Update: I added a link at the bottom of the page to download the entire show as mp3 audio.

And the faithful gathered that night, on the mount of the about to be christened mega-church—The Prudential Center. This was a night of firsts. Bruce Springsteen never played the Prudential Center before. But it was a mighty arena. And christened it was.

It was my first time in the city of Newark, and I lived my first thirty-eight years in the New Jersey/New York metropolitan area. I was born one train stop from Newark at St Elizabeth’s Hospital, but never had a need to go to Newark. Not that I can remember. Passed it many times on a NJ Transit train heading to New York, New York, just like I pictured it, skyscrapers and everything! But on this tremendous night I drove there. My Soul did not tarry. Continue Reading > > >

Update: The New Trailer

The Rise And Fall Of The Clash Trailer

The Rise And Fall Of The Clash Trailer

Here it is. The trailer for the Danny Garcia documentary “The Rise And Fall Of The Clash”. My photo of Paul Simonon, Pearl Harbor, and Topper Headon backstage at Bonds, floats by at around the 30 second mark.

I like that one of my photos is in the trailer! Now I’ll have to wait to see how many show up in the film. I’ll need a score card as I watch.

I’m glad things are moving along. Nice job Danny! Thanks!

The Rise And The Fall Of The Clash Facebook Page

It’s true! What a difference a week makes … or two.

In my last post I talked about being diagnosed with Type II Diabetes again. Since then I was forced to start watching more closely how much food was traveling through my pie hole. It was a wakeup call, to say the least. And to say the most, it was a on of the best things to happen to me. Not so much the diabetes, but the ensuing life changes that I needed to make. They were the universal kick in the ass I needed to get healthy again.

So I’m only 5 days eating the Medifast pre-prepaired meals and I’ve lost 5 pounds. With the five I lost over the previous two weeks I’m down ten pounds already. Not that I’m watching the scale, but I am, I’m a statistical freak like that … sorry Janet & Dr A. But what’s most important is how amazing I feel, in such a short time. I have more energy than I’ve had in a long long time. I get up actually feeling good! What a concept! Continue Reading > > >

Today is the first day of the rest of my … oh fuck that noise!

With the smell of hamburgers wafting into my bedroom window from Frank’s Deli’s grill exhaust, I contemplate the task at hand. Sadly it’s not a cheeseburger deluxe. Two weeks ago I was diagnosed with Type II diabetes, again! It was something I had about six to seven years ago. At that point I was tipping the scales in the 270 lb neighborhood. But through chemi-chemi-chemicals, diet and exercise I was able to control it and normalize my blood glucose levels. Once the weight came off I had no problem controlling things minus the chemicals.

So here I am again. Hitting the 265 lb mark and, yes, type II diabetes. I have a feeling it was a culmination of many events and many bad habits. I would venture to say that the increase of carbs in my diet, bread, pasta, Frank’s French fries, & TJ’s pizzas, set me up for a visit from the outrageously high glucose monster.

In late February I started feeling increasingly tired, for no apparent reason. By the first week in March I was drinking more and more water, to the point I was drinking almost 2 gallons in a day and my mouth was still dry. My eyesight changed suddenly in one day. There were also other symptoms. I knew what it was. I had read enough with my previous bout to know the diagnosis before seeing a doctor. Type II diabetes! Woo hoo!

Not having insurance, I found the Visiting Nurses Association of Central Jersey and made an appointment. Long story short … on my first visit my blood glucose was 425 mg/dl … which is mega-bad … not in a good way. So the nurse I saw prescribed two medications, plus I had blood drawn. She also suggested I see a dietitian in the clinic, soon. So I did. Continue Reading > > >

Well folks … it’s official … the documentary “The Rise And Fall Of The Clash” by Danny Garcia is nearing completion. From the shores of Spain the DVD will be released in the US, hopefully, in August of 2012. Many of my Clash photos on my blog, will be included in this documentary. And frankly, I’m not sure which ones will be used until I get to see a finished version … soon I hope!

There had been so many setbacks for Danny in the production of this film, I was concerned it might not happen. It had been three years ago, March 7, 2009 Danny first contacted me about his idea for the film and his request to use my photos. I was a bit skeptical with the initial contact, but after doing some research I was confident this was a legitimate request. My fears were further allayed through the exchange of eMails with Danny updating me on the status of the film. Oh … and a bit of monetary compensation didn’t hurt either.

Facebook was also a means of communication with Danny. And just today Danny put up a Facebook page for the film. As the final touches and titles are being added to the film, so are the first waves of information and photos. It’s really quite exciting to see all this finally fall into place awaiting the imminent release.

This is the description from “The Rise And Fall Of The Clash“ Facebook page. Continue Reading > > >

This show was a double bill. John Eddie And The Front Street Runners opening for Mink DeVille at the Fast Lane in Asbury Park … some summer night in 1981. The exact date escapes my aging brain cells. Don’t remember if anyone went with me to see this show. But for those who might remember … you now what to do … write about it in the comments. Makes me wish I would have written in my journal a bit more back then. And so it goes ….

When I get my Mink DeVille negatives scanned … they will go up as a separate post.

Hope you enjoy the photos. Click the “Continue Reading” link below. And if you know anything about this show … leave a comment.

Thanks … Joe Continue Reading > > >

“For The People. By The People.”

I came to the Clash as a fan. I heard the British import of their first self titled album when it first came out … and I was hooked! When I went to the Palladium to see them for the first time in 1980, I went as a fan, who happened to bring his camera. And even as I gained access to get back stage at Bonds (thanks Brenda!) or got guest listed to the three Asbury Park shows in 1982 (thanks Kosmo!) I was still going as a fan … really. A very FORTUNATE fan.

It’s been over thirty years since I took my first live and street photos of The Clash at the Palladium in New York City. And in the following two years I’d have more chances to photograph them live and backstage. Since first publishing my photos on my blog go2jo.com, I have had many people ask me … ‘so Joe … when will you make a book of your photos?’ It’s taken me a while to get here. But here I am. I’m in the process of working on said book.

Here’s the twist. Continue Reading > > >