Special Sub-Topic: How Much Do You Know About "London Calling"? Click Here To Play: How Much Do You Know About "London Calling"?

"The Guns of Brixton" was written and sung by which Clash member?

Paul Simonon. Strummer and the rest of the band managed to persuade Simonon to sing it after it evolved from a short bass reggae riff played by Paul.

Which of these was not a song on the Clash's album "London Calling"

Safe European Home. "Safe European Home" was the first track on the album "Give 'Em Enough Rope" and was usually played first on the tour of the same name.

Where was the iconic photo of Paul Simonon smashing up his Fender Bass Guitar on the "London Calling" album cover taken?

New York Palladium. It was taken by Clash photographer Penny Smith.

Which of these people is credited with writing the song "Train in Vain"?

Mick Jones. On the final day of recording for "London Calling" Jones burst into the studio as the band were packing up their gear and told them to stop. They recorded the song there and then and it enabled them to break onto the US charts. The song is credited to Mick Jones and Joe Strummer.

Which of these lyrics does not feature on the "London Calling" album?

Don't you know which clothes even fit me?. The line "Don't you know which clothes even fit me?" comes from "Should I Stay or Should I Go", the song recognised by many as being the song The Clash are remembered for.

When was "London Calling" released in the US?

January 1980. It was released for the price of a single album, at the insistence of the band. It featured a fusion of styles from ska influenced numbers to straightforward punk.

Which of these is not a lyric in the album's title song "London Calling"?

Why did it happen, what was the cause?. The line "London is drowning/And I live by the river" came from a legend that if the Thames flooded it would cause all of the city to drown.

What does the title track of the album "London Calling" allude to?

A station identification call used in WW2. The title track alludes to the BBC World Service's station identification: "This is London calling...", that was used during World War II. Similarly, this was the message the Clash wished to send out to the world.

What is the album cover of "London Calling" meant to imitate?

An Elvis Presley Cover. Ironically, Penny Smith didn't want the shot used because she felt that it wasn't technically good. However, it has progressed to become an iconic picture, and Paul's smashed up Fender bass is on display in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame now.

Where was "London Calling" recorded?

Wessex Studios. "The Vanilla Tapes" were recorded by the Clash themselves in their rehearsal venue and were unreleased until 2004 when they were released as part of the remastered 25th anniversary version of "London Calling".