2 ACKLAM ROAD, Portobello Green,
London, W10 5XL, (02077929626.)
Ladbroke Grove Underground.
18th July to 25th August 2009,
11am-7pm. Wednesday-Sunday (free.)
‘Rock n Roll’ and ‘Public Library’ shouldn’t mix, one phrase is brash, loud the other sedate and quiet. Yet these two cultures are about to collide. For the first time since the 1850 Library Act that much loved British institution the public library is about gain a loud, revolutionary 21st Century companion.
The Rock n Roll Public Library is Mick Jones’s (The Clash, B.A.D, Carbon Silicon) direct artistic challenge to the likes of the corporate 02 British Music Experience. Rather than let his creative legacy atrophy Jones is ’transforming’ his own archive of near 10.000 artefacts into one unique ‘guerrilla-library.’ Set under the Westway motorway in 3000 sq.ft of former office space, Jones’s five-week civic endeavour will also encourage visitors to enrol, interact with the archive-exhibition (Jones began collecting well before he formed The Clash in 1976 to eventual international success, as such it forms an invaluable guide to the influences that informed Jones as a pop-artist). Also uniquely by request users will be able to scan (courtesy Genus, U.K distributor of the Book2net Kiosk) certain objects and via memory stick carry them away. Please note visitors to the world’s first, resolutely alternative, Rock n Roll Public Library shouldn’t expect peace and quiet.
Tags: BAD, carbon silicon, Mick Jones, The Clash
[...] If you’re in London, or planning on making a pilgrimage to this shrine to the Clash, the relevant details are here. [...]
“guerrilla-library”…. i love that. hopefully it will last way more time than the announced 5 weeks!
mr. jones, i bow to you. effing genius.
Has anyone from here made it down there yet? We’re off next week, so if I get the chance I’ll post a report. OK?
What sensible shoes is Mick wearing these days, then?
http://www.flickr.com/groups/librarianshoes
Can’t wait to come over and see it. SOON!
Genius! True spirit of rock and roll! YEAH!
That’s a beautiful thing, Mick. Sure wish I could go, but stuck in the states
Any plans for photos of the library?
Elements of a good idea, not fantastically well-executed: the rare and fascinating fanzine collection - in sealed bags - should be displayed on the walls instead of the yawnsome magazines; the books should be better organised with better space to actually read ‘em. ‘From Westway to The World’ seemed to be showing in two rooms, but Clash fans will know that fillum back-to-front anyway. For me, the best bits were Mick’s old stage clothes and odd bits of redundant technology. It has the feel of the contents of Mick’s junk room put on display in a somewhat random order, without proper contextualisation. Needs a professional curator and a better catalogue. Brought back memories, though.
I went to this exhibition this morning and its amazing its free! its raw and gritty, its packed with so many things its quite overwhelming, in good way. I will need to go back to absorb more tomorrow. There are rooms full of magazine covers and carefully documented and itemised collectables, ephemera, posters, hats, jackets, neon signs, guitar, a room to watch movies again the walls are covered with video boxes.You can take you memory stick along to take images home of stuff you like. You can take photos too. I wish more exhibitions were as packed with as much cool stuff as possible and as intimate and detailed as this. I loved it but you need to set aside a whole day I reckon or keep going back.
Beware - shuts at 4pm Sundays. Will make second attempt soon!
Will anything from the museum be put online, e.g. a website with rotating displays, etc. for those of us who can only dream of going to the actual place? That would be really wonderful!
just got back from the Mick Jones RnR Library …. I was there for about 40 minutes, and enjoyed it. But in retrospect
I’m not sure of the point of it. The funny thing is that it’s bang in the middle of Portobello Market - and on Fridays everyone’s
selling bric-a-brac, mainly tat and crap vintage. And in truth he’s showing exactly the same stuff, but indoors. I was expecting loads of Clash stuff, vintage merchandise, photos, clothes, etc, but really it’s just a few bits of memorabilia and stuff he’s picked up on his travels - so really you just feel like your looking through his possessions - and personally, I’m not that interested in seeing a row of The Simpsons VHS tapes that Mick Jones has watched - and his obvious delight in Carry On films. Surely he has a selection of the Alex Michon clothing? Clothes with the Jackson Pollock paint splashes? Posters, record rarities, album cover artwork? Where is it all?
I’d like to even out my previous posting.
I understand Jones wanted to do the opposite of the O2 British Music Experience. It’s true, that venue and exhibition has not worked at all - it’s just lifeless clothing behind glass. It’s all very sterile. However there’s much to learn, and much is interactive. But the biggest let down is the treck out to the O2. Who wants to go there?!
On the other hand, you can feel very comfortable flicking through MJ’s books and videos and Beano comics and books. And it was a good idea to let people scan various ephemera. But, no disrespect, I’m not interested in seeing what you watch in the privacy of your home - I want to see what has been part of your career and what shaped and built it. And although I enjoyed seeing all your magazines and the covers of MixMag and various other fanzines (most of which didn’t feature any band you’ve been in), I went online that evening and saw the same magazines all up for sale on eBay - plus many of the Clash that you didn’t feature.
How much more impressive to have just made that magazine room up of covers and great photos of you and the band, no? Then the likes of me can see everything you wore, how you’ve ‘gracefully’ aged, etc.
Things I liked - loved the Union Jack Clash flag. Loved the rare 101ers poster. Also liked some BAD artwork. Loved the VERY small selection of clothing on show - but what have you done with years of missing stuff??
Mick, don’t take it personal, I’m not a Clash fan (I was a Sex Pistols/Banshees follower) however, what I really wanted to see were the great clothes Alex Michon designed for you and the band. I also understand one of you has all these great postcards you ‘and the boys’ used to mail her to suggest new designs or fabrics. Personally I love seeing that kind of stuff. I also imagine Bernie Rhodes must have also had some input into your clothing as he took you on after leaving the presence of Westwood & McLaren … Bernie’s presence in your library was missed - he may be a nut but he was important. Equally, I’m interested in artwork for records - you did some nice graphics - would have been nice to see some of this stuff. And surely you have a whole wealth of on stage photographs? Get them together - feature them!
So - I don’t want to put off the fans - they may enjoy it and should go. But fans are easy to please. Next time, how about educating those that could do with learning a little more about what The Clash and BAD were all about, and what got them there?
Good luck - peace!
[...] up the ‘Rock and Roll Public Library.’ (It has since moved from the gallery space in Chelsea to a new space.) I heard about this from a friend’s (also a librarian) facebook feed. Several of the comments [...]
Went yesterday. Even better than the previous one at Chelsea Space. Firstly, the location is far better. Immediatly beneath the Westway, overlooking Shouting Street (P’bello Rd) and Acklam Road, so it fits in perfectly with Clash mythology. Most(If indeed not all)of the stuff from the previous one was on display plus there was the chance to watch video footage (Westway was showing while we were there). Also featured was a studio for any musicians or would be musicians to bang out a few tunes and is part of a tie in with Strummerville. Many, if not all of Mick’s VHS tapes were on display. More unusual ones included On the Buses (An appalling British sitcom from way back)and several boxing tapes.
There was some very reasonably priced literature on offer, some free some for sale at very reasonable prices. Guide books (4 to collect) which open out into posters, a seperate poster, a library card which, when you enter your details, gets scanned and your details listed so that you can be kept informed of future developments/activities etc.
A great day had by all. I seriously recommend anyone with an interest in pop culture history in general and not just the Clash, B.A.D. and C/S to go along. All it has to cost you is your time.
ENJOY, ENJOY, ENJOY
Keep the campfire burning,
ZK
PS. Many thanks to Little Ade for making the visit even more enjoyable. Cheers mate.
just got back from the rock n roll public library …. bloody marvellous , some really cool stuff down there and a great vibe too … get ya punk rock asses down there before it’s gone !!
I am travelling from Canada and am curious what is the actual end date of this exhibit? I have seen both August 23th or August 25th. The info at the top of course says the 25th but then says the gallery is open Wed to Sun. The 25th is a Tuesday. If anyone can please confirm this I would appreciate it. I arrive late afternoon on the 23rd and would hate to miss this!
Thank you!
SM
Really loved the library. Gutted not to see more of Mick’s records on display!
The music that was playing which had Mick talking over anyone know where I can get it?
Any ideas please email me at richard.j.morrissey@gmail.com
Went again on Saturday, for Mick’s solo set and what an afternoon we had. Mick’s old school mate, Robin was there to do a reading. This covered subjects such as his and Mick’s schooldays, his foray into the world of armed robbery and subsequent jail term and his time spent in Baghdad in 2003 as part of the human shield.
Mick’s mini set comprised of 4 songs, these being “Train in Vain”, “Stay Free”, an obscure (To me anyway) song by Buddy Holly and “Should I Stay…”. An excellent time was had by all present. Had a long chat with Mick, who is hoping to exhibit the Library again. Let’s hope he gets his wish.