Clash Biopic “London Calling” in the Works

The greatest band to come out of the punk movement is getting the silver-screen biopic treatment.

"London Calling," about the rise of The Clash, is being written by Jez Butterworth ("Fair Game"), with Mick Jones and Paul Simonon serving as advisers and executive producers, reported Variety. And of course, Simonon and Jones have granted the film rights to the band's music.

Obviously this news is as nervewracking as it was inevitable. The Clash stands as one of the truly great bands, one that brought an uncommon level of musicianship, politics and style to punk, rock and ska. They were to the Sex Pistols as you are to apes.

But fans can take heart that Simonon and Jones will be involved, and it's a safe guess that drummer Topper Headon will get a chance to offer his two cents, as well.

All that said, it's probably best that this didn't happen--or more likely it couldn't have happened--until after frontman Joe Strummer's death. He most certainly would've been disgusted by the whole thing, god bless his crazy heart.

Butterworth's script will focus on how music biz veteran Guy Stevens, who produced "London Calling" and how he helped shaped the sound that made The Clash the force that they were. Pop star Lily Allen's mother, Alison Owen, is producing the film along with Paul Trijbits, reuniting the pair behind "Jane Eyre" and "Tamara Drewe."

Contact Us