ROCK Sex: "Straight To Hell" - The Clash > Alex Cox > Lilly Allen > MIA

ROCK Sex wants "to play mind-crazed banjo on the druggy-drag ragtime U.S.A.".

Today's cultural hand-off is "Straight To Hell" by The Clash.

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Today's cultural hand-off is "Straight To Hell" by The Clash.

Frontman Joe Strummer's haunting screed against the fallout from Colonialist exploitation of Third World countries is often considered the finest and most beautiful song the band ever did. Here's the uncut, unreleased longer version of it.

THE CLASH -"Straight To Hell" (extended version) (1982)



The title was borrowed by rogue filmmaker and Punk auteur Alex Cox (REPO MAN, SID & NANCY) for his own flick, and he returned the favor by casting Joe Strummer.

With a cast that includes (incredibly) Joe Strummer, Courtney Love, Grace Jones, Elvis Costello, The Pogues, Dennis Hopper, and Jim Jarmusch, it's a wonder the set didn't spontaneously combust! (The film is basically a home movie of soused friends improv-ing, but it has its moments.)

A PostPunk homage to the Italian Westerns of the '60s, take note of the tribute to Ennio Morricone's scores in this manic trailer.

"STRAIGHT TO HELL" trailer (1987)



In the fine global music and radical rebel tradition of Joe Strummer, The Slits, and Neneh Cherry, here is British-Sri Lankan activist rapper M.I.A. using the song as the foundation of her own song.

M.I.A. -"Paper Planes" (2008)



Here is Clash guitarist Mick Jones producing and singing with Joe Strummer's goddaughter Lily Allen on this atmospheric and pretty remake.

LILY ALLEN + Mick Jones -"Straight To Hell" (2009)



And the throughline continues.

AMASA HINES -"Straight To Hell" (2012)




© Tym Stevens

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See Also:

• Rolling Stones > The Clash > Garbage

• "Brand New Cadillac" - Vince Taylor > The Clash > Ziggy Stardust

• "Time Is Tight!" - Booker T > The Clash > Elvis Costello > Squeeze

• "I Fought the Law and I Won!" - The Crickets > Bobby Fuller > The Clash > Metric

• "Police and Thieves" - Junior Murvin > The Clash

• "I CAN'T EXPLAIN" - The Who > David Bowie > The Clash > Fatboy Slim > The Hives

• "Charlie Don't Surf" - APOCALYPSE NOW > The Clash > Tears For Fears


• The Real History of Rock and Soul!: The Music Player Checklist

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