clashDespite all that's happening during this pandemic, it's okay to not Clash over which concert posters to collect. The Clash has had a very extensive career, meaning you have plenty of periods to choose from. There's the beginning when punk bands seemed to be competing a bit too much. And of course, there's the untimely end where the music just kind of ceases for a bit. The good news is, there's plenty of stuff in the middle to check out.

 

Which Clash are you most passionate about?

The beginning is a good place to start. After doing a bit of research, I'm still partial to the time when a band is just getting things underway. 1977 was a big year for The Clash, as they dropped their self-titled album right when punk was at its peak. This tour hit a lot of places. Manchester is always a must-hit spot when touring the UK, and these guys made sure to do so.

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This poster in particular catches my attention for a couple of reasons. First, the overall aesthetic screams punk, at least to me. It's subdued yet very brash. The poster quality also is supposedly thicker than the normal material you might be used to in department stores or record shops. Another plus would be this piece only appears to be around $35. That's a very introductory price for anyone who is new to collecting but worried about their budget.

The main con would have to be that, as the price indicates, it's a reproduction. Original posters can be this low, but it isn't something to count on. These posters aren't pieces to collect if you're looking to collect for resale purposes. That's okay though, not everyone is looking to flip something they enjoy. However, let's see what might bring a shinier penny.

Finding something a bit more green

Finding pieces to flip is that next level of poster collecting I've dabbled in sparingly. Availability is the biggest barrier to collecting pricey pieces, as some places have payment plans. Although not ideal, it does make certain collectibles possibly more attainable. This 1979 poster of The Clash's US tour after the release of London Calling is a great example of that:

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This poster is kind of awesome because it can be a pain to find posters that were at the actual tour. This one apparently hails from the San Francisco show in October 1979 show. Something that also makes me think this is a big catch for Clash fans would be the price tag. $2,700 for an original print sounds like the middle of the price scale for a limited access item.

With a good deal of research on eBay and other parts of the internet, it might be possible to find another one. I wouldn't envy someone who decided to undertake that mission. Either way, it is interesting to view a concert poster from what critics consider one of the top rock albums of all time. London Calling appears to have made several top albums of all time lists, and the album cover is pretty popular. I'm digging it mainly due to the statement the band is making with this (I'll leave that up to you to decipher).

Lastly, it is interesting to see a concert poster from 1979 and think this would be a great cover for a 2020 album. Perhaps The Clash was just ahead of their time. Let's hope that's the case instead of a more cynical answer.