A 40th-anniversary edition of The Clash’s ‘82 album ‘Combat Rock’ is set for release on 20th May.
The collection, entitled 'Combat Rock / The People’s Hall', includes the original album, along with 12 additional songs compiled by the surviving members of The Clash.
After their 17-show residency at New York's Bond Casino in 1981, the Clash returned to England and began rehearsing at the People's Hall in London. They began to record parts of 'Combat Rock', which was known by its working title 'Rat Patrol From Fort Bragg' at the time. The band eventually relocated back to New York and continued recording at Electric Lady Studios.
The supplementary tracks included on The People’s Hall feature rare and unheard recordings made following the 1981 single ‘This Is Radio Clash’ until the release of 'Combat Rock' in May ‘82. The album was the band’s biggest commercial success and includes some of The Clash’s best-known songs, like ‘Should I Stay or Should I Go’ and ‘Rock the Casbah’.
To coincide with this and celebrate the iconic album's fortieth anniversary this year, Clash aficionado and author Tim Satchwell, has been working with Earth Island to re-publish his debut book, 'Combat Ready', all about the inspiration behind and making of The Clash's classic album 'Combat Rock'.
This book is a treasure trove of information as well as an in-depth collector’s item, looking at The Clash's biggest and most successful album release; it's background stories, the studios and people involved, containing plenty of hitherto unknown insight and original colour art.
Tim has written three books about The Clash; about Combat Rock (Combat Ready), Give ‘em Enough Rope (All The Peacemakers) and The Clash (First album... Move Up Starsky) and is now working on his fourth, all about Sandinista.
This limited edition all about 'Combat Rock' is for super-fans of The Clash and their fifth studio album, all produced as a labour of love, with plenty of extras for the readers and listeners.
If you've ever wanted to know more about one of punk rock's most celebrated bands, then this book is for you!
It's available for pre-order now and will be shipped with extras for all early-birds by 20th May.