<DIV>If one band could be said to symbolize British punk in its heyday, that band is The Clash. As a young journalist on tour with all of punk's biggest names, Kris Needs forged lifelong friendships with The Clash while witnessing their wild exploits firsthand. One of the first journalists to see the band live, Needs championed them from the start, becoming close friends with Joe Strummer and the rest of the group, accompanying them on many major tours, and being present at pivotal moments in their career. Combining his own anecdotal and press material from the era with a wealth of biographical detail and photographs, Needs illuminates the legend with accounts of life-changing gigs, on-the-road antics, and the recording sessions that produced the critically revered and ever-popular albums. The book pays special attention to the late Joe Strummer — his motivations and passions and his place as a punk pioneer.</div>