London Calling. Artist: The Clash.

I am dead sure the London Calling video was shot, in the rain, on the water down by Chelsea embankment.

A little bit of research (helpful friend) confirmed my suspicions including the rain.

The video for London Calling was filmed by Don Letts on the Festival (Cadogan) Pier, next to Albert Bridge, on the south side of the river, Battersea Park, London….on a cold and rainy night in December 1979.(A Riot of Our Own, pp.15-17) http://www.theclash.org.uk/ThisisVideo.htm?fbclid=IwAR3Hjn5SKGYMMw-3LMRgu1u6A8MO_BmhmwcS-xg7uJU93rv_2sXaGmdcy70

This bit of research strangely pulled up another bit of info.

” The civil and structural engineer John Baxter, who has died aged 86, was responsible for one of London’s most daring – and most reviled – pieces of transport planning, the Westway. But despite all the controversy it provoked, it remained, in Baxter’s distinguished career with the consulting engineers Maunsell, among the most innovative uses of concrete in bridge-building or transportation.

http://www.theclash.org.uk/Westwaypage.htm

Mix – The Clash – Live At The Lyceum, October 25, 1981 (Full Concert!)

The night I got the London bug.

So sad the recording was not great and there is no video I bumped into someone else who was there that night and we sat and exchanged memories.

Painters emerged behind the band and spray-painted an image of London while the band belted out each song, the barriers in front of the band lifted and separated, not like the Berlie bra pink and girly, but with flashing warning lights while sirens wailed. Rebel rousing stuff, perfect. Still gets my blood rushing.

The Museum of London is putting on a show later this year, I don’t know why but it seems oddly conformist and I shall be taking my teenagers for credibility cover.

https://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/museum-london/whats-on/exhibitions/london-calling-40-years-clash

I love the way shared memories unite complete strangers. The way music crosses barriers, along with love, art and food. Words have a trickier time of it.

Recently I’ve been introduced to smell as a form of communication and narration We missed out on the Ian Sinclair boat trip, The Barking Stink – a scented heritage project. Engage your senses to discover London’s layered mysteries and stories. As Luisa says that’s Life.