Mick Jones and Topper-Train in Vain

[berniebulk]

topper ,one of rocks absolute great drummers,2nd only to keith moon, keep beltin them skins old cock

[TheNirvanaGuitars]

is that don letts on bass?

[reallytheblues]

@TheNirvanaGuitars It´s Leo Williams (Big Audio Dynamite and Dreadzone).You can see Don Letts filming at the right of the scene.

[absoluteNF]

@TheNirvanaGuitars dont think so man, thought i saw don letts up the front with a video camera.

[Exilemainstreet]

Very distinctive drummer, right up there with Bonham. Topper's one of my favorites of all time.

[voicesinmehead]

i literally felt the energy flow through my body

[KILLEDBYPAOK]

i am 36 years old and a huge fan of the legendary Clash. When i saw Mick Jones and Headon Topper i say WOHHH..!!

My all time favorites of the members of the Clash..!!

[phlser]

just been watching strummerville - and led me to this. the more you find out about the guys (post clash) - the more you realise they comprised one of the greatest half dozen rock'n'roll bands of all time - elvis, beatles and rolling stones included. fabulous, fabulous post. uplifting in the extreme. joyous

[jaytv777]

what magic..topper as tight as the snare skin even now..truly great!!

[MasterExploderX]

Fucking awesome !! Sent a shiver up and down my spine ! Great to see the three of them together. Saw the Clash in 78 ! They are now my !7 year old,s fave band !!

[niushork]

Topper was the BEST drummer of his generation by FAR, totally underrated..

[ivebeendirt]

fuck man i love that clash atmosphere

[SKAOWL]

@ivebeendirt VISIT INN ON THE GREEN POTOBELLO FOR THIS ATMOSPHERE. GREAT BAND GREAT VENUE GREAT LANDLORD - TAKE IT FROM ME!

[JimboWHO]

People just don't realize who Topper Headon is and how important he was to Rock n Roll not to mention The Clash.

[Dealyplaza]

@mcdstuff Well, that's sort of my original point. You and I both know Topper was awesome. In the world of rock back then few people paid much attention to his incredible skills. It was all about the band and their political views etc. In the press he was rarely acknowledged as the great drummer he was/is. I wish he wasn't afraid of flying because he might be touring with Gorillaz right now!

[reechz]

this is wonderful. whether he can hits the high notes or not is besides the point.

[jessem131]

Mick got very sick in the late 80's and hasn't been able to sing since. Go easy on him.

[CraigClash]

Well Said My Friend!

Take Care,

Craig!

[cpj93070]

yeah didnt u know he nearly died?

[manosblim]

Topper is still the shit !!

[NeebsLucas11]

your my best friend hell yah!

[leeraconteur]

You lucky freaking bastards!

[Fractalite]

Whats this the "graveyard" version

I'd rather see Mick try for the original and miss ocassionally than rewrite the whole melody to only cover three notes . Woeful , pisspoor rendition..time to collect the old age pension.

[wardnikoff]

Too hash. That's the song..sure he aint hitting the high notes but live - real live, not that assisted sing crap - they hit the high notes less

besides...topper and mick together again, what do you want? Joe there too?

[thebiglebowski2010]

You're a jackass. d/a/f#/b are all clearly present in this version. You're just mad you weren't there.

[Fractalite]

I'm guessing by the use of the word 'jackass' you are a Yankee. Enough said.

Its a really poor rendition vocally of the original. i'm sure it would have been fun to be there and hes a charming guy. I just find it sad and wish I hadn't seen the vid. I saw him sing these from the front row in 1982..i prefer to hold on to those memories, rather than hear fading versions.

[liyanoristy]

am nt a yankee n i agree with him cos ur a jelous knob ed cos u will never do what mick has done

[GilbertSyndrome]

Nice to see Topper back and its good to see that he's overcome his addictions once and for all.

[ElGuapodeGevelsberg]

I agree homeless charlie...Topper is brilliant here.

one of the best songs ever written..

[sintaufai]

God they were legends RIP Mr strummer .... certainly beats all todays shite

[JoesRamone]

all that's missing is Paul. And of course... Well... I bet you know... Rock In Peace, Joe!

[ThisIsRuthie]

That's cool. Glad to see Topper again.

[SatanicHellSlaughter]

It's a shame he can't still hit those notes, but as far as meaning goes, this rules so hard.

[gloryofwar82]

fuck they sound so good

[HomelessCharlie]

the man is $ on the drums

[oilwellfred]

Great camera angle looking over Johnny Green's shoulder.

[ohnoriceagain]

Cool video. Damn, never thought they'd get old but then again, so have . Great to see Topper and Mick.

[ourkid2000]

This video has made my day......I can't believe I did not know this happened

[sbaker12]

topper is rippin this shit up

[maheekat]

cool...

[luvlife23]

a world where the Clash still existed would be like heaven for me

[SKAOWL]

@luvlife23 HEAVEN CAN COME CLOSE 2 REALITY IF YOU VISIT THE INN ON THE GREEN - PORTOBELLO ROAD LONDON ON A CARBON CASINO NIGHT - TRUST ME - I,VE BEEN 3 TIMES.

[LOLcopter333]

An epic moment in music history, fucking brilliant!

[KOOPSAL]

awesome drummer,

if only he never got addictd to heroin,

who knows what WOULD have happened

[piratesatellite1]

i know, U2 will never make it big like the alarm, big country & simple minds

[huskernation9]

this shit can play thanks for posting

[dbfkjmatt]

im guessin thts johnny green to the left of the screen u see, this is amazing, love each and every1 of the clash. R.I.P Joe-Punk Rock Warlord

[SpazzyNimrod]

you show em, topper!!

[stevoNYC]

Topper still smokes on the skins! And Mick is his usual great self. We're only missing Paul.

[Dealyplaza]

The most under-rated drummer ever.

[salmonico]

Topper is a machine gun really, not a drummer.

[commotionall]

awsome

[hankwavey]

Is that Johnny Green at the beginning, looks very much like him even if it ain't.

Met Mick last week at Carnival,Top Bloke!

[EnglishBadBoi]

nice post. topper and moonie a class above

[grrranger175]

id pay money to see topper do a concert just himself. mick is just a bonus. :D

[rawrfknrawr]

Closest there ever has been and probably ever could be to a reunion (unless they got together with Paul as well).

Such a shame, a damn shame.

Great vid though.

R.I.P Joe..

[SSSSBBBB81]

But the thing is, you can't replace Joe

[rawrfknrawr]

Yeah I know you can't.

Hence why a reunion would never happen.

Because (bless his soul) Joe Strummer is...well...no longer with us may he r.i.p.

[jmosilva]

Amazing!!! Topper great drummer! Jones, good too! Clash!!!

[xtopper235]

Thanks for the idea for a nickname, Topper!

[umlabs]

Oh, it does my heart good to see and hear this. Listen to that - no wonder Strummer would call him on the drum riser "the engine room" of the Clash.

[therealsoulproduct]

Amazing! I think this is the closest we'll get to a Clash reunion. If Paul joined them, it would be orgasmic!!!

[nimmolo]

HELL YEAH! topper headon!!!!!!!!!

Just listen to him play! fuck!!

[wuckle]

Great to see Topper!!!  :D

[inzithaksin]

fucking hell. topper is so tight and has such a good groove.

[RAMONESSSS]

muy bueno con topper....dale Mike Jones !!!

[JustStayFree]

if you know a live date, please Diffuse she :s

Topper and jones, maybe the new face of the clash.

[fabb33]

Trop fort !! le retour de Topper !! ca fait plaisir de le voir en pleine forme...putain je voudrais trop les voir si quelqu'un connait une date, un lieu pr les voir...faites moi signe !!! merci

[giantplanet]

Awesome! Topper Headon ,the most creative human being to have ever sat a drum kit,Thanks for posting

[yetaca]

this is special!!!!

[warinababylone]

le retour de mon batteur favori ahhhhhhhhhh

[punkclash05]

Great! Thanks fot posting!

[JOSESTRU101]

The best

[robbanzana]

Is that Johnny Green filming in front of you there? Looks like him.

[taurustrakker]

yes thats Johnny Green...it felt just like the old days!

[NobodysHero818]

Wow! All it needed was Don Letts somewhere, and the theme would have been complete. Jonesy cant hit the high notes anymore, but still a great guitarist, and Headons legend :)

[clashcityrocker2007]

@taurustrakker I though it was instantly lol !!! wow wish i could have been there !

[SKAOWL]

@clashcityrocker2007 PLEASE GO THERE WOT,S STOPPING YOU?

[scarboroughkid101]

great to see topper.

he is the best drummer i have ever heard

[scribo79]

what a drummer,done few gigs with him

unreal

[boingdabber]

So good to see Topper again!

Thanks for posting.

[0luke]

Yeah topper sounds as good as he did in the clash. Wish I was there at the time. I was born in 1986. :\

[merlincycles]

Toppers boppers! Love it, solid as ever, surely one of the best rock drummers ever?!

[mcliptrick]

sometimes the world throws up a diamond

[dark622]

Who thinks there should Be a Clash reunion, with Tony James substituting for Joe?

[shockandawe]

great stuff, cheers for putting it up

[00Lucy22]

WOW!!!

He's back!!

Topper,Topper!!!!!

[TAKETHE5TH]

Magic

[smumpkinboyluke]

I was there front row, you can just about see me, but you can definitley hear me. Im the one who shouts TOPPER TOPPER YEAH TRAIN IN VAIN...

What a great night and I love the fact that you got don letts in this and Johnny green.

[smumpkinboyluke]

I was there front row, you can just about see me, but you can definitley hear me. Im the one who shouts TOPPER TOPPER YEAH TRAIN IN VAIN...

What a great night and I love the fact that you got don letts in this and Johnny green.

[67davide]

Topper is back!! Topper is back!!

[pfonyt]

Oh yeah!!!!!!!

The Return of "The Human Drum Machine"

Scott Kenemore, an American writer and drummers, wrote about Topper that "his contribution to the music was tremendous, and his drumming remains an undiscovered treasure for too many" (but not for us) and "his drumming on "Train in Vain" (this song) has been characterized as one of the most important and distinctive beats in rock music". I must agree!

Welcome back, Topper!