From the 1976 jukebox at The Clash’s Rehearsal Rehearsals HQ, through his own music to his turn-of-the-century radio show, Joe Strummer never stopped loving reggae music and its culture. As Chris Salewicz’s sleevenotes state on this heart-felt project organised by Canada’s Prince Blanco, “Strummer lived on the dub side of life.” In other words, with Joe, anything was possible. He would have revelled in these new versions of Clash classics by a cast of contributors hailing from both Canada and the UK.
A few chills are spilled when the set kicks off with Dubmatix, joined by former Big Audio Dynamite members Don Letts and Dan Donovan, bringing London’s Calling into the 21st Century on a rolling dubscape, with bleakly majestic spirit intact. Each track’s a riot of its own, delivered with a mixture of celebration and suitable recklessness, other highlights including Creation Rockers’ sinuous Complete Control, Infantry Rockers’ haunting Rebel Waltz and John Brown’s Body’s feisty Bankrobber. The fact that proceeds go to the Strummerville charity is just another reason why no one who’s ever been touched by Joe or The Clash should be without this marvellous tribute. For more info, visit www.shatterthehotel.com.
Thanks to everybody who contributed to this project and great night at Inn On The Green on Friday 5th to mark the release of the Shatter The Hotel Album.
Special thanks to Prince Blanco without whom none of this would have happened … we salute and thank you sir.
Tune in to a great live podcast recorded on the night from Pete Colgle’s Podcast Factory. Listen to interviews with Prince Blanco, Mighty Howard, Dubmatix and Citizen Sound and tracks taken from the Shatter The Hotel album and our Strummerville Winter Sessions album (this podcast is also available for free download).
Shatter The Hotel 14 track album/CD is available to buy from our online shop or download now from iTunes.
Pictures from the night - courtesy of Edward Bishop
To celebrate the UK release a launch event will take place on 5th February 2010 in the heart of Clash-land at Inn on the Green, tucked under the Westway between Portobello Road and Ladbroke Grove. Scheduled to appear on the night are: Dubmatix, DubCats, Wrongtom, Citizen Sound, Chomsky Allstars and Don Letts along with special guests.
In the spirit of Joe Strummer’s connection with Reggae and Dub, Shatter The Hotel explores what he once described as the “rasta - punk interface”. The energy of punk fused with the rebellious sound of dub and reggae.
This collection of songs brings together some of (his) Joe’s friends, and collaborators as well as artists and producers that have been touched and inspired by his music and message. Tracks selected from the Joe Strummer and Mick Jones catalogue have been re-interpreted by artists that come from the UK, Jamaica, Canada and the USA.
Don Letts is credited as the DJ that single-handedly turned a whole generation of punks onto reggae. A friend of Joe’s, he is pictured on the cover sleeve of the 1980 release, ‘Black Market Clash’. He opens and closes this compilation alongside Dubmatix and former Big Audio Dynamite band-mate Dan Donovan with their take on London Calling, the track that propelled The Clash’s influence across the pond to the USA. Dubmatix (aka Jesse King) has toured North America and Europe extensively, collaborating with legendary reggae heavyweights such as Sugar Minott, Michael Rose, and Alton Ellis. Shatter The Hotel’s associate producer names London Calling as one of his favourite albums of all-time so reinterpreting the title track with Dan and Don( )was in his words ‘a labour of love’.
Dubmatix - London Calling (Album Version) [feat. Don Letts & Dan Donovan]
The compilation ranges from straight-up roots dub to contemporary reggae sounds to dubbed out punk and dub-house styles including Lost In the Supermarket by South London producer, Wrongtom (Hard-Fi’s tour DJ and remixer), Creation Rockers’ interpretation of Four Horseman and Rock the Casbah by Nate Wize from Toronto who has DJ’d or performed alongside the likes of MIA, Blondie and Roots Manuva. His version features Jamaican vocalist Ammoye.
Joe Strummer’s friend and biographer Chris Salewicz has provided the sleeve-notes for Shatter the Hotel along with renowned photographer, Adrian Boot who has provided the images of Joe.
Proceeds from the sale of this release will benefit Strummerville: The Joe Strummer Foundation for New Music, a registered charity set up by the friends and family of Joe Strummer the year after his death that seeks to reflect Joe’s unique contribution to the music world by offering support, resources and performance opportunities to artists who would not normally have access to them.
For more information please contact:
Mark Matthews (aka Prince Blanco)
Email: shatterthehotel@gmail.com
Web: www.shatterthehotel.com
On Sunday 20th Dec Don Letts presented a Joe Strummer related show filled with an hour of tunes from Joe Strummer plus songs from The Clash, Stiff Little Fingers and Dubmatix ft. Don Letts and Dan Donovan with their version of London Calling…
“Ever since I saw ‘Play Misty For Me’, I dreamed of being a radio DJ. But how to get around the damn playlists and corporate interference? Then I got a call. In 2007, BBC 6 Music asked if I’d like to join the team and I jumped at the chance. Contrary to popular opinion, I’m not at home cranking dub reggae 24/7. That’s just in my DNA. With ‘Culture Clash Radio’ I hope to make some new friends and broaden people’s perception of me, by playing tunes I can certify.
For the moment it’s just 60 minutes of all killer, no filler sounds, that cross time, space and genres. For the most part I’m gonna let the music do the talking. So, in the mean time and in between time I’ll gladly take your e-mailed thoughts and suggestions. Enjoy the ride…” Don Letts
