What are the odds that...

[Kory]

Very much this. Talent rarely overwhelms context and circumstance, contrary to romantic myth. So much of what makes the special groups special is that they arrived at the right time—the composition of their audience, the mood of the country, the age and needs of the band members, all that. Which is why so many reunions, intended or not, end up as nostalgia exercises—a longing for a lost time.

Very interesting theory. I feel like they could have probably done a few one off gigs here and there but you're honestly right... anything more would have completely destroyed the mystique of the Clash. What do you think of existing bands playing albums in full? I.e. the Manics playing the Holy Bible in full 20 some odd years later and about 50 pounds heavier...

Wire, who have pulled off the late-in-life reunion better than most, did that for Pink Flag around 17 years ago. It's okay, I suppose—it has more bite than the studio record—but it isn't a gem in their catalogue (even their live catalogue). It's a thing they did and that's about it.

I tend to think of Wire as a band who just breaks up and gets back together every once in awhile, as opposed to reuniting in the traditional sense. Sometimes they are in the same room and sometimes not, but the Wire force is constant.

The first time, sure, but the second time was a huge shock for me. After all, Grey had quit after Manscape. That they kept going after Gilbert quit was perhaps even more shocking (as I understand it, Gilbert was stunned that they would carry on without him).

I have to admit I don't have much sympathy for him if he didn't see a problem in moving on without the drummer.

[Dr. Medulla]

Very interesting theory. I feel like they could have probably done a few one off gigs here and there but you're honestly right... anything more would have completely destroyed the mystique of the Clash. What do you think of existing bands playing albums in full? I.e. the Manics playing the Holy Bible in full 20 some odd years later and about 50 pounds heavier...

Wire, who have pulled off the late-in-life reunion better than most, did that for Pink Flag around 17 years ago. It's okay, I suppose—it has more bite than the studio record—but it isn't a gem in their catalogue (even their live catalogue). It's a thing they did and that's about it.

I tend to think of Wire as a band who just breaks up and gets back together every once in awhile, as opposed to reuniting in the traditional sense. Sometimes they are in the same room and sometimes not, but the Wire force is constant.

The first time, sure, but the second time was a huge shock for me. After all, Grey had quit after Manscape. That they kept going after Gilbert quit was perhaps even more shocking (as I understand it, Gilbert was stunned that they would carry on without him).

I have to admit I don't have much sympathy for him if he didn't see a problem in moving on without the drummer.

I've exchanged the odd email with both of Wire's biographers, and both have said that as creative and dynamic a personality BG is, he's also more than a bit of a bully. He really believed him quitting Wire meant the others wouldn't be able to carry on. I do think they've lost something significant creatively without his contrarian spark, but as an ongoing venture they're better without his sabotage.

[River]

Yes, I think the stars were aligning at last. I'm obviously still gutted about Joe dying but I'm glad it never happened.

Why is that? Feel like it would be a letdown?

Yes. I don't think post-1988 Mick had the vocal power to do justice to the Clash stuff. And reunions are usually just crap in general.

This. Mick lost a whole octave from the chicken pox/pneumonia thing. I can't imagine some of the songs where Mick's higher harmony shines through done where he can barely reach it.