Clash Tribute Album Due This Fall

Addicted to Noise April 23, 1997

By Gil Kaufman

Yeah, it is time for a Clash revival.

A Clash tribute album, due out in September, will feature liner notes from Clash guitarist/singer Joe Strummer and cover art by bassist Paul Simonon. The as-yet untitled album will be produced by long-time Strummer pal Hein Hoven (Stray Cats).

Scheduled to appear on the collection are: 311 ("White Man in Hammersmith Palais"), Bush ("Janie Jones"), Frosted ("Garageland"), Goldfinger ("Spanish Bombs"), The Mighty Mighty Bosstones ("Rudie Can't Fail"), Moby with Heather Nova ("Straight to Hell"), Rancid ("Cheat") and a few still-unconfirmed contributions from the Brian Setzer Big Band, Hank Williams Jr., Social Distortion and Tricky.

The album will be out on Ark 21 Records, the new label by former IRS Records founder Miles Copeland, who recently released the Generations One CD, a collection of punk bands playing for human rightsn (with contributions from everyone from Green Day to Bad Brains, plus the Electric Dog House, which featured Strummer alongside former members of the Chemical Brothers and the Damned).

Strummer, who was credited with helping to get the Generations benefit off the ground, has since become friendly with the brains behind that project, Lion's Pride Records founder Jason Rothberg, who has arranged for some proceeds from the Clash album to go to children's charities. Rothberg told ATN he's not sure yet whether the other two former members of the Clash--guitarist/singer Mick Jones and drummer Topper Headon--will be participating in the compilation.

Rothberg also said the release of the album will be accompanied by an MTV "Rockumentary" on the Clash and the making of the album, which will also be released on home video.

Postscript by David Hudson

I received an e-mail from Pete Folger of Ark21 (pfolg@ark21.com) on September 26, 1997 saying, "The Clash album is now being released by Sony." I also contacted Sony, but did not receive any information either confirming or denying the release of the tribute album.

Send questions and comments to: jendave@yahoo.com