15

TheClash,'LondonCalling'

Writers:MickJones,JoeStrummer
Producer:GuyStevens
Released:Jan.'80,Epic
Didnotchart
NamedafterthecallsignaloftheBBC'sWorldServicebroadcasts,thetitlealarmoftheClash'sthird
albumwasanSOSfromtheheartofdarkness.Whentheyrecordedthesong,theClashBritishpunk's
mostpoliticalanduncompromisingbandwerewithoutmanagementandsinkingindebt.Aroundthem,
Britainwassuffocatingincrisis:soaringunemployment,racialconflict,widespreaddruguse."Wefelt
thatwewerestruggling,"JoeStrummer

said,"abouttoslipdownaslopeorsomething,graspingwithour
fingernails.Andtherewasnoonetheretohelpus."
StrummerandguitaristMickJoneschanneledthattrialandworryintoasong,producedwithhellbent
atmospherebyGuyStevens,thatsoundedliketheClashmarchingintobattle:StrummerandJones
punchingtheirguitarsinmetallicunisonwithPaulSimonon'sthumpingbassandTopperHeadon'srifle
crackdrumming.Overthaturgency,Strummerhowledthroughacatalogofdisasters,realandimagined.
The"nuclearerror"referredtotheMarch1979meltdownofareactoratThreeMileIslandin
Pennsylvania.Theline"Londonisdrowning/AndIlivebytheriver"DonLetts'videooftheClash
showsthemplayingthesongonaboatontheThamesindrenchingrainwasbasedonlocalfolklore.
"TheysaythatiftheThameseverflooded,we'dallbeunderwater,"JonessaidexceptStrummerwas
livinginahighriseflatatthetime,"sohewouldn'thavedrowned."
Appearson:LondonCalling(Epic)

RELATED:
DeNiro,CannibalsandPunkRock:MickJonesNarratestheTrueAdventuresoftheClash

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