As a musician myself, I am often intrigued by the true life stories of those who have helped mold and shape the music of today.  In my opinion few groups, if any, have contributed as much to rock music as the Clash.  Marcus Grey provides the most comprehensive and in depth history of the Clash to date, exposing the events leading up to and following the recording of London Calling.  Route 19 Revisited documents the Clash in an unprecedented fashion that reveals the best of the best times and the worst of the worst times.

One of my favorite chapters provides a detailed song by song breakdown of London Calling.  Boasting a truly intellectual analysis of lyrics, even the most knowledgeable of Clash historians will be re-educated to the true and confirmed stories of inspiration (or sometimes lack thereof) that prompted our heroes’ specific vernacular.  Each song receives a literal play by play description of who played what, who was where, and who contributed to the whole.  Perhaps my favorite element of this chapter is the conflict between Jones' and Strummer’s testimonies as to who actually wrote what.  Jones admittedly has a fuzzy recollection of certain details, and on occasion Strummer credits Jones for songs easily discovered as being penned by Strummer.  Despite the humor of that confusion, the history of every track gets credited to its rightful originator.

Sticking to the ethos of giving the fans maximum value for their dollar, Route 19 offers over five hundred pages that illuminate the Clash in a manner exceeding all Clash documentaries combined.  On occasion you will find your illusions of the Clash’s grandeur shattered as Marcus Grey strips away the legends and lore to reveal four vulnerable lads just searching for their meaning and purpose.  Ultimately, this leads to the reader identifying with their spiked and studded heroes on an even more relatable and (if possible) respectable level.  You will find countless details that the Clash painstakingly hid from the public in attempts to create their “punk” personas, yet you will also find an honest account of the Clash evolving past that period to intentionally destroy the image they created.

Another topic Route 19 flawlessly confronts is the Clash’s ongoing battle with the record companies they worked with.  The Clash was particularly proud of their firm intent to deliver as much rock and roll as they possibly could to those spending their hard earned dollars on Clash merchandise, and when London Calling was proposed to be a double record release, it created conflict between CBS and Clash camps.  It’s not hard to imagine the labels' reaction when Sandanista! was proposed to be a triple record release for the price of a single.  Once again, Marcus Grey meticulously documents each of the finest details of this confrontation.

As a fan of the Clash, I have eagerly devoured each shred of information I was able to obtain, perhaps putting me in the semi-unflattering category of the fanatic.  However, as a fanatic, I feel justified in my proclamation that Route 19 Revisited is the definitive history of the Clash and is superior to all other attempts.  To any Clash fan that has ever asked, “I wonder what they meant by that?” Route 19 Revisited will undoubtedly provide introspective and factual answers.  You will discover a previously unseen side of the Clash that was both coveted and protected come to be acknowledged and respected.

As I come to a close I find myself imagining Marcus Grey climbing the unseen side of Mount Rushmore with a chisel and a hammer in hand, determined to memorialize four other founding fathers…Mick Jones, Joe Strummer, Paul Simonon and Topper Headon.

Additional hidden extra material at from the book here.

By Correspondent: Dennis "Eazy-D" Spence

Eazy-D was born on a rainy morning in the sultry July heat of 1978.  His mother fondly recalls the day with a tale of going into labor while watching Roadrunner cartoons.  On the ride home, "We Are the Champions" played on the radio and the two speechless parents wondered what this child's future would be. 

Chronological list of Inspirations Leading to the Development of Eazy-D:

1) His Mom's Band  2) Children of the Corn  3) La Bamba  4) "Sweet Child of Mine"  5) Lost Boys

6) Black Sabbath  7) The Buddy Holly Story  8) Slick Rick  9) The Ramones  10) His Mom teaching how to play "House of the Rising Sun" on the guitar

All this has led Eazy-D to be a distinguished local artist and writer as well as the lead singer/songwriter/guitarist and founding member of the barcore pint rockers, Jackmove.  Eazy-D is available for contact on MySpace and Facebook.