Trailer for The Rise and Fall of the Clash

[Video Link] This looks like a sad documentary about my favorite band, The Clash.

The Rise and Fall of the Clash features previously unseen footage of the band at work and at play, interviews with the individual band members and with those who knew them well, and traces the downward trajectory of a band who were at one point "the biggest band in the world." This is not a film that pulls any punches, but neither does it overlook the life-changing effect that The Clash brought to so many. Over 90 minutes it paints the fascinating inside story of rival, treachery and betrayal, and the internal band dynamics and managerial interference that ultimately led The Clash to self-destruct.

If you are in Minneapolis, you can view a screening of The Rise and Fall of the Clash at the Ritz Theater on October 6.

(Thanks, David!)

• [Rider]

  This has been pretty well covered in other films. 

  Kind of tired the way the same bands keep getting roughly the same Documentary made about them every few years. 

  Speaking of which we are over due for another Ramones doc, oh and the Beach Boys got back together and are fighting again that’s enough for another 30 Beach Boys docs.

  • [skeletoncityrepeater]

     I would love to disagree and be contrarian but you are right on. I’d rather spend time listening to all their records except ‘Cut The Crap’ instead of watching the same sad story in a new doc.

  • [TwilightNewsSite]

    That’s true about the other films, but that doesn’t change how fascinating The Clash’s story is.  

    I especially like “The Clash: Westway to the World,” the whole of which is available at http://youtu.be/7YEhxF66rsE .  

    Especially worth watching is the ending, from about 1:15:00 on.  
    Their candid admissions of fault are gripping, absolutely fascinating, and enlightening.I’ve learned a great deal from them.  So if this new film is half as insightful, I can’t wait to watch it.

• [tyger11]

  Am I the only Clash fan who’s favorite Clash song is something OTHER than ‘London Calling’ (or ‘Rock the Casbah’)? I think ‘Know Your Rights’ is as relevant today as the day it was written.

  • [laurent]

    Garageland

  • [irksome]

    Brand New Cadillac (hell, ALL of London Calling), Charlie Don’t Surf and the greatest cover of Booker T’s Time Is Tight.

    Topper Headon was one tight drummer. Once he was done, they lost the beat.

    • [John Fleming]

       Spanish Bombs and Guns of Brixton.

      • [SomeGuyNamedMark]

        Career Opportunities

        • [rachel ten bruggencate]

          Rebel Waltz

          (edit + magnificent seven)

  • [Antonis Pappas]

    Lose this skin and a Police on my back a close second.

  • [deathisastar]

    As my user name would indicate, I’m extremely fond of Combat Rock, especially the latter half. Ghetto Defendant, despite Allen Ginsberg, is among my favorite Clash songs. There are days when I wake up and need to hear Atom Tan. If I hear Know Your Rights, I need to hear the whole album.

    Oh, and Bernie Rhodes sounds like a bastard.

• [fidel_funk]

  Another film… why? After The future is unwritten….

• [sigismund]

  You mean… Rude Boy HD edition ?

• [skeletoncityrepeater]

  I would love to disagree and be contrarian but you are right on. I’d rather spend time listening to all their records except ‘Cut The Crap’ instead of watching the same sad story in a new doc.

• [fergus1948]

  Aren’t rock docs impossible to watch after The Rutles and Spinal Tap?
  My personal belief is that (just like movie actors) rock stars should be listened to while playing but not while talking. Usually neither of those artists has anything to say which is as important as they believe it (or themselves) to be.
  (And that goes double for rock pundits and music critics.)