Rating: 
Summary: Best Clash Book????
Review: I bought this book on Joe Strummer's recommendation in a recent interview... but if this is the best book about the Clash then that is a shame... it is another one of those dry accounts by a "bystander/not a writer" who rifled through their diary and patched together a string of less-than-remarkable anecdotes until he had enough pages for a book.
For someone who hung out with the Clash on a daily basis for several years I would have expected more insight into their personalities. Many of the "stories" related left me wondering why he thought that was interesting enough to mention.
If you are a die-hard Clash fan you do get some snippets of insight into their day-to-day working methods while rehearsing for and recording the classics "Give 'Em Enough Rope" and "London Calling" but, beyond that, it is little more than another boring rock&roll travelogue offering scant depth, details, or juice.
Rating: 
Summary: fascinating read
Review: I loved this book! I found it so refreshing from anything else I have ever read about the Clash. What is so appealing about it is that, being told by an ex-roadie of the band he has the perspective of a fan, a friend, and a co-worker. Johnny Green exposed the band as humans, not icons.
Rating: 
Summary: A good perspective, but...
Review: I picked up this book because I was doing an assignment on punk. No big deal - I was just having to read a bunch of books on bands that I already knew a heap about. I picked this one up because I felt that the person writing it, Johnny Green, would be able to give away more of the type of people that the band members were, and what kind of relationship develops between people outside and inside of a band.At times, this book gave a small insight into the character of Strummer, Jones, Topper or Simonon - just enough to let you want to know more. Unfortunately, Green doesn't often follow up, so you are left with a peephole into each band member, not seeing enough to leave you with a satisfactory image. Green's relationship with the band puzzled me as well. At first I thought I was reading a book by someone who had practically become a part of the band himself - someone indispensable, and who would not have left the group any more readily than another member. However, at times I couldn't see much friendly interaction between him and the band, other than them asking Green to clean their socks or book a hotel room. Although there are moments of comraderie between them, these didn't hold through to the end, where Green calmly announces that he is going to leave the Clash to be a roadie for Joe Ely. There doesn't seem to be much sadness or disappointment at his leaving. By the end of the book, I had the feeling that Johnny Green was someone who stuck with the band for a long time because he felt that he had a special place there, but that feeling didn't really come through by the actions of the actual band in the book. Maybe if it had been more of a biography of the band instead of a list of tour dates it would have been more successful. HOWEVER, if you want a broad overview of what the Clash did and how they did it, it is definately a worthwhile read, if not THE most emotional or involved.
Rating:
Summary: A good perspective, but...
Review: I picked up this book because I was doing an assignment on punk. No big deal - I was just having to read a bunch of books on bands that I already knew a heap about. I picked this one up because I felt that the person writing it, Johnny Green, would be able to give away more of the type of people that the band members were, and what kind of relationship develops between people outside and inside of a band. At times, this book gave a small insight into the character of Strummer, Jones, Topper or Simonon - just enough to let you want to know more. Unfortunately, Green doesn't often follow up, so you are left with a peephole into each band member, not seeing enough to leave you with a satisfactory image. Green's relationship with the band puzzled me as well. At first I thought I was reading a book by someone who had practically become a part of the band himself - someone indispensable, and who would not have left the group any more readily than another member. However, at times I couldn't see much friendly interaction between him and the band, other than them asking Green to clean their socks or book a hotel room. Although there are moments of comraderie between them, these didn't hold through to the end, where Green calmly announces that he is going to leave the Clash to be a roadie for Joe Ely. There doesn't seem to be much sadness or disappointment at his leaving. By the end of the book, I had the feeling that Johnny Green was someone who stuck with the band for a long time because he felt that he had a special place there, but that feeling didn't really come through by the actions of the actual band in the book. Maybe if it had been more of a biography of the band instead of a list of tour dates it would have been more successful. HOWEVER, if you want a broad overview of what the Clash did and how they did it, it is definately a worthwhile read, if not THE most emotional or involved.
Rating: 
Summary: hugely entertaining
Review: I read this book in one sitting quite easily. It was a blast to read, with one hilarious anecdote after another. And Green really does do a good job of conveying the excitement and innovation that surrounded the Clash, making you understand why they truly did matter so much. The personalities in the band definitely come out - in the case of Mick Jones, not really in a terribly flattering manner. Strummer on the other hand seems incapable of doing any wrong and comes off golden. The truth undoubtedly lies somewhere in the middle, but you will not doubt that everyone in the band was absolutely committed to the music - even Jones, whom Green describes as incapable of buying his own milk, admirably performs shortly after having his hand slammed in a car door. A great read, without pretentious social analysis - just a well-written book about one of the world's greatest rock bands.
Rating:
Summary: A good ride
Review: I'm a fan of the Clash and so was predisposed to like this book--but I think it stands very well on its own and is worth reading even if you aren't much of a fan. Green and Barker's conversational, witty tone keeps the narrative briskly rolling along and Ray Lowry's brilliant artwork is the perfect visual equivalent to 70's punk music.
Rating:
Summary: Joe Strummer RIP
Review: If there are 3 Clash items that are essential then it's this book, the "Westway to the World" dvd and Bob Gruen's photo book. Johnny Green's book tells it like it was. It doesn't dress up the rather US view of the Clash from 1980-83 as almost the "new wave successors to the Stones" which may have resulted in gaining them many fans world wide but lost much of their original UK fan base. Instead it covers the essential 1977 to 1979 period and paints the band as human beings - Mick with his rock star aspirations and pretensions, Paul and Topper as jack the lads chasing women and wanting a laugh and Joe as the humanist who cares about the fans and wants to know what's going on in the world. RIP Joe - you died way too young. Johnny Green - you wrote a terrific book, thank you Martin...
Rating:
Summary: TRUTH NOT CONJECTURE
Review: If you want to read a book about the Clash that is honest and true, this book by Johnny would be the one. It's not a book full of conjecture aimed at demystifying the band and their aims. It's written by someone who was there and lived it, not concerned with being wordy and erudite, it's simple and right on the money. Johnny is one of the sweetest human beings, and never sounds like he has an axe to grind. Clearly Joe stands behind this book or he wouldn't have written the introduction. If you want to get a better handle on Johnny, find the video Rude Boy, not much of a plot, but amazing live and studio footage, and some pretty amusing stuff featuring this author! An extra added attraction...Ray Lowry's illustrations are fantastic.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic view into the best
Review: It's great to see how the best rock and roll band treated their help. And the message from Joe in the beginning lets you know it's all good. Speaking of Joe, Green's little story on how Strummer couldn't handle his girlfriend was right to the point of how cool the book was. How one of the most articulate political artists in pop music couldn't treat someone so close to him is so perfect. And it's not dramatized like one of those stupid biopics, it's just human and downbeat and true. And the messings with politics, drugs, drinking and the road were perfect too. I forgot they didn't get their fame until later. And you'll remember alot when you read this book too if you are a fan (like why the drums in Train in Vain are the way they are..?) It's just pitch perfect. Let's you in on so much that you wanted to know. And the ending (last page) fits the book in so many ways. Not necessarily a bio either, just how they work on the road and the studio. And if the creation of art fascinates you as it does me, this is so worth it.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic view into the best
Review: It's great to see how the best rock and roll band treated their help. And the message from Joe in the beginning lets you know it's all good. Speaking of Joe, Green's little story on how Strummer couldn't handle his girlfriend was right to the point of how cool the book was. How one of the most articulate political artists in pop music couldn't treat someone so close to him is so perfect. And it's not dramatized like one of those stupid biopics, it's just human and downbeat and true. And the messings with politics, drugs, drinking and the road were perfect too. I forgot they didn't get their fame until later. And you'll remember alot when you read this book too if you are a fan (like why the drums in Train in Vain are the way they are..?) It's just pitch perfect. Let's you in on so much that you wanted to know. And the ending (last page) fits the book in so many ways. Not necessarily a bio either, just how they work on the road and the studio. And if the creation of art fascinates you as it does me, this is so worth it.
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