In the visceral new Clash concert documentary, The Clash Live: Revolution Rock, the UK punk gods describe themselves as "sticks of dynamite that could go off at any time." The voice-over narration goes on to namecheck Bob Dylan, Bob Marley, and Bruce Springsteen as fans and U2 and Green Day as their descendants. Since the sudden death of the band's frontman Joe Strummer in 2002 , there have been many rapturous praises thrown at the band, and, in the past few years, a lot of footage has popped up to document the group's feverish live performances and rabble-rousing antics. But none have managed to marry the two elements together as well as Revolution Rock.
The documentary part thankfully eschews the usual filler like baby photos and testimony by some guy who claims to have sat next to so-and-so band member in primary school and instead, sticks with the basic facts—the forming of the band in West London in 1976, a few recollections from the band on first meetings, record releases, etc.—and then wisely backs off to allow the band to do what they do best, notably tear up the stage and drive their fans into a frenzy. The quality of the live footage, shot during the late 1970s and 1980s, varies, but for the most part is way above average and showcases the Clash at the height of their popularity, spitting out some of their most popular tunes like "White Riot," "London Calling," and their super-snarling cover of "I Fought The Law."
The bonus features include an uncomfortable 1981 appearance by Strummer and bassist Paul Simonon on NBC Live At Five, where they sit across from a woman who obviously looked up the word "punk" five minutes before the cameras started rolling, and a 1981 interview with the band on The Tomorrow Show with Tom Snyder. Just the sight of Snyder in his pinstripe suit sitting across from Strummer in a red sleeveless vest is worth the price of the DVD alone, but watching the band answer questions about "being unmanageable" is absolutely priceless.
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