The Guardian [UK upmarket lefty newspaper]

BRIXTON ACADEMY - Robin Denselow
The Clash

SEVEN years on from the punk revolution, is there still a place for the Clash? When I last saw them in the autumn of `72, they were supporting the Who at New York’s vast Shea Stadium two magnificent bands from different generations split by personality conflicts and the loss of their original ideals. Since then, of course, the Who have collapsed and the Clash have split in two, with Joe Strummer and Paul Simonon actually sacking Mick Jones, who was always more of a flash rocker than a punk.

Now, at last, the Clash are back, pledged to sweep away the more recent musical changes in style and fashion with their now old fashioned brand of “rebel rock.” There are three new members, two toughly efficient guitarists and a strong drummer, and Simonon is still there on bass, or adding harmonica and drawled vocals on The Guns of Brixton. But this is now Joe Strummer’s personal band, and he has taken up the challenge by emerging as a wonderfully English angry rock eccentric.

The packed enthusiastic hall, proved that the Clash are still missed, and Strum mer hurled himself into the songs like a demented preacher, hopping around the stage in his Mohican haircut with the microphone stand slung over Ills shouider. He never could sing too well, so the balancing vocal skills of Jones were missed, but this was still an exhilarting show.

Oldies like Janie Jones, and Garageland were spat out as if they were brand new (in stark contrast to Johnny Rotten’s recent attempts at Punk revivalism) while the new material like the bitter ballad Is England or the the anthem We Are The Clash, showed they can still write stirring, gutsy songs with an almost folksy punk appeal. For a bunch of survivors, lost in the age of Boy George, this was a gallant performance.