All The Young Punks is an oral history of The Clash. The Clash graduated from sweaty London clubs in the punk explosion of 1976 to become an internationally acclaimed rock act playing arenas and sports stadia. With singer Joe Strummer at the helm and Mick Jones writing guitar riffs that mixed glam rock with uptown Jamaica, The Clash turned the excitement level up to 11 every time they hit the stage.

Remembered for Strummer’s political pronouncements, anthems like ‘White Riot’, ‘Complete Control’ and ‘I Fought The Law’ and hit singles including ‘Bank Robber’, ‘Should I Stay Or Should I Go’ and ‘Rock The Casbah’, The Clash were the only band that mattered for a whole generation.

40 years after they split comes their story as over 300 fans recall almost 150 different shows. This book captures in words the sights no Clash fan will ever forget: the spittle-fuelled passion of singer-guitarist Joe Strummer, hanging off the microphone stand whilst stamping his foot; guitarist Mick Jones racing back and forth across the stage; Paul Simonon throwing shapes and a thunderous bass line into the mix; and drummer Topper Headon holding it all together with a ‘boom boom’ six-gun beat. With a foreword by Billy Bragg, this is a Clash book unlike any other.

IAIN KEY is a recognisable face on the Manchester Music Scene from many years in the late ’80s and ’90s. Iain rediscovered his love of writing about music during the pandemic which saw him invited to join the team at Louder Than War. Since late 2020, he’s written over 400 pieces including music, book and gig reviews, and also produce a weekly music show, Indie Brunch, featuring both music and interviews with new and established acts such as Kevin Rowland, Frank Turner, Amelia Coburn and Meryl Streak along with journalists and authors such as Daniel Rachel and Tony Fletcher. Iain’s love of music began with The Jam and The Clash as a 12-year-old in 1982, and over the next couple of years he was introduced to the likes of The Smiths, The Housemartins and Billy Bragg. Away from Louder Than War, Iain has worked in the telecoms industry for over 25 years, is a lifelong Manchester United fan and shares his home with three cats, Storm, Shadow and Thunder, and occasionally his son, McKenzi.