The Clash: London Calling From The Museum Of London

BBC

Locked-down artefacts available on iPlayer.

A short film released as part of the BBC’s Culture In Quarantine initiative, London Calling From The Museum Of London gives Clash fans the opportunity to sample the highlights of an exhibition in virus-imposed lockdown. As with anything to do with The Clash, superlatives abound and everything is afforded historical significance (“The Clash’s lyrics were the social media of their time,” we’re told). But as a wise man once said: The Clash? Just a band. And a smashed Fender Precision bass in a glass case? Just a busted guitar.

Having visited the exhibition, being in the presence of said instrument (the very one Pennie Smith captured mid-destruction on London Calling’s cover) is way less thrilling than one might expect, and depersonalised on iPlayer. You probably had to be present at the actual smashing to get the full frisson. And while there are tantalising glimpses of Mick Jones’s Gibson ES-295, Joe Strummer’s single pickup ‘59 Fender Esquire, Nicky Headon’s ‘Topper’s Boppers’ drum sticks, lyrics, T-shirts and video clips, you miss out on the very best part of the exhibition: furiously rubbishing the overpriced contents of the tacky gift shop.

Turning rebellion into money indeed. ■■■■■■■■■■