Yep, big Clash fan since the early 80's. Never got to see them live, but I did see Joe Strummer fronting the Pogues in Boston in the early 90's, and then I got to see Joe again in Boston in 1999. That was really great, because he alternated between songs from Rock Art and The Clash. He had a great young band with him, and hearing Bankrobber, Safe European Home and Rock the Casbah live was incredible.

The thing that gets me about the Clash is the way they could play ANY style of music, and it just sounded so naturally like the Clash. Most bands just can't pull that off. To me, when U2 started getting into the blues, especialy with Rattle and Hum, it sounded a bit forced---like the decision to go there came more from their heads than their hearts. I can't say that about any of the Clash's forays into different genres.

It's too bad that Joe wasn't a bit more prolific after the Clash---I think I read that he had quite a loss of confidence after the Clash, and that affected his output.

Regarding Cut the Crap, I actually still listen to that album regularly. I still hold that the songwriting is pretty tight, it's just the cheesy production that really brings it down---the cheap-sounding synths and drum machines, and the choruses that sound like they're shouted by about 30 people. But I still love This is England, Movers and Shakers, Fingerpoppin' and Three Card Trick. IMO, he just should have called that album Joe Strummer instead of The Clash.