Author - David Quantick
ISBN - 1560252693
Publication Date - 2000
Plot - This is the story and background of the Band, the Clash. It begins from the roots of the three major band members, taking it into how the band was able to form together. The band was competing against several other more well known punk acts, such as the Sex Pistols, without the more self destructive leader in the band that the Sex Pistols had. They began their band in a kind of backwards fashion, more interested in style than substance. At first they wanted to develop a kind of a look for the band, which included pain spatters thrown across guitars and other haphazard artistic sentiments. Then they wanted a name for the band. According to them, it was drawn out of the frequency with which the word Clash was found in the local papers. They then went about jamming together and creating musical rhythms, which would be decidedly punk. The lyrics were the last bit, and as accepted part of Clash lore, were born when two of the band members attended an event that broke out into a riot and was stopped by the police.
The story then marks their rapid rise to fame, from their first showing in 1987, through their music, making a big impact on many of the musicians around them. Eventually they would land in the US, able to tour stadiums as they had a large enough of a following. But like many rockers during that time, they would split up because of two major reasons, drugs, and living the rock star life became more important than producing the music which gave them the life. Eventually by 1985 the band had burned out, and broke up.
The story then marks their rapid rise to fame, from their first showing in 1987, through their music, making a big impact on many of the musicians around them. Eventually they would land in the US, able to tour stadiums as they had a large enough of a following. But like many rockers during that time, they would split up because of two major reasons, drugs, and living the rock star life became more important than producing the music which gave them the life. Eventually by 1985 the band had burned out, and broke up.
Critical Review- A short but interesting biography on the Band called the Clash. Representative of the bands short life, the biography discusses how they came into being and how they flamed out. What I really appreciate about the book is that it does a good job to present the lore and try to separate it from the reality of what was happening in the band, not taking anything they were told at face value. Furthermore, it goes on to discuss the albums that were produced and gives opinion about what albums were worthy of the Clash name, and which efforts were less than stellar. This is certainly a fascinating read about the early punk movement, and would be an excellent read for any teen interested in the roots of the music scene today.
Reader's Annotation- The Clash. Are they counterculture warriors, or musicians who wanted what every other musician wanted, fame and fortune?
About the Author- David Quantick's career is littered with his involvement in the music scene. He began his writing in the music publication NME. He was one of the humorists on the staff, writing witty observations about pop music and culture. Out of which he would later branch into writing for radio and television.
His branching into television would eventually launch his career as a writer for sketch comedy that would appear on different BBC stations. However, his partnership with Chris Morris would mean that much of his comedy was so cutting edge that many of the censors on the network would ban programming before it was even seen. Eventually this would lead to working on a show where rock star journalists would sit and chat about their experience with many of the musicians, recalling funny and often crass stories about these wild times.
His branching into television would eventually launch his career as a writer for sketch comedy that would appear on different BBC stations. However, his partnership with Chris Morris would mean that much of his comedy was so cutting edge that many of the censors on the network would ban programming before it was even seen. Eventually this would lead to working on a show where rock star journalists would sit and chat about their experience with many of the musicians, recalling funny and often crass stories about these wild times.
Genre- Music, Biography
Curriculum Ties - Discuss the book as an example of a biography. How is it similar to a biography of an individual? How does it differ?
Booktalking Ideas - Compare the life of the band The Clash, with the life of many of the bands out there. Is there something about being in a band that engenders division and eventual breakup?
Reading Level/Interest Age - Grade 10+
Challenge Issues - None obvious as it is a biography of a band without over dramatizing the sex or drugs that may have been involved in the bands rise to stardom.
Why Included - I included this ironically because of what I was reading on the back of the book.
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