Watch Bruce Springsteen Cover the Clash’s ‘Clampdown’
Bruce Springsteen sure has good taste in cover songs. On his most recent album, 'High Hopes,' he includes a rendition of 'Dream Baby Dream' by pioneering New York minimalist group Suicide, and on his current tour, he's whipped up versions of the Bee Gees' 'Stayin' Alive,' AC/DC's 'Highway to Hell' and Van Halen's 'Jump,' to name a few.
Last night, fans in Pittsburgh were treated to a rollicking version of the Clash's 'Clampdown.' Not only did the Boss and band play the song, they opened the show with it. You can watch the video above.
"Who's from London?" Springsteen asked the audience last night before launching into the 1979 classic from the album 'London Calling.' He's played the song 'London Calling' in concert before (see below), but 'Clampdown' came as a total surprise.
Springsteen has long had ties with the Clash and the late Joe Strummer. In 1995, when asked his opinion of Springsteen by Mojo, Strummer replied, "Bruce is great. If you don't agree, you're a pretentious Martian from Venus. His music is great on a dark, rainy morning in England, just when you need some spirit and some proof that the big wide world exists."
Springsteen would frequently pay tribute to Strummer in concert over the years, often referring to him as "one of the greatest rockers of all time."
Oh, and here's Springsteen opening a recent New Zealand show with a cover of Lorde's 'Royals':