marked indelibly as we were by this final chapter of the Clash saga. By the mid-1990s, Ralph had become the first journalist to seek out Vince White, Peter Howard, and Nick Sheppard to try to piece together the tale for DISCoveries and Goldmine magazines. In addition, Ralph recorded conversations around that same time with Johnny Green, Raymond Jordan, Viv Albertine, and numerous other key Clash players. For his part, Mark interviewed Joe Strummer in 1989, seeking illumination about what had happened. Strummer’s responses are published here for the very first time, with maximum thanks to Ian MacKaye for locating the original tape and digitizing it.

These early interviews were supplemented by in-depth follow-ups conducted between 2012 and 2017 with Nick, Peter, and Vince, as well as with Kosmo Vinyl, Jesús Arias, and a broad array of other participants or observers such as Bernard Rhodes, Eddie King, Michael Fayne, Julian Balme, Billy Bragg, Chris Salewicz, Danbert Nobacon and Boff Whalley of Chumbawamba, Per-Åke Wärn, Gee Vaucher and Penny Rimbaud of Crass, Mark Jenkins, Kris Needs, Robin Banks, Jeff Slate, Bill Daly, Tony Keen, and Martin McCallion. Although we didn’t interview Paul Simonon, Mick Jones, Nicky Headon, or Terry Chimes, we thank them for their priceless contributions to a band that has meant everything to us. The Joe Strummer Slept Here interactive documentary by Stephen Hay and Graham Roberts, based in part on the recollections of Gillian Farmer, was invaluable. We also benefited from insights and memories of literally dozens of other Clash observers and analysts—whom we’ve tried to acknowledge in the text—helping us to reconstruct this era with accuracy and sensitivity.

Our political sources were crucial and broad-based as well. While both of us have our own vivid recollections as activists during the Reagan/Thatcher era, the main basis for our parallel narratives was intensive research. Rather than clutter the book with footnotes, we’ve tried to note our sources in the text itself. Particularly central works included The Great Strike by Alex Callinicos and Mike Simons, The Age of Reagan: A History, 1974–2008 by Sean Wilentz, Margaret Thatcher: At Her Zenith: In London, Washington and Moscow by Charles Moore, Thatcher’s own memoir The Downing Street Years; as well as The Miners’ Strike Day by Day: The Illustrated Diary of Yorkshire Miner Arthur Wakefield and Yorkshire’s Flying Pickets in the 1984–85 Miners’ Strike, Based on the Diary of Silverwood Miner Bruce Wilson (both edited by Brian Elliott); and The 1984–85 Miners’ Strike in Nottinghamshire: If Spirit Alone Won Battles: The Diary of John Lowe, edited by Jonathan Symcox. David Cortright’s Peace: A History of Movements and Ideas and Lawrence S. Wittner’s Confronting the Bomb: A Short History of World Nuclear Disarmament Movement and Toward Nuclear Abolition: A History of the World Nuclear Disarmament Movement, 1971–Present were key resources as well. Mark’s interview with Jason Toynbee at Open University also informed our discussion of neoliberalism and The Clash.

We are also blessed by all the photos and memorabilia Clash friends shared over the years of working on this book, most of which could not be included here. Thanks must go to Bob Gruen (with much help from Sarah Field!), Mike Laye, Eddie King, Kosmo Vinyl, Juan Jesús Garcia, Per-Åke Wärn, John Harris and John Sturrock of reportdigital.co.uk, Tim Beasley, Martin Jenkinson, Jan Bengsston/Schlager magazine, Creem magazine, the York Press Gazette & Herald, and Philippe Huguen/L’Agence France-Presse for their beautiful photographs and art. We found a number of anonymous shots on the Internet, some of which were truly compelling. We offer our most sincere apologies to any photographer who didn’t get credited properly for any image used in this book. Please let us know right away so we can correct this omission in future editions, okay? Thanks so much!

We don’t really consider this project over and done with, and we wish to keep learning more about this era, filling in blank spots, honing our understanding and insights. As such, we are eager for any additional recollections or feedback, the most valuable of which will be shared on wearetheclash.com, our ongoing resource for education and activism. (In order to pass along your thoughts, Mark can be reached at wearefamilydc@gmail.com and Ralph at chairmanralph@yahoo.com.)

Andrew Matey proved himself a superhero by helping us access the full collection of Clash live recordings—he is another testament to the generous spirit of the Clash community. Justin Cudney went above and beyond, designing and printing our Kickstarter We Are The Clash posters and postcards, as did Jason Lobe, Brian Duss, Stephen Jeter, and Robert Winship in filming, crafting, and editing our Kickstarter pitch video. Matt Connolly deserves kudos for helping get the rewards out when Mark and Ralph were overwhelmed by other demands, as do Juan Risso and Angie Hunter for computer help.

Special thanks also must go to Bobby Polsky, who gave Mark his first Clash II bootleg in fall 1984, as well as to Danny Ingram—Mark’s comrade Clash fanatic and original DC punk friend—and to Greg Carr, an original Montana punk friend. Along the same lines, Ralph thanks his late musical brother-in-arms Anthony Salazar, for teaching him those first Clash songs—an experience that ignited the desire to express himself musically, and to write about “the only band that matters” in the first place—not to mention his unflagging enthusiasm. (Rest assured, my friend, I’ve put those countless phone calls, conversations, and shared press clippings to good use.) Ralph gained further reinforcement for his original dream from his first editors, Jeff Tamarkin (Goldmine) and John Koenig (DISCoveries), whose support proved equally invaluable—as did the encouragement of Clash stalwarts like Johnny Green and Raymond Jordan, plus Vince, Nick, and Pete (of course), and a few Clash City confidantes whose names must remain behind the scenes, for now. Thank you, one and all.

We also must thank our stalwart—and very patient—Kickstarter supporters: A. Margaret Andersen, A. Binovi, A.J. Kandy, Aaron Dukes, Abby Moser, Allison Chang, Annie N, Armando Gonzalez, Azazel, Barry Shank, Bartosz Glowacki, Benita Raymond, Berrin Ozbilgin, Bert Queiroz, Bill Daly/Crooked Beat Records, Blain Myhre, Bobbie, Bonnie Schlegel, Brad Sigal, Brendan Hoar, Brendan Sweeney, Brian Lombardozzi, Brice Lipman, Brien Stewart, Bruce Carter, Burke Stansbury, Calista Redmond, Candace, Carl LeVan, Carlos Salinas, Carol Inagal, Caroline Klibanoff, Carolyn Sasich Leitko, Carrie Crawford, Casey Neill, Cassandra J. Perry, Cate Cohen and all the others at Mark’s Clash Kickstarter event at St. Stephen’s, Charlotte Manning, Chris, Chris Schneidmiller, Christina Ross, Christoph Paul, Christopher Corrigan, Christopher LaMarca and Katrina Taylor, Claire Packer, Clarissa Peterson, Clark Lobenstine, Colin Bill, Corbin Dallas, Craig Keenan, Craig Wedren, Dan Treado, Danielle Kurzweil, Daoud Tyler-Ameen, Darius Kanga, Dave Berman, David Comay, David Levine, David Maydoney, David McConnell, Deidre Swesnik, Dolores G. Perillan, Don Irwin, Donald Hargraves, Donna Wilson, Doug Abeel, drivenbyboredom, Edward Hoyt, Elana Brochin, Ellen Chenoweth, Emily, Eric Damon Walters, Erica, Ferruccio Martinotti, Frank Gasque Dunn, Fred Solowey, Gavin Malette, George Washington Burton, Gertrude Sunsted, Greg Hymel, Gregory Jay Bloom, Gretchen Brodtman, Hard Art DC 1979, Heather Booth, Heather Jameyson, Heidi Phelps, Helen French, Holly Wilson, Hovey Kemp, Iain Ross, Iselin Gambert, James Caparas, Jane Morrow, Jason Kooken, Jason Yawn, Jennifer Fox-Thomas, Jeremy Grant, Jess Owens, JG Sylvester, Joe Iosbaker, John Hilla, Jon Bolduc, Jon Hancuff, Jon K. G. Allanson, Joseph Hunter, Jud Branam, Juliana Paciulli, Julie Meyer, Justin Cudney, Kate Crane, Kathleen Kent Abate, Kathleen Ryan, Katie, Katy Otto, Kerry White, Kevin Dunn, Kevin Erickson, Kevin Johnson Jr., Kevin Tucker, Kevin Young, Kimberly Righter, Kristin Valentine, Kristina Hunken, Kurt Sayenga, Lale Kuyumcu, Lawrence P. Keitz, Leah Gold, Leann Trowbridge, Lenny Flatley, Linc Kinnicutt, Linda Hsu, Linette Robinson, Luther Gaylord, Mara Cherkasky, Marc Poe, Marian Currinder, Mark Anderson, Mark Haggerty, Mark Jenkins, Mark Kennedy, Mark Lance, Mark Lansing, mark p, Markus Kampschnieder, Marty Key, Matthew Saliba, Matt Siblo, Maura Pond, Megan Kuhn, Meghan Adkins, Mia, Michael Cotterman, Michael Horstman, Michael Markarian, Michael T. Fournier, Mike Paarlberg, Minna Morse, Mo Sussman (RIP), Molly, Molly Neuman, Morgan Daniels, Nalinee D, Nance Morris Adler, Nathan Larson, Neil Soiseth, Nicole Thomas, Nomnaut, Noreen, Omar Ronquillo, Patricia Mullahy Fugere, Pete Chramiec, Pete Perry, Peter, Peter Hogan, Ran Zilca, Richard Johnson, Richard Siegmeister, Rob Thornton, Robert Egger, Robert T. Bryan, Robin Bell, Roger Gastman, Roland Schrebler, Rudy Rucker, Ruth Hildenberger, Ryan Bell, Ryan Shepard, Sadie Dingfelder, Samantha Linscott, Sara Beauchamp, Sean Knight, Scott Favorite, Scott Sommers, Shawna Kenney, Small Axe Films, some fella, Soren Huseyin Ozdeger-Andersen, Stephen Jeter, Steve D. Lambert, Steven Wisnieski, Suki Valentine, Tarock Music, Tim Fitzgerald, Tony Ross, Tracy Lingo, Travis Morrison, Tyler Sonnichsen, Valerie Pletcher, Vic Bondi, Vige Millington, Wendy Lyon, William, William J. Fleming, and William Reintzell.

Last but not least, we must thank Johnny Temple, Johanna Ingalls, Ibrahim Ahmad, Alice Wertheimer, Aaron Petrovich, and all at Akashic Books, for their belief in this book—we couldn’t wish for a better ally in this fervent effort to help the last years of The Clash come alive again.