Clash – Back to the Past

Thirty years after The Clash came to an end, guitarist Mick Jones and bassist Paul Simonon sat down together in New York City for a q-and-a session about the old days, conducted by David Fricke of Rolling Stone magazine. Thursday evening's media event to promote this month's release of Sound System, a $175 12-disc boxed set containing everything the original group recorded, was held at a downtown New York photo gallery.

Both musicians told war stories about cancelled gigs and bizarre musicians, backstage introductions and important musical influences. They recalled Pete Townshend -- with whom they played an historic Clash - Who concert at New York's Shea Stadium in 1982 -- as a supporter and fan, who once paid for their drummer's drug rehab. They also took pains to credit London Calling producer Guy Stevens as a crucial figure in the popularization of American soul music in 1960s Britain.

Jones recalled writing songs with the late Joe Strummer at his grandmother's London apartment, and Simonon -- who designed the box set, which looks like a boombox -- commented on the band's fashion sense, saying their manager once asked him why should people admire a band that doesn't dress better than they do.

There was, unfortunately, no discussion of any plans they might have to relaunch The Clash.