THE CLASH "TRAIN IN VAIN" LIVE . . . . NOT ONLY MY FAVOURITE BAND BUT MY FAVE TUNE ABOUT LOVE AND LOSS . . . . YEAH, THE SOUNDS PRETTY ROUGH, THE LIGHTING FOR THE FOOTAGE SUCKS ARSE, BUT . . . . ITS SO FUCKING REAL, SO INCREDIBLY HONEST AND RAW . . . . GREAT ROCK+ROLL WAS NEVER ABOUT PERFECTION . . . . IT'S ABOUT HEART AND CONVICTION . . . . THE CLASH AT THEIR VERY BEST !!!

On the release of the multi-faceted and enduring 'London Calling' double album the boys from the Westway took to the roads of the USA to preach the 'Gospel According to Them' to the people, that legendary tour was called 'The Clash Take the Fifth', so named because they had good friend and keyboards player, Mickey Gallagher in tow, adding depth and feel side of stage, the band was so psyched for this tour, playing many gigs that became went onto to become musical myth . . . . I reckon this clip from New Joisey could be from that tour, Micks voice is pretty thrashed, Joe is on fire and Paul and Topper are just doing what great rhythm sections do, driving the beast from the crankcase up, I cant see Mickey anywhere but as I said, the lights and the lo-fi nature of the clip ain't shedding no light . . . . the song is all about politics of the human heart, the universality of the condition called life, pained and plaintive its always been a go-to tune for me, in moments of post relationship/marriage blues I've found it both restorative and uplifting . . . . from a double album that remains my ultimate 'Desert Island' must have, [well, a toss up with Miles Davis' 'Almost Blue'] this song from this time will always be something really special . . . . try and see through the grainy footage, listen beyond the sketchy sound and put yourself there and then . . . . fucking landmark, legendary stuff !!!