The Clash: Rai5 airs a documentary on their history for the Rock Legends series

Domenica 19 ottobre alle 23,30 andrà in onda su Rai5 (poi in replica su RaiPlay) una puntata di Rock Legends tutta dedicata ai Clash. Quella della formazione inglese è stata “una rivoluzione permanente”, perché – come scrive una nota del programma – dalle fiamme della Londra punk al palcoscenico internazionale e alle coscienze globali, i Clash hanno definito un canone sonoro e visivo intramontabile”. Una saga che riuscì a condensare lo spirito di una generazione, proiettandolo nell’evo successivo. Dalla Westway all’eternità.

The documentary retracing their history, directed by Lyndy Saville, was made in 2017.

Active from 1976 to 1986, they were one of the most critically acclaimed bands of the era. The line-up was built mainly around Joe Strummer (vocals, rhythm guitar), Mick Jones (lead guitar, vocals), Paul Simonon (bass, vocals) and Nick "Topper" Headon (drums, percussion). The Clash were known for the sheer range of their music (their repertoire took in reggae, dub, rap, rockabilly, ska and more), for their especially intense live shows, and for the lyrical and political sophistication of their songs, which set them apart from most of their peers in the punk movement. They won over critics and audiences alike, particularly in the UK, with the release of their debut album "The Clash" (1977) and its follow-up, "Give 'Em Enough Rope" (1978).

But the Clash saga reaches its peak with the album "London Calling". Released in England in December 1979 and arriving in the US in January 1980, "London Calling" was the album that cemented the Clash's legendary status. The band's third record, following the successful "The Clash" and the less successful (but equally strong) "Give 'Em Enough Rope", the new album immediately came across as an ambitious work, destined to leave its mark for decades to come: a double LP produced by Guy Stevens, whose cover soon became a rock icon in its own right. On that note, not everyone may know that it quotes the cover of Elvis Presley's debut album, dated 1956. Twenty years earlier, in 1976, the Clash were the young men singing "no Elvis, Beatles and Rolling Stones". In 1977 the punk movement exploded, and that same year, Elvis Presley died.

Alle soglie del 1980, molte cose erano cambiate: i Sex Pistols si erano sciolti, Sid Vicious era morto, il punk inglese aveva conquistato gli States. I Clash, che pur erano rimasti i portabandiera di quel movimento, cominciarono a mutare fisionomia: dismessi gli abiti da “city rockers” e lasciata alle spalle una certa dose di ingenuità, i quattro cominciarono non soltanto a guardare al futuro ma, per la prima volta, tentarono anche di far i conti con quel passato che il punk aveva spesso rinnegato. La rivoluzione del ’77 si era esaurita precocemente perché non aveva saputo costruire o, meglio, non era stata in grado di ricostruire dopo aver distrutto; i Clash invece, intraprendendo una strada personale, ci riuscirono: attraverso un recupero del passato, cercarono dei valori per motivare il presente, per poterli proiettare nel futuro. Un futuro che sarebbe stato nuovamente luminoso con la straordinaria patchanka di stili del successivo, doppio album “Sandinista!“.

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