Thurs. July 12

 I saw the Clash in February 1979, local debut at the Harvard Square Theatre (not a multiplex then) and they kicked off with "I'm So Bored With the USA" and never did I feel so right with the world. Saw the Clash more than a few times live over the years (Bonds in NY, a great Orpheum gig, among them), got to know 'em somewhat in my journalistic rock-crit mode, drove Strummer to Foley's in Boston after his solo Paradise gig post-Clash, hung with hi

m and drank as he bathed in the glory. ("Joe Strummer is at our dive!") The Clash provided more cathartic jolts for any band of my early-mid 20s, and yes, it went wrong with "Combat Rock" (and the subsequent move to arenas) and worse when Strummer fired Mick Jones (a move he later ruefully said he regretted) and the next generation of wannabe Clash young-us filled in. Let's face it, the band and its magic was long gone by that point. (Frankly, I remember reading the English rock press complaining how it was all over when the band recorded "Give 'Em Enough Rope" with Blue Oyster Cult producers Sandy Pearlman and Murray Krugman. They were wrong, but I get it; they felt betrayed by the yanks and that the Clash' guitar sound have been beefed up beyond punk strictures.) Strummer recaptured his charm somewhat with his post-Clash career (the Mescaleros) and Jones to an extent with dance-rock B.A.D (and now Gorillaz). But the ache for the early Clash - that string of glorious singles, the cas

cading genius of the industry-daming "Complete Control," the slinky rock-reggae of "White Man (in Hammersmith Palais)," the nailing of Junior Murvin's "Police and Thieves" and the Bobby Fuller Four's "I Fought the Law," the gunshots from Topper Headon (also fired for heroin use, when rehab and time-off might have suited all better) on "Tommy Gun." ...  The merger of punk rock and politics, the best band name ever, and, yes, their assemblage was not "pure" - Bernie Rhodes, who had a big hand in the Pistols formation too, was the arthitect and Strummer was in a pumped up pub-rock/R and B band, the 101ers, before the Clash

     Well, the Clash movie, "Ther Rise and Fall of the Clash," is coming to town, this one by director Danny Garcia who will be at the one screening at the Regent Theatre Thursday July 12. Am looking forward to it, with just a bit of trepidation. I did however read the brilliant Mojo piece earlier this year and it covered what I have to assume will be in the movie.
    Got this from my friend Ben Liemer, former editor a Circus magazine: "Just back from the world premiere of 'The Rise And Fall Of The Clash' movie screened at the CBGB film festival in NYC. Sat just down the row from Marky Ramone and long-time Ramones tour manager Monte Melnick (thanks to Leah for the quickly grabbing those seats). Unlike 'Rude Boy' and 'Westway To The World,' this film deals with the slow, sad disintegration of the band. Not a story you have seen before. Excellent journalism digging into the "missing" final years of the band, especially after Mick Jones' firing by Joe Strummer and manager Bernie Rhodes. This is not the place to start for the casual Clash fans, they don't show long stretches of incredibly passionate concert footage, nor rehearsals & studio footage of the disciplined, hard working band. No this is more like a documentary of your parents divorce, something you know happened and are fascinated to understand better. Speaking personally, I know I don't want to see my heroes in such a light, but it did happen. And when you see this movie you will understand why. I met Joe Strummer one time, briefly after their North American debut at the Palladium in NYC. Any fan who heard about the post-concert party could walk two blocks away to a townhouse with no velvet rope and no excluding doormen. The entire band was there, hanging out, drinking cans of British beer and smoking spliffs, talking to early punk rockers, fellow musicians and industry friends like well, regular Joes. Long before I was anyone in the music business, both Joe Strummer and Paul Weller treated me like one of their inner circle and it made a huge impact on me. No one's perfect, we all have our flaws, make mistakes and do things we regret. Later on Joe owned up to this and that's why I say, RIP, your kind will never come again."

Starts at 7:30. Tix: $10.

7 Medford St., Arlington, 781-646-4849 www.regenttheatre.com