The Clash Reissue 'London Calling' with Demos, DVD

[Brad]

The Clash Reissue 'London Calling' with Demos, DVD

By Jonathan Cohen
Billboard

NEW YORK - A disc of recently discovered demos for the Clash's "London Calling" and a DVD boasting previously unseen live performance footage will be included in Epic Records' Sept. 21 reissue of the English punk band's landmark 1979 album.

The demos, dubbed "The Vanilla Tapes," were recently discovered in a storage facility belonging to guitarist/vocalist Mick Jones, according to a statement issued Thursday by the Legacy Recordings heritage unit of Epic's Sony Music parent.

The demos include songs that did not make the final cut for "London Calling," although a spokesman said the track listing had not been finalized.

In addition to the original album and the demos, "London Calling: The 25th Anniversary Edition" will boast a DVD chronicling the Clash at that point in its existence. A 45-minute documentary was created by longtime biographer Don Letts, and features recording studio footage, previously unreleased live performances, interviews with Jones, late singer/guitarist Joe Strummer, drummer Topper Headon and bassist Paul Simonon and a conversation with one-time band manager Kosmo Vinyl.

The new edition will also feature full song lyrics, a new essay and photos by band photographer Pennie Smith, who was responsible for the blurry cover shot of an angry Simonon smashing his bass during a gig at the New York Palladium.

"London Calling," the Clash's third album, has come to be regarded as one of the best records of the punk era. Its 19 tracks feature such classics as the title cut, "Clampdown," "Guns of Brixton," "Spanish Bombs," "Rudie Can't Fail," "Death or Glory" and the final hidden tune "Train in Vain."