North & South (video game)

North & South is a combined strategy and action game released in 1989 for the Commodore Amiga and Atari ST and ported later for NES, Amstrad CPC, MSX, DOS and ZX Spectrum. It was developed and published by Infogrames.

North & South is an offshoot of the Belgian comic series Les Tuniques Bleues (by Raoul Cauvin and Louis Salverius/Willy Lambillotte, from Dupuis) which is based on the American Civil War. The player basically acts out the Civil War, choosing to play as either the North or the South. The player may choose to start the game year from 1861 (the year the Civil War erupted) to 1864. Each year has a different array of armies and states that each side starts with.

North & South contains a lot of humorous elements. For example, it features parodies of national anthems, which are accessible when the player selects one of the different languages supported by the game: (English, French, Spanish, German or Italian). In addition, the game is filled with numerous comical situations and gags.

Cut the Crap

Cut the Crap is the sixth and final studio album by the English punk rock band the Clash, released on 4 November 1985 on Epic Records. It was recorded after both guitarist Mick Jones (in 1983) and drummer Topper Headon had been kicked out of the band, and their manager Bernard Rhodes took control. The album is considered their weakest, and was widely ridiculed on release. Clash vocalist Joe Strummer however maintained that it contains one of the Clash's strongest singles, "This Is England". Critics tend to praise the track "We Are the Clash", but generally view the album as incohesive.

To complete the record, Rhodes drafted unknown musicians Nick Sheppard, Pete Howard, and Vince White as substitutes for Strummer and Headon. The Clash split up soon after.

Background and recording

Following a break after the Clash's performance at the 1983 US Festival, the band reconvened that June for rehearsals in London, England. About a week into rehearsals, tensions present within the group throughout the year re-emerged, reportedly due to a musical difference of opinion brought about by guitarist Mick Jones's use of a synthesizer he had recently acquired. Another point of contention was Jones's frequent tardiness and absences. By that point, Jones and his songwriting partner Joe Strummer had difficulty communicating with one another; drummer Pete Howard said, "It got to the point where Joe was posting lyrics through Mick's door. He thought the music that Mick was putting to them was a pile of shit". At the same time, Jones refused to sign a new contract presented by manager Bernie Rhodes without consulting a solicitor; one Clash associate commented that Rhodes was angered by Jones's position, and "twisted Joe up about it", asking Strummer if he really wanted to be in the band with the guitarist. The rehearsals eventually ceased.