Night Beat Post 92 — The Clash in London 1978: "This is a place where no judge can stand”

I visited London in the last few days of 1978 to interview the Clash and see their New Years shows. This was my first trip to London. Given its history, and its vital role in rock & roll, I expected to be captivated every waking hour. That didn’t prove the case. For one thing, much of the city was shut down during Christmas week—certainly every legendary record shop I took a taxi to. Also, it was cold and dreary in ways I’d never experienced before. Then, there was the food. I mean…really?

Still, I’d much rather be on dreary streets than back home on West Hollywood’s sunlit avenues after Petunia beat me up on Christmas Eve. Any conflict surrounding the Clash didn’t seem remotely harsh compared to love back home.

From London in the dark:

“Never mind that shit,” says Joe Strummer, the thuggish-looking lead singer of the Clash ,addressing some exultant kids yel…