''Rude Boy'' is a 1980 British film directed by Jack Hazan and David Mingay and filmed in 1978 and early 1979. The film, part fiction, part

rockumentary A concert film, or concert movie, is a film that showcases a live performance from the perspective of a concert goer, the subject of which is an extended live performance or concert by either a musician or a stand-up comedian. Early history The ...

, tells the story of

Ray Gange Ray Gange (born 1957 or 1958) is a former actor from London, England, best known for his portrayal of the roadie who starred in the film ''Rude Boy''. The film won various awards, but Gange did not continue his film career. ''Rude Boy'' Before sta ...

, a young Clash fan who leaves his dead-end job in a sleazy

Soho Soho is an area of the City of Westminster, part of the West End of London. Originally a fashionable district for the aristocracy, it has been one of the main entertainment districts in the capital since the 19th century. The area was develop ...

sex shop to become a roadie for the band. The film also includes extensive footage of the Clash at a

Rock Against Racism Rock Against Racism (RAR) was a political and cultural movement which emerged in 1976 in reaction to a rise in racist attacks on the streets of the United Kingdom and increasing support for the far-right National Front at the ballot box. Betwe ...

concert at Victoria Park, on their On Parole and Sort It Out tours, and in the studio recording the album ''

Give 'Em Enough Rope ''Give 'Em Enough Rope'' is the second studio album by the English punk rock band the Clash. It was released on 10 November 1978 through CBS Records International, CBS Records. It was their first album released in the United States, preceding the ...

''. The film was named after the

rude boy Rude boy, rudeboy, rudie, rudi, and rudy are slang terms that originated in 1960s Jamaican street culture, and that are still used today. In the late 1970s, there was a revival in England of the terms ''rude boy'' and ''rude girl'', among other ...

subculture A subculture is a group of people within a culture that differentiates itself from the parent culture to which it belongs, often maintaining some of its founding principles. Subcultures develop their own norms and values regarding cultural, poli ...

and over the years won a

cult following A cult following refers to a group of fans who are highly dedicated to some person, idea, object, movement, or work, often an artist, in particular a performing artist, or an artwork in some medium. The lattermost is often called a cult classic. ...

Release and reception

It was publicly released in the UK in March 1980 with limited screenings, primarily at independent art cinemas. Although meeting with a generally unfavourable critical response, the film won the Honorable Mention, and was nominated for the

Golden Bear The Golden Bear (german: Goldener Bär) is the highest prize awarded for the best film at the Berlin International Film Festival. The bear is the heraldic animal of Berlin, featured on both the coat of arms and flag of Berlin. History The winn ...

, at the

30th Berlin International Film Festival The 30th annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from 18–29 February 1980. The Golden Bear was awarded to the American film ''Heartland'' directed by Richard Pearce and West German film '' Palermo oder Wolfsburg'' directed by Werne ...

in 1980. It was re-released on DVD the UK in 2003 by Fremantle Media with a number of special features including interviews with 'Rude Boy' lead actor Ray Gange, the Clash's road manager Johnny Green and film makers Jack Hazan and David Mingay. There was a

Blu-ray The Blu-ray Disc (BD), often known simply as Blu-ray, is a digital optical disc data storage format. It was invented and developed in 2005 and released on June 20, 2006 worldwide. It is designed to supersede the DVD format, and capable of sto ...

release of the film in 2015.

Clash reaction

Although initially interested in the film, after having seen the rough cut the members of The Clash became so disenchanted with it that, for its official cinema release, they had

Better Badges Better Badges was a London button-badge manufacturer, started in 1976 by Joly MacFie. During the years 1977–1984 it became the leading publisher and merchandiser of 'punk badges' - exporting millions worldwide from their offices at 286 Po ...

make badges stating 'I don't want Rude Boy Clash Film'.

Joe Strummer John Graham Mellor (21 August 1952 – 22 December 2002), known professionally as Joe Strummer, was a British singer, musician and songwriter. He was the co-founder, lyricist, rhythm guitarist and co-lead vocalist of punk rock band the Clash, ...

told ''

Melody Maker ''Melody Maker'' was a British weekly music magazine, one of the world's earliest music weeklies; according to its publisher, IPC Media, the earliest. It was founded in 1926, largely as a magazine for dance band musicians, by Leicester-born ...

'' in 1980: "It wasn't any good. We didn't like what they were doing with the black people, because they were showing them dipping into pockets and then they were shown being done for something and that was their only role in the film ... Who wants to propagate that? That's what the right wing use, 'all blacks are muggers' which is a load of rubbish. After that rough showing I've never seen it since and nor have any of the Clash." Strummer added that the band had no further contact with directors Dave Mingay and Jack Hazan after the film was shot, and never received any payments from them.

Cast

The cast included (in alphabetical order):

Songs performed

# " Revolution Rock" (Jackie Edwards, Danny Ray)

Instrumental An instrumental is a recording normally without any vocals, although it might include some inarticulate vocals, such as shouted backup vocals in a big band setting. Through semantic widening, a broader sense of the word song may refer to instru ...

version of album track; title song # "

Police and Thieves "Police and Thieves" ( "Police and Thief") is a reggae song first recorded by the falsetto singer Junior Murvin in 1976. It was covered by the punk band The Clash and included on their self-titled debut album released in 1977. Junior Murvin ve ...

" (

Junior Murvin Junior Murvin (born Murvin Junior Smith, circa 1946 – 2 December 2013) was a Jamaican reggae musician. He is best known for the single "Police and Thieves", produced by Lee "Scratch" Perry in 1976. Early life He was born in Saint Jame ...

Lee "Scratch" Perry Lee "Scratch" Perry (born Rainford Hugh Perry; 20 March 1936 – 29 August 2021) was a Jamaican record producer, composer and singer noted for his innovative studio techniques and production style. Perry was a pioneer in the 1970s development o ...

)
Performed by

The Clash The Clash were an English rock band formed in London in 1976 who were key players in the original wave of British punk rock. Billed as "The Only Band That Matters", they also contributed to the and new wave movements that emerged in the wa ...

at Barbarellas,

Birmingham Birmingham ( ) is a city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands in England. It is the second-largest city in the United Kingdom with a population of 1.145 million in the city proper, 2.92 million in the West ...

on 1 May 1978; audio tracks re-recorded at

Wessex Studios Wessex Sound Studios was a recording studio located at 106a Highbury New Park, London, England. Many renowned popular music artists recorded there, including Sex Pistols, King Crimson, the Clash, Theatre of Hate, XTC, the Sinceros, Queen, Talk Tal ...

. # "

" sung by Junior Murvin (

Island Records Island Records is a multinational record label owned by Universal Music Group. It was founded in 1959 by Chris Blackwell, Graeme Goodall, and Leslie Kong in Jamaica, and was eventually sold to PolyGram in 1989. Island and A&M Records, anoth ...

) # " Career Opportunities" (from ''

'' album) # "Garageland"
Performed by The Clash at Rehearsal Rehearsals; audio tracks re-recorded at Wessex Studios. # "Rudi" sung by

Bob Marley Robert Nesta Marley (6 February 1945 – 11 May 1981; baptised in 1980 as Berhane Selassie) was a Jamaican singer, musician, and songwriter. Considered one of the pioneers of reggae, his musical career was marked by fusing elements o ...

(Coxsone Records) # " London's Burning"
Performed live by The Clash at Open Air Carnival,

Victoria Park Victoria Park may refer to: Places Australia * Victoria Park Nature Reserve, a protected area in Northern Rivers region, New South Wales * Victoria Park, Adelaide, a park and racecourse * Victoria Park, Brisbane, a public park and former golf ...

, London on 30 April 1978; audio tracks re-recorded at Wessex Studios. # "

White Riot "White Riot" is a song by English punk rock band the Clash, released as the band's first single in March 1977 and also included on their self-titled debut album. Versions There are two versions of the song: the single version (also appearin ...

"
Performed live by The Clash at Open Air Carnival, Victoria Park, London on 30 April 1978 and featuring

Jimmy Pursey James Timothy Pursey (born 9 February 1955) is an English people, English rock musician. He is the founder and frontman of the punk rock band Sham 69, which he has performed with since 1976, along with releasing material as a solo artist. Early ...

from

Sham 69 Sham 69 are an English punk rock band that formed in Hersham in Surrey in 1975. They were one of the most successful punk bands in the United Kingdom, achieving five top 20 singles, including "If the Kids Are United" and "Hurry Up Harry". The ...

on vocals; audio tracks re-recorded at Wessex Studios. # "

(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais "(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais" is a song by the English punk rock band the Clash. It was originally released as a 7-inch single, with the b-side "The Prisoner", on 16 June 1978 through CBS Records. Produced by The Clash and engineered by ...

"
Performed live by The Clash at

the Apollo The Apollo Theater is a music hall at 253 West 125th Street between Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard (Seventh Avenue) and Frederick Douglass Boulevard (Eighth Avenue) in the Harlem neighborhood of Upper Manhattan in New York City. It is a not ...

Glasgow Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...

on 4 July 1978; audio tracks re-recorded at Wessex Studios. # "

I'm So Bored with the USA "I'm So Bored with the U.S.A." is a song by British punk rock band the Clash, featured on their critically acclaimed 1977 debut album, which was released in the United States in July 1979 as their second album after ''Give 'Em Enough Rope''. I ...

"
Performed live by The Clash at the Apollo, Glasgow on 4 July 1978; audio tracks re-recorded at Wessex Studios. # "

Janie Jones Marion Mitchell (born 1941 in Seaham, County Durham), better known by her stage name Janie Jones, is a former English singer. She became renowned for holding sex parties at her home during the 1970s, and was jailed for her involvement in 'contro ...

"
Performed live by The Clash at the Apollo, Glasgow on 4 July 1978; audio tracks re-recorded at Wessex Studios. # "

The Prisoner ''The Prisoner'' is a 1967 British television series about an unnamed British intelligence agent who is abducted and imprisoned in a mysterious coastal village, where his captors designate him as Number Six and try to find out why he abruptl ...

"
Performed live by The Clash at the Civic Music Hall,

Aberdeen Aberdeen (; sco, Aiberdeen ; gd, Obar Dheathain ; la, Aberdonia) is a city in North East Scotland, and is the third most populous city in the country. Aberdeen is one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas (as Aberdeen City), and ...

on 5 July 1978; audio tracks re-recorded at Wessex Studios. # "

Johnny Too Bad The Slickers were a Jamaican rocksteady and reggae group in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The Slickers centred on Derrick Crooks, one of the founding members of The Pioneers along with his brother Sydney. In the mid-1960s, The Slickers consi ...

" sung by

The Slickers The Slickers were a Jamaican rocksteady and reggae group in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The Slickers centred on Derrick Crooks, one of the founding members of The Pioneers along with his brother Sydney. In the mid-1960s, The Slickers consis ...

(Island Records) # "

Tommy Gun The Thompson submachine gun (also known as the "Tommy Gun", "Chicago Typewriter", "Chicago Piano", “Trench Sweeper” or "Trench Broom") is a blowback-operated, air-cooled, magazine-fed selective-fire submachine gun, invented by United Stat ...

"
Performed live by The Clash at the Kinema Ballroom,

Dunfermline Dunfermline (; sco, Dunfaurlin, gd, Dùn Phàrlain) is a city, parish and former Royal Burgh, in Fife, Scotland, on high ground from the northern shore of the Firth of Forth. The city currently has an estimated population of 58,508. Accord ...

on 6 July 1978; audio tracks re-recorded at Wessex Studios. # " All the Young Punks"
Performed by The Clash at Wessex Studios. # " Stay Free"
Performed by The Clash at Wessex Studios. # "

Complete Control "Complete Control" is a song by The Clash, released as a 7" single and featured on the U.S. release of their debut album. Background The song is often cited as one of punk's greatest singles and is a fiery polemic on record companies, manager ...

"
Performed by The Clash at the Music Machine, Camden, London on 27 July 1978; audio tracks re-recorded at Wessex Studios. # "

Safe European Home A safe (also called a strongbox or coffer) is a secure lockable box used for securing valuable objects against theft or fire. A safe is usually a hollow cuboid or cylinder, with one face being removable or hinged to form a door. The body and d ...

"
Performed by The Clash at the Music Machine, Camden, London on 27 July 1978; audio tracks re-recorded at Wessex Studios. # "

What's My Name What's My Name? or What's My Name may refer to: * "What's My Name" (China Anne McClain, Thomas Doherty and Dylan Playfair song) * "What's My Name?" (Rihanna song) * "What's My Name?" (Snoop Doggy Dogg song) * "What's My Name?" (DMX song) * "Wh ...

"
Performed by The Clash at the Music Machine, Camden, London on 27 July 1978; audio tracks re-recorded at Wessex Studios. # "No Reason" (piano song)
Performed solo by

at Rehearsal Studio. # " Let the Good Times Roll" (piano song)
Performed solo by Joe Strummer at Rehearsal Studio. # "

I Fought the Law "I Fought the Law" is a song written by Sonny Curtis of the Crickets and popularized by a cover by the Bobby Fuller Four, becoming a top-ten hit for the band in 1966. Their version of the song was ranked No. 175 on the ''Rolling Stone'' lis ...

" (

Sonny Curtis Sonny Curtis (born May 9, 1937) is an American singer and songwriter. Known for his collaborations with Buddy Holly, he was a member of the Crickets and continued with the band after Holly's death. Curtis's best known compositions include "Walk ...

)
Performed live by The Clash at The Lyceum, West End, London on 28 December. # "

Rudie Can't Fail "Rudie Can't Fail" is a song by the English punk rock band the Clash, featured on their 1979 album ''London Calling''. The song was written by Joe Strummer and Mick Jones, who sing it as a duet. Composition Like some songs on ''London Callin ...

" (from ''

London Calling ''London Calling'' is the third studio album by English rock band the Clash. It was originally released as a double album in the United Kingdom on 14 December 1979 by CBS Records, and in the United States in January 1980 by Epic Records. The C ...

'' album)
A brief extract is heard toward the end of the film, which sounds like an unfinished take of the '' London Calling song''. # Also heard on soundtrack: "Wreck A Buddy" performed by The Soul Sisters.

Release and reception

Clash reaction

Cast

Songs performed

References

External links