22nd December
22nd December 2002. A date that resonates with people of a certain age and musical persuasion. The date that saw the untimely death of a musical hero to many, John Graham Mellor. Better known to most as Joe Strummer, lead singer of the Clash, the Mescalero’s, Latino Rockabilly War, the 101ers…
22nd December. Since 2003, a date that is now also synonymous with an annual pilgrimage to King Tuts Wah Wah Hut in Glasgow to pay tribute to the man, the myth, the legend – Joe Strummer.
22nd December 2018. 16 years down the line was no different. Or was it?
Buskers – The Clash Mark III?
This year things were a bit different. Earlier in the year there had been a showing of a film recounting the 1985 busking tour of The Clash MkII and particularly their visit to Glasgow’s dear green place. Alongside this, a band of merry men, led by well-kent Glasgow musician/punk Jonzip McNeill of The Zips/Passionate Friends fame played a set replicating what the band played.
On arriving to what could only be described as a rammed King Tuts, a guerrilla style gig was just getting underway. Jonzip and Co. had taken up residency in the back corner of the bar downstairs and being true to the setup of the Busking Tour, played a cracking acoustic set, sans microphones exactly as The Clash Mk II played it in The School of Art in ’85. The atmosphere was electric, anticipation building for the main event with friends old and new shouting their hellos across the melee of bodies.
Great start to a tremendous night’s entertainment. The doors to upstairs opening relieving the tightly packed scrum and the crowd dispersed between the bar and the venue. As with any event of this type, the timings were tight and the turnover clockwork.
Shot Balowski
First up it was Shot Balowski to play their 15 minutes. A cracking set including a blistering version of Joe’s version of Marley’s Redemption Song and bucking the trend, a Buzzcocks song, Boredom, paying tribute to the recently deceased Pete Shelley. Things were building up nicely. I believe Shot Balowski have an album due to drop this year, I for one will be investigating further.
Rat Patrol V
Next up was the return Rat Patrol V with their energetic romp through some cracking tunes including English Civil War (oh how relevant today), Clampdown and finishing with many folks favourite Clash tune White Man (in Hammersmith Palais).
The Dughoose Ska Band
A change of music styles next up as the Tuts stage groaned as it tried to accommodate the vast number of musicians that is the Dughoose Ska Band kicking off with their version of the Magnificent Seven and getting the place bouncing and skanking along to a first-rate Pressure Drop. Another non-Clash track in the form of The Specials classic Gangsters. Still Clash related though as the song recounts a tale of an incident from The Specials tour of France with The Clash. I need to see this band do one of their own gigs. Tremendous.
The Zips
Time for The Zips now. What can I say about the band that hasn’t been said before? Clash fans through and through, never disappoint when they play their own gigs and no difference tonight. Passion (is a Fashion) and dynamism aplenty from the off. A set straight out of the top-drawer including Card Cheat, London’s Burning and a scorching Garageland.
Wages of Sin
Penultimate band Wages of Sin picked the “D’s” mostly, with a set including Death or Glory, Deny and Drug Stabbing Time. The band chose to finish their set with the sublime Coma Girl from the posthumously released Streetcore.
Combat Rock
The temperature had risen sufficiently, the crowd were lubricated and more than warmed up, it was time for the world’s premier Clash tribute band, Combat Rock to take to the stage. Seasoned pro’s the band capture the energy and vitality of The Clash perfectly. The relevance of the songs of the Clash to this day was highlighted in the brace of tracks they played to open the set – Safe European Home and English Civil War. The lead tracks from Give ‘Em Enough Rope which is a perfect analogy for the Tory party Brexiteers. This set the scene for a set which had the punters singing back every word, dancing and bouncing along to all the well-loved tunes. Career Opportunities, Train in Vain, Jimmy Jazz, Rudy Can’t Fail…Special mention here. I met a bloke at the bar – hi mark if you’re reading this, his favourite Clash song was City of the Dead and was lamenting that he doubted he’d hear it. Combat Rock came through for you! As ever, a joyous celebration of the music of The Clash, and ending with the trio of a transcendent Straight to Hell, a resplendent White Man and an incendiary White Riot to finish things off.
Without People, You’re Nothing
Add to the music the camaraderie of the night as always, meeting up with great people and meeting new faces. Without People, You’re Nothing indeed.
Passionate and all inclusive review of the night’s proceedings at the Joe Strummer Tribute in King Tuts, on 22nd Dec 2018. Thanks Mr Quiff, no band left out, and fairly comprehensive list of the songs performed. It was almost like being there – oh, I was!