This week’s episode is a Paul Simonon appreciation episode. Inspired in part by Paul’s new project and upcoming album with Galen Ayers called Can We Do Tomorrow Another Day?, I talk about Paul’s background as an artist, his unlikely meeting with Mick Jones in the mid-1970s, his unlikelier transformation from visual artist to punk rock bass player, and how he both christened the band “The Clash” and provided the band’s signature, albeit evolving, look. I also talk about Paul’s post-Clash artwork and a recent exhibition in London that featured at least one painting that is reminiscent of a 1937 Clyfford Still painting featured on Antiques Roadshow in 2012. By the way, the Still painting appraised for … a half a million dollars. 

For more on Paul and his artwork, see:

Paul’s Instagram page.

Galen and Paul’s Instagram page.

“Paul Simonon: The Clash’s Ace of Bass,” by James Medd on The Rake.

“The Clash Interviews: Paul Simonon, Part I,” by Howie Klein on Down With Tyranny. 

And here is the video for the new Galen and Paul song, “Lonely Town.”

I also came across this quote on the Joe Strummer Instagram page that got me thinking about voting with your dollars for — and against — things that you support and things you don’t: 

“This is my new philosophy. Use your vote, your dollar bill is your vote. It’s time we stopped giving it in the bucket-loads to these giant corporations. They’re not to be trusted with that amount of money. They’re only gonna bland us out, robot us out. They’re gonna crush us and pulverize us. All they want is our money.”

Finally, on this week’s Great Artist, Good People segment, I feature Jake Clemons, nephew of E Street Band legend Clarence Clemons and a great artist in his own right. Check out Jake’s website and his latest album, Eyes on the Horizon, which is fantastic.

So please give this week’s show a listen and share your thoughts in the comments. And as Joe always said, “Without people, you’re nothing.”