Listen Up: This Is Disco Clash!

Let me tell you something about The Clash. Joe Strummer in particular. No, I won't tell you anything that you already know.

The Clash means a lot to me: I can probably associate a Clash song or two to a particular situation in my life with relative ease. I loved it the first time I heard Joe Strummer holler: London's Burning!!! I sure loved the way Paul Simonon slung his bass guitar; he is to me the coolest man to have ever worn a bass guitar. I have great respect for Mick Jones' pop sensibilities. And Topper Headon's style was both understated and appropriate. It goes without saying, The Clash matters a lot to me.

So much so, that I have yet to fully get over the fact that Joe Strummer has been dead for more than five years. What the hey. He and The Clash were an ever-evolving act, breaking down the barriers (along with their peers) that would have otherwise encased the sound of punk into a boring monotony. The Clash did songs that no longer sounded punk as we knew it, treading precarious waters in the process - and eventually sealing their immortality in the musical realm.

Let me tell you this, friend. We cannot go back to what we used to. Everything in this world must evolve. (Do you hear me, monsignor?)

Ah, yes. You knew that, too. :D So, join me then, as we sing and dance along what we may have to call Disco Clash! These are quirky remixes from our friends at the Long Island Dub Recording Studio. The playlist? Come on, figuring out the songs should be as easy as chicken pie.

Trash Radio Manila PREMIERE EPISODE Part 1: Weslu's Faves

And so it was that this radio show almost never came to be. Some corporate stiffs approached us some moons ago asking if we can come up with a "punk" (whatever that meant) show.

After several meetings, we had already come up with a shortlist of two possible names for the two-hour show the stiffs wanted bad. It was either SCREW RADIO or TRASH RADIO or bust. (both doublespeak as we were trying to say that nothing was really worthwhile on Philippine mainstream radio, and that underground radio was simply non-existent nor feasible)...

And so it was that it was a bust. Either SCREW or TRASH was "too punk" for their radio sensibilities or the demo was too HARDKWORR for them.

And so we are here. On the Web. And we will try our best to upload a weekly show (in three parts) on a regular basis, or as much as our regular jobs would allow it.

For our premiere broadcast, we pay tribute to the best drummer of the 1980s, Luis "WESLU" Guiang, whose First Death Anniversary we commemorate on January 18, 2008. Part One of our initial upload presents songs readily identifiable with him as these are his perennial favorites, with the final track of the segment especially memorable to his CARRY-OKIE colleagues.

Cheers to you Luis!

And keep visiting for the next two parts of this week's (January 11-18, 2008) upload...

1. ROY and the INVADERS - "Fat Dog" (Long Island Dub Studio One Hot Dog Mix)
2. DOLPHY and PANCHITO - "Kawawa"
3. FISHBONE - "Ma and Pa"
4. TOKYO SKA PARADISE ORCHESTRA - "Lupin the Third '78"
5. BLONDIE - "Hanging on the Telephone" (Live 1980)
6. ROD STEWART - "Do 'Ya Think I'm Sexy"