by Hellcat

The official Joe Strummer website has posted an interview with Luke Bullen, Martin Slattery, Scott Shields and Simon Stafford of the Mescaleros about the progress on Strummer's final album. The album is mostly finished, with just some overdubs and backing vocals needed. The record should contain a total of 11 tracks, including one Joe recorded for Johnny Cash with producer Rick Rubin and one with Danny Saber (Black Grape). There were three or four songs which the band recorded that Strummer never got to record vocals for before his death. Of the four the track "Midnight Jam" may be included as an instrumental. Other tracks to be included are "Coma Girl" and "Get Down Moses," the album has the working title "Fantastic."

The remaining members of the Mescaleros have not yet set plans for the future. They hope to build a studio and will continue to play music together in some form. As for the songs with Strummer "One thing's for sure, we won't ever be going out playing any of those tunes ever again…and that's a fact. We couldn't have anyone else singing it. It wouldn't feel right. It's now history, its catalogued, its marked and we move on."