The Clash
Album: London Calling
Released: 1979 (UK)
In 2003, Rolling Stone named London Calling one of the ten greatest albums of all time, and it’s arguably the greatest rock album ever recorded. The Clash expanded beyond straight-forward punk, incorporating ska, reggae, rockabilly, and R&B, which catapulted them into rock immortality. London Calling was an international sensation that hit the top ten in Britain and went platinum in the U.S.
In the months preceding the recording of the album a friendship blossomed between The Clash and Texas country-rocker Joe Ely. They were kindred spirits magnetically pulled to each other from other sides of the Atlantic. Guitarist Mick Jones explained the friendship to Statesman reporter Ed Ward by saying, “You have to understand Joe Ely is a special case. He’s young, he’s doing exactly what he wants to do. It’s like he was born to do it. He fits into the scheme of things here. We’re like that in London.”
The unlikely connection formed while Joe Ely was touring England in 1978. The Clash attended one of his shows and thought it was brilliant. For the next week they led Ely on a raucous romp through their hometown of London and, although their backgrounds were worlds apart, they found common ground musically and socially. “Strummer knows a lot about Texas music, and not just the stuff you might expect,” Ely explained. “Guy Clark is one of his favorite songwriters.”
Following Ely’s return stateside, The Clash headed to the studio to record their third album. Despite having two prolific songwriters, the band arrived at the recording sessions without any new material. This forced them to write a slew of songs in a surge of last-minute creativity, drawing on influences like the rockabilly intensity of the Joe Ely Band.
With the album nearly complete, The Clash set off on a North American tour, eager to explore the land of honky-tonks and cowboys that had long fascinated them. True to their punk ethos, they weren’t following the playbook of solely booking obligatory appearances in major urban hubs. They were visiting cities like Laredo, Lubbock, and Austin. The Armadillo World Headquarters was nearing the end of their remarkable run, but the legendary venue wasn’t done yet. In October of 1979 The Clash brought their British punk rock into the shangri-la of outlaw country.
Punk mentality was rampant in the bands that played Austin in the seventies. Some have even gone so far as to argue that Asleep at the Wheel were the first punk band in Austin, but conventional wisdom gives that title to the Skunks – and they worked the local crowd into a frenzy before Joe Ely and The Clash took over the stage. “There was such an explosive feeling in the air,” Ely recalled. “Our attitude was ‘it’s Saturday night at the honky tonk and someone just shot a gun into the ceiling. It was one of those dangerous nights where anything can happen.”
The show at the Armadillo was one of the final ones before London Calling was released, which means it was before they were THE Clash. It was poetic in its timing – one of the final chapters in the Dillo’s storied history overlapping with the meteoric rise of the British punk superstars. The front cover famously features Paul Simonon smashing his bass at the Palladium in New York, but if you flip the album over, you’ll find a homage to the band’s Texas adventure—a black-and-white shot from their night at the Armadillo, tucked just under the track listing.
Dubonnet
The Dubonnet was the cocktail of choice for the late Queen Eilzabeth, and before that it was enjoyed by the Queen Mother. The French aperitif the cocktail takes its name from has been awarded a Royal Warrant – a prestigious honor bestowed on those who provide goods significant to the Royals. This recipe was provided by the Yeoman of the cellars at Buckingham Palace, who was responsible for procuring the wine and spirits for the Royals, and is tailored to the specifications of the Queen.
Ingredients
- Gin (Gordon’s London Dry)
- Dubonnet
- Half lemon wheel
Directions
Pour one part gin and two parts of Dubonnet into a small wine glass, or chalice. Add the half lemon wheel to the mixture, then top with two perfectly proportionate ice cubes, sinking the lemon into the cocktail.
