Clash

The Clash were a four-piece punk group from London, who formed in 1976, disbanded in 1986 and were a major influence on the scene throughout their career. The best-remembered line-up consisted of Joe Strummer (vocals, rhythm guitar): Mick Jones (vocals, lead guitar): Paul Simonon (vocals, bass guitar): and Nicky 'Topper' Headon (drums, percussion). An early member was drummer Terry Chimes (known as 'Tory Crimes' on the first LP). The band produced not only ground-breaking albums incorporating a wide variety of musical styles, but were also prolific singles-only artists. The concentration gained by the 7 inch format allowed them to produce tight, memorable songs that captured the era and their political stance effectively.

Peel played them throughout the most productive part of their musical life, and several tracks repeatedly appeared in the Festive Fifties. However, he was critical of their abandoned session (see below) and the attitude towards their record company, CBS, displayed by the single Complete Control, implying that they showed either naivety or ingratitude (Peeling Back The Years, 1987). He discussed running into Joe Strummer on the 09 June 1987 show.

Festive 50 Entries

 * 'Capital Radio (7 inch)' (CBS). FF 1977 #54.
 * 'White Riot (7 inch / LP-The Clash)' (CBS). FF 1977 #27, 1978 #15, 1979 #26, 1980 #48.
 * 'Complete Control (7 inch)' (CBS). FF 1977 #9, 1978 #2, 1979 #5, 1980 #15, 1981 #18, All-Time 1982 #19, All-Time 2000 #33.
 * '(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais (7 inch)' (CBS). FF 1978 #7, 1979 #3, 1980 #5, 1981 #10, All-Time 1982 #10, All-Time 2000 #5.
 * 'Police And Thieves (LP-The Clash)' (CBS). FF 1978 #23, 1979 #49.
 * 'Armagideon Time (7 inch-B side of London Calling)' (CBS). FF 1980 #39, All-Time 1982 #40.
 * 'Bankrobber (7 inch)' (CBS). FF 1980 #46.
 * 'Rock The Casbah (LP-Combat Rock)' (CBS). FF 1982 #40.
 * 'Know Your Rights (LP-Combat Rock)' (CBS). FF 1982 #27.
 * 'Should I Stay Or Should I Go? (LP-Combat Rock)' (CBS). FF 1982 #26.
 * 'Straight To Hell (LP-Combat Rock)' (CBS). FF 1982 #6.

Sessions
None. One attempt, scheduled for 24 April 1978, was abandoned. Peel noted in his diary the circumstances surrounding this: "They actually got as far as recording the backing tracks, but then they were so out of their heads they couldn't finish it, and decided the BBC's equipment wasn't good enough. It was one of those things where you thought: How do you argue with stupidity on this level? Not a very punk attitude, I thought." (Margrave Of The Marshes, Corgi Books, 2006, p. 368.) Peel repeats this version of events when answering a listener query on his show on 17 April 2001.

However, Ken Garner's The Peel Sessions contains an anecdote by Bill Aitken, the engineer on that date, which casts doubt on Peel's recollection. Aitken suggests that, when he inquired after Topper Headon's dog, the rest of the band made fun of Headon because of this. The session then became increasingly negative and was finally cancelled by the group (Garner, K., The Peel Sessions, BBC Books, 2007, p. 99)

In an interview for BBC6Music broadcast in October 2013 the three remaining members of The Clash - Mick Jones, Paul Simonon and Topper Headon recalled the session:

"'It didn't work, so we just walked out and left it, it didn't sound any good,' says Topper. 'It was us, I'm sure,' says Mick, magnanimously. 'Speak for yourself,' retorts Topper. 'John Peel never forgave us. He liked all good new music, except for The Clash,' chuckles Mick."

Obviously looking at the regular plays below (which is, of course, an incomplete listing) Mick is mistaken as Peel clearly had a soft spot for the band.

Shows featured

 * 1977
 * 08 March 1977: 'White Riot (7 inch)' (CBS)
 * 15 March 1977: '1977 (7 inch-B side of White Riot)' (CBS)
 * 05 April 1977: 'White Riot (7 inch)' (CBS)
 * 12 May 1977: 'Capital Radio One (NME EP)'
 * 12 May 1977: 'Garage Land (LP - The Clash)' CBS
 * 19 May 1977: Garage Land (LP - The Clash) CBS (JP: "A fine LP that is. I'd like to have an 8-Track of that actually, if they've made an 8-Track of it, so I can drive around London playing it extremely loud and trying to impress everybody with what a trendy little chap I am.")
 * 26 May 1977: 'Remote Control (7 inch)' (CBS)
 * 29 August 1977: 'Capital Radio One (NME EP)' / 'Career Opportunities (LP-The Clash)' (CBS) / 'White Riot (LP-The Clash)' (CBS)
 * 22 December 1977: 'Capital Radio (7 inch)' (CBS)
 * 26 December 1977: 'White Riot (LP-The Clash)' (CBS)


 * 1978
 * 26 July 1978: Career Opportunities (LP - The Clash) CBS
 * 18 August 1978: Capital Radio (NME 7" EP - Capital Radio) CBS
 * 22 August 1978: Clash City Rockers (single) CBS
 * 28 August 1978: (White Man) Hammersmith Palais (7") CBS S CBS 6383
 * 30 August 1978: Complete Control (7") CBS S CBS 5664
 * 27 October 1978: Safe European Home/English Civil War/Tommy Gun/Julie's Been Working For The Drug Squad/Last Gang In Town (LP-Give 'Em Enough Rope) CBS (whole of first side played)
 * 30 October 1978: Guns On The Roof/Drug-Stabbing Time/Stay Free/Cheapskates/All The Young Punks (New Boots And Contracts) (LP-Give 'Em Enough Rope) CBS (whole of second side played)
 * 31 October 1978: Tommy Gun (single) (CBS)
 * 02 November 1978: Tommy Gun (7”) CBS
 * 08 November 1978: Last Gang In Town (LP – Give 'Em Enough Rope) CBS
 * 10 November 1978: Tommy Gun (7") CBS S CBS 6788
 * 13 November 1978: Cheapskates (album - Give 'Em Enough Rope) CBS S CBS 82431
 * 20 November 1978: Tommy Gun (7") CBS
 * 21 November 1978: English Civil War (LP - Give 'Em Enough Rope) (CBS)
 * 23 November 1978: Tommy Gun (7") CBS S CBS 6788
 * 04 December 1978: Guns On The Roof (LP - Give 'Em Enough Rope) CBS


 * 1979
 * 01 January 1979: (White Man) In Hammersmith Palais (7 inch)' (CBS) / 'Complete Control (7 inch)' (CBS)
 * 08 January 1979: All The Young Punks (New Boots and Contracts)' (LP – Give 'Em Enough Rope) (CBS)
 * 09 January 1979: Stay Free (LP – Give 'Em Enough Rope) (CBS)
 * 11 January 1979: Last Gang In Town (LP – Give ‘Em Enough Rope) CBS
 * 21 February 1979: English Civil War (7”) CBS
 * 22 February 1979: Pressure Drop (b/w 7" - English Civil War (Johnny Comes Marching Home)) CBS S CBS 7082
 * 15 March 1979: English Civil War (LP - Give 'Em Enough Rope) (CBS)
 * 16 April 1979: Tommy Gun (single) (CBS)
 * 24 April 1979: I Found The Law / Groovy Times / Gates Of The West / Capital Radio (The Cost Of Living EP) CBS
 * 07 May 1979: Guns On the Roof
 * 08 May 1979: Safe European Homes (LP - Give 'Em Enough Rope) CBS
 * 12 May 1979 (BFBS): I Fought The Law (7" - The Cost Of Living E.P.) CBS
 * 19 July 1979: I'm So Bored With The USA (LP-The Clash) (CBS)
 * 23 July 1979: Career Opportunities (LP – The Clash) CBS
 * 24 July 1979: London’s Burning (LP – Clash) CBS
 * 25 July 1979: What's My Name (album - The Clash) CBS CBS 82000
 * 26 November 1979: London Calling (single) CBS
 * 27 November 1979: London Calling (single) CBS
 * 28 November 1979: Armagideon Time (7" b-side - London Calling) CBS
 * 03 December 1979: Armagideon Time (7" b-side - London Calling) CBS
 * 03 December 1979: Hateful (LP - London Calling) CBS
 * 03 December 1979: Rudie Can't fail (LP – London Calling) CBS
 * 03 December 1979: Clampdown (LP – London Calling) CBS
 * 03 December 1979: The Guns Of Brixton (LP - London Calling) CBS
 * 03 December 1979: I'm Not Down (LP - London Calling) CBS
 * 03 December 1979: Revolution Rock (LP - London Calling) CBS
 * 04 December 1979: London Calling (single) CBS
 * 05 December 1979: Four Horsemen (LP - London Calling) CBS
 * 05 December 1979: The Card Cheat (LP - London Calling) CBS
 * 05 December 1979: Wrong 'Em Boyo (LP - London Calling) CBS
 * 06 December 1979: Clampdown (LP - London Calling) CBS
 * 06 December 1979: The Guns Of Brixton (LP - London Calling) CBS
 * 06 December 1979: Hateful (LP - London Calling) CBS
 * 10 December 1979: Brand New Cadillac (LP - London Calling) CBS
 * 10 December 1979: Jimmy Jazz (LP - London Calling) CBS
 * 11 December 1979: Armagideon Time (7" b-side - London Calling) CBS
 * 11 December 1979: Four Horsemen (LP - London Calling) CBS
 * 11 December 1979: Revolution Rock (LP - London Calling) CBS
 * 12 December 1979: Rudie Can't fail (LP – London Calling) CBS
 * 13 December 1979: Clampdown (LP - London Calling) CBS
 * 18 December 1979: London Calling (single) CBS


 * 1980
 * 01 January 1980: Complete Control (7") CBS / (White Man) In Hammersmith Palais (7") CBS
 * 02 January 1980: I'm Not Down (LP - London Calling) CBS
 * 08 January 1980: Armagideon Time (7" b-side - London Calling) CBS
 * 10 January 1980: Rudie Can't Fail (LP – London Calling) CBS
 * 04 February 1980: Armagideon Time (7" b-side - London Calling) CBS
 * 07 April 1980: 'English Civil War / I Fought The Law (both live at the Lyceum) / (White Man) In Hammersmith Palais / I'm So Bored With The USA / Janie Jones / White Riot (all live at the Glasgow Apollo)' ('Rude Boy' soundtrack)
 * 14 April 1980: Wrong 'Em Boyo (LP - London Calling) (CBS)
 * 29 April 1980: Armagideon Time' (b-side to 'London Calling' 7 inch) (CBS)
 * 05 May 1980: English Civil War / I Fought The Law / White Man In Hammersmith Palais / I'm So Bored With The USA / Janie Jones / White Riot / Safe European Homes / unknown / No Reason / Complete Control (album - Soundtrack Of The Film Rude Boy)
 * 19 May 1980: Bankrobber / Rockers Galore (7" - Rudie Can't Fail) CBS CBS 8383
 * 21 May 1980: Bankrobber (7" - Rudie Can't Fail) CBS CBS 8383
 * 22 May 1980: Bankrobber (7" - Rudie Can't Fail) CBS CBS 8383
 * 29 May 1980: Bankrobber (7" - Rudie Can't Fail) CBS CBS 8383
 * 16 June 1980: Rudie Can’t Fail / Garageland / English Civil War / I Fought The Law / No Reason / Complete Control / White Man (In Hammersmith Palais) / I’m So Bored With The USA / Whit Riot / Janie Jones / Safe European Homes / What’s My Name?
 * 01 July 1980: Bankrobber (7" - Rudie Can't Fail) CBS CBS 8383
 * 07 July 1980: Bankrobber (7" - Rudie Can't Fail) CBS CBS 8383
 * 21 July 1980: Bankrobber (7" - Rudie Can't Fail) CBS CBS 8383
 * 02 September 1980: White Man in Hammersmith Palais (LP - Rock Against Racism) RAR
 * 17 November 1980: Time Is Tight (album - Black Market Clash) Epic / Nu Disc 4E 36846
 * 17 November 1980: Pressure Drop (album - Black Market Clash) Epic / Nu Disc 4E 36846
 * 09 December 1980: If Music Could Talk (album - Sandinista!) CBS FSLN 1
 * 09 December 1980: The Sound Of Sinners (album - Sandinista!) CBS FSLN 1
 * 11 December 1980: Hitsville U.K. (album - Sandinista!) CBS FSLN 1
 * 15 December 1980: Charlie Don't Surf (album - Sandinista!) CBS FSLN 1
 * 16 December 1980: The Magnificent Seven (album - Sandinista!) CBS FSLN 1
 * 22 December 1980: 'White Riot (7 inch)' (CBS) / 'Bankrobber (7 inch)' (CBS)


 * 1981
 * 01 January 1981: The Magnificent Seven (album - Sandinista!) CBS FSLN 1
 * 23 February 1981: Junco Partner (album - Sandinista!) CBS FSLN 1
 * 06 April 1981: The Magnificent Seven (album - Sandinista!) CBS FSLN 1
 * 09 June 1981 (John Walters): Career Opportunities (album - The Clash) CBS CBS 82000
 * 09 June 1981 (John Walters): Career Opportunities (album - Sandinista!) CBS FSLN 1
 * 17 November 1981: This Is Radio Clash (7" - Radio Clash) CBS A 1797
 * 29 December 1981: 'Complete Control (7 inch)' (CBS)
 * 30 December 1981: '(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais (7 inch)' (CBS)


 * 1982
 * 11 January 1982: Gates Of The West (12" - The Cost Of Living E.P.) CBS S CBS 7324
 * 26 April 1982: Know Your Rights (single) (CBS)
 * 03 May 1982: Know Your Rights (single) (CBS)
 * 08 June 1982: Complete Control (7") CBS S CBS 5664
 * 16 August 1982: Bankrobber (single) CBS
 * 07 December 1982: Radio Clash (single) CBS
 * 20 December 1982: 'Armagideon Time (7 inch-B side of London Calling)' (CBS) / 'Rock The Casbah (LP-Combat Rock)' (CBS)
 * 1983
 * 26 December 1983: White Man In Hammersmith Palais


 * 1987
 * 09 June 1987: 'London's Burning (LP-The Clash)' (CBS)


 * 1991
 * 06 July 1991: Pressure Drop (album - Black Market Clash Black Market Clash)
 * 07 July 1991: 'Junco Partner (3 x LP - Sandinista!)' (CBS)
 * Others
 * John Peel's First Podcast: Brand New Cadillac (LP - London Calling) CBS