Tag Archives: Galen and Paul

Episode 19: We’re Not a “Banana Republic”

The good news is, I do not talk about Ireland or Bruce Springsteen this week, other than to point out that you can listen to my wife and I on Jesse Jackson’s Set Lusting Bruce podcast here. (You should really listen in. We had a lot of fun.)

The bad news is, do talk about American politics again, and, more to the point, a certain someone’s most recent indictment. On that note, when Joe Strummer sang “In these days of evil presidentes/But lately one or two has fully paid their due” on “Clampdown,” he wasn’t talking about America. He was talking about dictatorships without functioning legal institutions where evil presidentes were never held accountable. Unless the people rose up to overthrow them, that is. But in countries with functioning institutions and the rule of law, we do, or at least should, hold our leaders accountable. And lest you worry, rich and powerful guys like former presidents get the full measure of their constitutional rights in court, even if a lot of indigent people do not.

But it’s not all politics and legal stuff. I also talk about Spider-Punk, the Spider-Verse’s nod to the Black roots of punk rock. Though the Spider-Punk character originally was a Black American (there’s some great background information about him in this video), Black British actor Daniel Kaluuya voices Spider-Punk in the new animated film, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. Perhaps they chose a British actor because most people associate punk rock with the UK, but either way, it’s nice to see Marvel acknowledging Black punks, especially during Black Music Month. Speaking of which, this is a really great (albeit long) Spotify playlist of Black-fronted punk, metal, and hard rock bands.

And finally, I give my thoughts on the newly released Galen & Paul album, Can We Do Tomorrow Another Day? Spoiler alert: I think it’s great. Though I haven’t had a chance to read it yet, there’s a long and fairly in-depth interview with Galen & Paul in the latest edition of Spin magazine. So, definitely check that out.

Anyway, please give this week’s show a listen and share your thoughts in the comments below. And remember, as Joe always said, “Without people, you’re nothing.”

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Episode 9: The Reluctant Bandmate

This week’s episode is a Paul Simonon appreciation episode. Inspired in part by Paul’s new project and upcoming album with Galen Ayers called Can We Do Tomorrow Another Day?, I talk about Paul’s background as an artist, his unlikely meeting with Mick Jones in the mid-1970s, his unlikelier transformation from visual artist to punk rock bass player, and how he both christened the band “The Clash” and provided the band’s signature, albeit evolving, look. I also talk about Paul’s post-Clash artwork and a recent exhibition in London that featured at least one painting that is reminiscent of a 1937 Clyfford Still painting featured on Antiques Roadshow in 2012. By the way, the Still painting appraised for … a half a million dollars. 

For more on Paul and his artwork, see:

Paul’s Instagram page.

Galen and Paul’s Instagram page.

“Paul Simonon: The Clash’s Ace of Bass,” by James Medd on The Rake.

“The Clash Interviews: Paul Simonon, Part I,” by Howie Klein on Down With Tyranny. 

And here is the video for the new Galen and Paul song, “Lonely Town.”

I also came across this quote on the Joe Strummer Instagram page that got me thinking about voting with your dollars for — and against — things that you support and things you don’t: 

“This is my new philosophy. Use your vote, your dollar bill is your vote. It’s time we stopped giving it in the bucket-loads to these giant corporations. They’re not to be trusted with that amount of money. They’re only gonna bland us out, robot us out. They’re gonna crush us and pulverize us. All they want is our money.”

Finally, on this week’s Great Artist, Good People segment, I feature Jake Clemons, nephew of E Street Band legend Clarence Clemons and a great artist in his own right. Check out Jake’s website and his latest album, Eyes on the Horizon, which is fantastic.

So please give this week’s show a listen and share your thoughts in the comments. And as Joe always said, “Without people, you’re nothing.” 

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