The Clash Play Revolution Rock

IT'S FOUR days before Christmas. A dark, early evening damp with snow and rain. Immediately south of the Thames, in the inappropriately genteel Victorian suburb of Putney, the Clash is stashed away in a rehearsal studio. They are readying their set of reggaebilly rockers for a 40-date British tour set to start on the fifth day of the New Year. As elevated tube trains rumble past a few yards away from the building, the Clash – vibed in on several hours of playing and spliffing – are into serious work, running repeatedly through the backing track for 'Rudie Can't Fail'.