When Passion Is a Fashion: The Real Story of The Clash by Pat Gilbert was released in 2004, it was the first book to give real insight into what went on during The Clash’s ten-year career. Gilbert touched on The Clash’s early days in the punk scene; their Rock Against Racism gigs; their breakout in the U.S.; the making of the band’s legendary third studio album, London Calling; their touring and evolution; and their eventual unraveling. To do so, Gilbert locked in interviews with over 70 key players in the band’s career, from producers to managers to friends to members of the band itself—in fact, Passion Is a Fashion was the first book to feature such interviews with the band. It should come as no surprise, then, that Passion Is a Fashion received universal acclaim upon its release and has since become the go-to for anyone wanting an essential account of The Clash.
It has now been 50 years since The Clash broke into the London scene in 1976, so to celebrate this milestone, a new edition of Passion Is a Fashion is set to be released on May 14. This newly revised and expanded edition includes the original, exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes telling of the band’s career, along with fresh insights and newly added material from the surviving members of The Clash and from those close to them. Overall, the book’s 448 pages captures it all—the brilliance, the chaos, and the untold story of one of punk music’s most ferocious and creative bands in the scene.
Pat Gilbert is a former editor of bestselling and internationally acclaimed music magazine MOJO. Over the years, he has contributed to Q magazine, the Guardian, The Times, and the Sunday Times, and he has produced radio programs for the BBC. Aside from Passion Is a Fashion, Gilbert has also authored Shut It! The Inside Story of The Sweeney, which is the first comprehensive account of the cult British TV show. You can find more about Gilbert and his work here.
Passion Is a Fashion: The Real Story of The Clash by Pat Gilbert will be released on May 14, 2026 via Aurum, an imprint of The Quarto Group. You can purchase a copy here.
