"What do you say about The Clash? This was in 1982. Such is my exposure
to music. These are my offerings about music. I got a call out of
nowhere to come to their practice studio when they were doing Combat
Rock. They were had a manager called Kosmos Vinyl. I met them at this
pub, and we went over to their studio and Joe Strummer just gave me a
big shopping bag -- I hadn't heard their music -- a full shopping bag of
all their EPs and their LPs, and a biiiiiiiig, big lump of hash. Then
they played about 4-5 numbers from Combat Rock and said, 'Can you come
on tour with us?" and I said, 'I'd love to.'
I didn't know really know
who they were. Then they said, 'we'd also want to buy a bunch of your
images to project onstage during the tour.' So I went 'oh fuck. yea.'
and then the till was ringing again. I went on tour with them through
France. It was sex, drugs and rock and roll. It was pure fucking
insanity. It was all a lot of fun. Then I did two or three concerts in
the UK. If you're not quite sure what fucking day it is because you're
so fucked up. You're back on the coke just to do another performance,
then you've gotten so involved since you're backstage.
I'm looking after
bimbos, I plan on taking pictures, but I'm struggling to make sense of
my life because of drugs and alcohol. It was a great time, but it was a
totally gonzo tour. I had no idea who the Clash were. Then at the time
they had just launched this incredible album Combat Rock. So it was a
real treat to go on tour and shoot pictures for them, and have my
pictures projected. Jesus. What more could you want?" - Tim Page