London is the home of some of the greatest and most influential musicians, artists and bands in history, but there are very few bands that were shaped by and shaped London quite like eclectic punk rockers The Clash.
Often known as “The Only Band That Mattered”, The Clash were so connected to London that their third album and its lead single were even called London Calling.
Coming into their prime a decade following the peak of Beatlemania, and in the same musical landscape as Queen, Led Zeppelin, The Who and Pink Floyd, The Clash were very different and painted a very different perspective of London, perfect for a very unique type of private tour.
From the streets of Brixton along the Westway to the World, here are some of the places that inspired The Clash to paint an evocative picture of London in the 1970s, as well as some of the places Joe Strummer and Mick Jones inspired.
Famous Three Kings
Initially a pub, turned legendary music venue, and now a sports pub again, the Famous Three Kings had a particularly interesting and essential role to play in the history of The Clash, as it was where squatmates Mick Jones and Paul Simonon found the missing piece for what became the band.
Then known as The Nashville Rooms, Mr Jones and Mr Simonon watched The 101ers headline with The Sex Pistols as support. Whilst the latter became the face of the British punk scene, The 101ers were fronted by Joe Strummer.
Impressed, they invited him to rehearse with them; he joined within a day, and a month later, they were already supporting the Pistols in Sheffield.
41-43 Neal Street
Now a Danish bakery and for a long time the home of Speedo, 41-43 Neal Street was once better known as The Roxy, the epicentre of the Spirit of ‘77 and the only venue in London built for punk rock.
Naturally, The Clash played the gala opening night, supported by The Heartbreakers, in one of their most memorable moments in the history of punk. The venue went on to even release an album that reached number 24 on the Album charts.
Unfortunately, its fate was similar to much of the first wave of punk, a change of management fundamentally shifting the course of the Roxy after just 100 days.
It did have a somewhat successful second wave, but this too was short-lived before the club was forced to close down due to noise and disturbance complaints.
Regardless, the legend of the Roxy makes it an important place to visit when exploring the story of The Clash.
Camden Market
The first self-titled album was written on the 18th floor of a high-rise council flat near Harrow Park owned by Mick Jones’s grandma. It was then recorded at CBS Studio 3 on Whitfield Street in W1, but the most popular place to visit has to be in Camden Market.
Designed by Roslaw Szaybo, The Clash’s iconic cover art was shot in front of Rehearsal Rehearsals, a former recording studio in what is now the much more photogenic Camden Market, just outside of a British Rail yard.
Just around the corner from the spot where that iconic album cover was shot, however, is Dingwalls Dance Hall, a legendary music venue and one of many that The Sex Pistols were allegedly banned from.
However, what makes it iconic in the history of The Clash was that Paul Simonon and the Stranglers bassist JJ Burnel got into a fight just hours after the former band debuted
Victoria Park
Beyond being a beautiful spot to relax that happens to be London’s oldest public park, Victoria Park was also the home of one of The Clash’s most memorable concerts and possibly one of the greatest statements of their ethos.
They played the huge Temporary Carnival as part of the Rock Against Racism marches of 1978.
Expecting around 40,000 people, over 100,000 marched the six-mile route and showed the small-minded neo-fascist movements of the era what London was really about, its beautiful diversity and the true strength of numbers who believed in the city.
The Clash’s political stance was never subtle; they were staunchly left-wing, lead lyricist Joe Strummer was a very strong socialist, and the band as a whole despised the nihilistic rejection of hope in a better world that consumed other early punk bands.
Songs such as Guns of Brixton, London’s Burning, and the entirety of Sandanista would also showcase this edge to them, but the brightest light shone in Victoria Park on 30th April 1978.
