Merely collecting the liner notes from Sony/Legacy’s forthcoming Clash singles box isn’t much of an article, but then again, former Attack On Bzag editor James Brown isn’t much of a talent. As noted earlier, former England international / current Manchester City manager Stuart Pearce (above) is amongst the contributors, as quoted in today’s Observer.

When I was 14, I was living with my mum and dad in Kingsbury, north west London. After school, I’d be straight up to the bedroom to get the records on. The walls had posters of all the bands I liked: the Clash, Stranglers, Stiff Little Fingers, Bowie. I had a Lurkers set list and a massive ‘Holidays in the Sun’ Pistols poster. I didn’t have a clue what I wanted to do back then – I still don’t now – I was just into music.

Back then, I didn’t want to hear any slow songs or ballads; I just wanted something fast and loud that I could sing along to and jump up and down on the bed with a baseball bat like an idiot. ‘Complete Control’ (above) was the rawest song I had; everything I wanted was on it. I can still remember my old girl coming in and telling me to turn it down.

I’d play ‘White Riot’ before I went out to play, mainly at Nottingham Forest; that was my musical peak, because I was captain. Brian Clough sort of turned a blind eye to it, really.