Tom Snyder Interviews The Clash

A lot of people get on Tom Snyder and imitated him on Saturday Night Live. Some people really hated him when he was on television and found him to be a kiss up or to be very condescending. But in the early 80's. Snyder was a punks best friend.

In fact, Snyder interviewed a lot of acts the media wouldn't touch such as The Jam, The Pretenders, Iggy Pop, PIL just to name a few. He had a show that would not only let them have talk but also perform. I would stay up and see these new groups being interviewed and was very fascinated with it all. If it wasn't for Snyders interviews I would have no real insight to what any of these groups were all about. Aside from an occasional video here or there on a late night video show you would never hear about these acts.

From a journalists perspective he really seemed to care about these acts. From a fans perspective he was an odd choice. This was long before any type of video djs from MTV. Now you can see why Martha Quinn and JJ Jackson, (who just died by the way) were such a big deal. Snyder comes off as a concerned dad who has just been brought up to speed on what the young kids have been up to while he was away on a business trip.

The Clash seems to be pretty sedate on this appearance. Its funny when the drummer leans over and puts a button on Snyders jacket. The button seems to have lost its place in modern day pop culture. But back then it was a real statement to wear them. You never see them anymore. It was seen as being a bit rebellious. Over the years its lost its meaning.
--------------------------------------
cantu fascube 2006

THE CLASH - INTERVIEW on the TOM SNYDER SHOW 1981

THE DAMNED - JUST FOR YOU - ITS A LOVE SONG !!!

HERE IS ANOTHER CLIP FROM, "TOP OF THE POPS"

This is completely muffled and the quality is poor. But if you ever heard it rip from, "Machine Gun Ettiquette" you will know that this song is stylistically out of control. The volume is out there and there is a strong melody hidden under the thrashing drums of Rat Scabbies.

I saw these guys on their 10th anniversary in New York City at the Ritz -- the world's first rock and roll hotel -- in the late 80's and they were very powerful..... They played the entire first album in about 20 blazing minutes!

Then ten years later I caught them again in Chicago. This time the show was more controlled and the sound was very polished. They were even more powerful than they were the first time. I caught this show at Chicago's House of Blues.

The Damned fell under the shadow of the Clash even though they briefly toured together. They were obscure. But they were no less charming in their own fiendish way. They were just as brilliant.

1977 was a year that celebrated punk music. But just as it was released it was forgotten about as it was squashed by Disco's overbearing presence. 1980 was also a very confusing time as this music edged its sound into commercial releases. In America, the New Wave sound was about as close to punk as the record industry would get. With the invention of MTV punk would reach a broader audience. By 1983 the presence of punk and hardcore was available in just about everywhere imaginable. But in England... the sound had reverted to something else.. Ska, Dub, Goth and danceable pop.

The Damned then went into more changes trading as many as 20+ members in its roster. Each release was more creative and unique but hard to classify. Their sound matured and was very textural. But the classic punk sound that made them famous was forever frozen in this classic 1976 release.. DAMNED DAMNED DAMNED.
------------------
Ted Cantu - FASCUBE -- 2006

THE CLASH - WHITE RIOT

"WHITE RIOT - I WANNA RIOT... A RIOT OF MY OWN"

I like this clip of the Clash, its raw, its vile -- it speaks to me. This is before the polished NBC version on Saturday Night Live --- by then the entire message as well as the look was sterile. They had become accepted as soon as they signed on to CBS records.

It was when they signed up on CBS records that a lot of people claim that the Punk Movement had ended. The rebellious nature of the whole thing had become a commercial, a product, a new thing to categorize.

This has a rawness to it.....

THE CLASH - WHITE RIOT