May 3, 2007 16:33

The Clash's ex-manager causes audience walkout in London

Bernie Rhodes makes controversial comments

Photo Gallery: The Clash

Former Clash manager Bernie Rhodes caused uproar at an arts event in London last night (May 2), after a controversial comment caused a walk-out among audience members.

Rhodes was speaking at Clash Culture, an event for art students organised by style bible The Look and Central Saint Martins Art College.

According to a statement issued on behalf of the event, the audience at the Cochrane Theatre, including ex-Sex Pistols bassist Glen Matlock, style writer Peter York and one time Clash roadie Sebastian Conran, were left stunned when he said “If you want to sort out crime in London, sort out the nxxxers in Peckham”, in a rant about the government instituting a call-up in the wake of the decision to send Prince Harry to Iraq.

The 63 year-old earlier described ‘The Future Is Unwritten’ - Julien Temple's new biopic of The Clash's frontman Joe Strummer - as "crap. a film made by a public school boy about another public school boy".

He added: "They’ve turned Joe into a hippie because they want another John Lennon".

After Rhodes used the "N" word, several members of the audience walked out in disgust as he was bombarded with catcalls. Theatre managers then brought the event to a close.

Clash Culture was organized to celebrate the 30th anniversary of The Clash’s historic 'White Riot' tour with a fashion show and presentations by the band’s designers Conran, Alex Michon and Krystyna Kolowskas, all of whom attended Saint Martins.