I read this book in one sitting quite easily. It was a blast to read, with one hilarious anecdote after another. And Green really does do a good job of conveying the excitement and innovation that surrounded the Clash, making you understand why they truly did matter so much. The personalities in the band definitely come out - in the case of Mick Jones, not really in a terribly flattering manner. Strummer on the other hand seems incapable of doing any wrong and comes off golden. The truth undoubtedly lies somewhere in the middle, but you will not doubt that everyone in the band was absolutely committed to the music - even Jones, whom Green describes as incapable of buying his own milk, admirably performs shortly after having his hand slammed in a car door. A great read, without pretentious social analysis - just a well-written book about one of the world's greatest rock bands.

If there are 3 Clash items that are essential then it's this book, the "Westway to the World" dvd and Bob Gruen's photo book.

Johnny Green's book tells it like it was. It doesn't dress up the rather US view of the Clash from 1980-83 as almost the "new wave successors to the Stones" which may have resulted in gaining them many fans world wide but lost much of their original UK fan base. Instead it covers the essential 1977 to 1979 period and paints the band as human beings - Mick with his rock star aspirations and pretensions, Paul and Topper as jack the lads chasing women and wanting a laugh and Joe as the humanist who cares about the fans and wants to know what's going on in the world.

RIP Joe - you died way too young.

Johnny Green - you wrote a terrific book, thank you

Martin...

What a blast! I read this book in one day, I just could not get enough of its personal, unpretentious and colorful tone. Johnny Green has written a sly, thoughtful, and very sharp memoir of his days with the almighty Clash. Here one actually sees the courage and stamina and wit it took to be a punk rock band in the 70s--Green writes vividly of the police troubles, the riots and the madness (and poverty) of life on the road. He also does a great job of sketching the personalities of the Clash men: Strummer comes off the best, with his man-on-the-street persona, his gentle whisper in conversation, his concern for his downtrodden fans, and his insatiable interest in life around him. Jones is the prima donna, a "muso" with a definite vision for his band, fueled by coke, pot and women. Simonon is the sharp, funny, beautiful one, very cool. Topper's spiral into drug abuse begins near the book's end--he's the guy that just goes along, but Green always seems impressed by his talent. We see here how The Clash were truly trailblazers; albums like "London Calling" and "Give 'em Enough Rope" are among the finest British rock'n'roll ever recorded. I love this book, found it more insightful than the recent bio, "Last Gang in Town"; the Clash finally became real people to me, involved with the real world and people of all types. The Clash still remain, for me, the Only Band That Matters. Thanks to Johnny Green for putting his story to paper! (and after all this, won't you give me a smile???)