| OK, I'm exaggerating. I didn't really Clash with the Clash, | | | | true. |
| but I did meet two members of the band. One was | | | | After the show, I decided to check out my favorite |
| very rude, while the other was extremely pleasant. | | | | bar, Hunt's. Hunts was a great bar because not only |
| Here's what happened: | | | | did they have live music almost every night, but they |
| During the 80's I lived in Vermont. Believe it or not, quite | | | | had big name bands playing there. On this night there |
| a few bands passed through. It may have been | | | | was a band called The Brains, or The Bad Brains. I'm |
| because Burlington, Vermont was about 5 or 6 hours | | | | not really sure. Hunts was a very small place, with not |
| from New York, 4 hours from Boston and about 2 | | | | many tables. Since I was there late, I decided to hang |
| hours from Montreal. Maybe some bands had an extra | | | | up at the bar. I ordered a beer. |
| Monday or Tuesday night. The shows were always | | | | With-in a short while, there was a commotion at the |
| during the week. | | | | front door. The Clash had arrived to check out the |
| Anyway, The Clash put on a concert at Patrick Gym, | | | | show. Mick Jones, stood next to me. "Hey, Mick", I said |
| part of the University of Vermont (UVM). As I recall I | | | | "can I buy you a drink?". He ignored me. |
| do not think the show was sold out, so I was able to | | | | Just then someone took out a camera and started to |
| buy a ticket that night. The Clash were very amazing. | | | | take some pictures of the band. The Clash's manager |
| This was part of their Combat Rock tour, so the entire | | | | shot up his hand in front of the camera. "I don't want |
| stage was decked out with a camouflage setting. | | | | any pictures of the band in boring places," he said. The |
| They ripped thorough a amazing set of many of their | | | | camera was put away. I looked over to my right and |
| songs. The band was very bare bones, they did not | | | | standing next to me was Joe Strummer. "Joe, great |
| use a lot of special effects. The show was a long one. | | | | show tonight". |
| I was extremely pleased to have seen them. | | | | "Thanks," he said. He looked exhausted. I asked him if I |
| I had been a fan since their London Calling album. They | | | | could buy him a beer. |
| were a very influential band as far as I'm concerned. I | | | | "Sure", he responded. And for a couple of minutes, he |
| think The Clash really influenced many of the | | | | wasn't a rock star, just an ordinary guy, making |
| post-punk and new wave bands that were to follow. I | | | | conversation at the bar. I didn't ask for an autograph or |
| particularly like Sandinista! This was a very melodic | | | | anything. I did not want to bother him in any way. We |
| album which really let the band shine thorough. The | | | | spoke for a couple of minutes and he left to join the |
| concert left me quite satisfied. I felt I had witnessed a | | | | rest of the band. |
| legendary performance. And to this day, I feel that is | | | | |