The Men They Couldn't Hang, Hard-Fi, and more for Strummer 10th Anniversary event

remembering Joes Strummer's last London FBU show

news: Friday 19th October 2012

It's 10 years since Joe Strummer played his last London show, a benefit for the Fire Brigade's Union. 500 fire fighters and a couple of hundred of Strummer's most loyal fans were arms aloft in Acton Town as Joe's former Clash comrade, Mick Jones, who was in the audience, felt "compelled" to join the band mid-encore. Joe and Mick performed Clash songs together for the first time in almost 20 years.

Next month musicians and trade union members will gather in Joe's spiritual stomping ground of Notting Hill to remember him on Friday 16th November 2012.

The line-up includes Hard-Fi who will play a special, one-off, stripped down set, and the night will be headlined by The Men They Couldn't Hang. Also lining up to salute Joe will be long-time Strummer collaborator and sometime Mescalero, Tymon Dogg, New Town Neurotics frontman, Steve Drewett and Clash tribute band, Take the 5th.

There will also be a DJ set by former Clash and Mescaleros DJ, Barry 'Scratchy' Miles. Other very special guests are expected to be present with further announcements in due course.

On November 15th 2002, Strummer (with his band the Mescaleros) played his last London show, supporting striking fire fighters at Acton Town Hall. As Acton Town Hall is now sitting empty and derelict and no longer available to hire, the Tabernacle in Notting Hill, with its connections to Joe and the community where he cuts his political and musical teeth, is a suitable alternative venue to commemorate that Acton show.

The event will begin with '4 Songs From Acton', a unique filmic art-instalation that brilliantly captures the highlights of the Acton Town FBU from a decade ago where Joe is joined on stage by Mick Jones for the first time in almost two decades.

The event will also promote and support the Strummerville Foundation for New Music and Jail Guitar Doors, the initiative set up by Billy Bragg that provides musical equipment for the use of inmates serving time in prison.

Matt Wrack, the FBU's general secretary, said, "Firefighters are immensely proud of our links with Joe Strummer and what he stood for politically and as a musician. We're delighted to have helped support the 10th anniversary memorial."

Tickets are priced at £20. To buy them click here, or visit the Rough Trade shop.

article by: Scott Williams

published: 19/10/2012 16:07



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