BBC's Maida Vale Studios

No known audio or video

If you know of any recording, please email blackmarketclash

Three sources

Three sources identify this session and it is likely to be early 1978. The BBC, John Peel in his autobiography and Clash roadie, Johnny Green all refer to this session.

BBC Radio One website - Peel Session Stories

The Clash

The Clash The Clash famously recorded only half a session for Peel, or indeed the BBC. There have been a number of interviews in which John spoke about this ill-fated session, one of which resulted in John saying

"The Clash did half a session and then wandered off - unbearably pretentious".

But there have been a couple of more detailed explanations since. In an interview for Interzone Magazine in January 1994, John said:

"They (The Clash) did come in actually - they did backing tracks but then said the studios weren't good enough - not a very punk attitude - though the story from the studio was that they were too out of their heads to do it."

Finally, perhaps a more plausible explanation for The Clash's walk out is that Joe Strummer once said that "listening to John Peel was like a dog being sick in your face." (NME, March 1991). Charming.

Online or Archived PDF

John Peel spoke of The Clash's aborted 1977 session in a number of interviews.

"The Clash did half a session and wandered off. Unbelievably pretentious." (BBC interview)

"The Clash did half one, then amazingly said that the equipment in the studio wasn't up to the standards they'd expected so they couldn't complete the session. Which seemed to me to be unbearably pretentious of them" (Radio b92 interview)

"The Clash did come in actually, they did backing tracks but then said the studios weren't good enough, not a very Punk attitude. Though the story from the studio was that they were too out of their heads to do it" (Interzone magazine interview)

This is mentioned in John Peel's autobiography.

The Clash laid down the backing tracks then went off for some 'refreshment'. When they came back they were so trashed they couldn't complete the session. Peel's producer John Waters was so pissed off he refused to have them back.

CLASH TO ME - "The Clash did half one, and then amazingly said that the equipment in the studio wasn't up to the standards that they'd expected so they couldn't complete the session. Which seemed to me to be unbearably pretentious of them [laughs]. It'd be very difficult to pick out an absolute favourite from them." John Peel

Joe Strummer | Facebook | The Original Soho Punk Rock Tour

Joe Strummer, John Peel, drinking Fosters, in the Wimpy, Piccadilly, 1981. With thanks to WiseTuna

Other sources suggest

Another account suggests that one of the people working on the session walked into the studio and recognised Topper whom he knew from previous bands and that Topper had bought his dog in with him.

On seeing Topper he enquired about his well being at which point Joe and Mick started to take the piss out of him and invited Topper to join in the little piss taking which he duly did.

The guy goes on to say he wasn't offended but felt Topper was made to toe the line with the "them" and "us" mentality.

Clash discuss the John Peel sessions

Radio interview broadcast 6 April 2016 - at 9:30 mins

The Clash - M.Jones, T.Headon & P.Simonon talk about The Band & J.Strummer

Summary

1. Mick on Busking
2. I Fought the Law “toilet at the end” “stick a mike in the bog”
3. Paul Joe Meek echo effect 
4. Guy Stevens, Phil Spector
5. Should I Stay or Should I Go - guitar intro, Ecuadorian engineer New York “Phone my mum” Spanish, Joe Ely “Alla” at the start, Jody Whatley briliant percussionist came in.
6. Topper percussion, MIck Military Glockenspiel, Johnny Green kids perscussion instruments from Hanley’s Toy Store, Mick on percussion, Shepperd’s Delight, Lol Creem from 10cc Manchester making sheep noises
7. Paul away filming in Vancouver missing Sandinista start, Jamaica, Mick months recording, Topper made it up
8. Topper Billy Cobhan influence
9. Guns of Brixton, Topper Velcro back of chairs sample, 
10. Maida Vale, John Peel till 1am, didn’t work, walked out, engineers, John Peel never forgave, Green “ain’t good enough, not going out” 19:30mins
11. Start of The Clash Bernie Rhodes Joe 101ers
12. Topper “attitude of the band at the start” music followed 
13. Band in control of every aspect of the band, Paul “just got on with it”
14. Got too much, Joe, politics Nicaragua “he’s just come of stage” Paul “I just scowl”
15. No Elvis… Paul “wipe the slate clean” Mick listen to the past
16. Green All four had huge musical knowledge
17. Joe and his honesty, had trouble with his voice on the road, lemon, lockets, all day
18. Mick “Great and later on not great”, I’ll post the lyrics through the letterbox, Joe gave me this song “Trans cash free pay one” which became Bottom Line with new lyrics
19. Mick - we did write songs for Mescalero’s, intention a song a day, came to nothing, few months later “the songs?” Joe, “They’re the next Clash album”.
20. Mick, “Its Joes words that have got this far” “I added the means”
21. Green “Teamwork magnifico”, Topper “we didn’t appreciate it at the time”
22. MIck four council flats
23. MIck’s old mate asked a question, “Not good at school”, Mick school self taught, got ill nearly died 1988, speech therapy, opera singer, my husband (Mr Chapman old music teacher!), 
24. Mick’s gran’s music
25. Topper parents Welsh church music surrounded by music, “The Who My Generation”.
26. Paul parents Beatniks Latin, worldly music, my music out side the front door, dad looking for work, travelled, chicken rice and peas, ska. West Indian background music black political awareness, Ted Caroll’s with Teddy Boys VinceTaylor rockabilly
27. Bonds Q, Best support act at Bonds. Lee Dorsey etc.. Bo Diddley Caroline Coon, Topper being on the road great support bands
28. Bo Diddley - his oddness on the road doom and gloom, Rock and Rye drink like whisky
29. Q What excites you about music?,  Mick “stupid when you’re young”, “get a mansion next thing you know”, 
30. Topper “didn’t want a 9-5 job” freedom, rebellious attitude, Mick “avoid a proper job”
31. Paul “chucking bottles” earlier days best, audience near, felt like miming at the end. 
32. Q Advice? Paul “play bass, listen to the bass”, Topper “stay away form drugs”, Mick “garage”

Tracks - unknown