The news came through a few weeks back, that San Francisco punk firebrand and vociferous political activist, Jello Biafra, had suffered a hemorrhagic stroke. Fortunately, he seems to be on the mend and starting to regain the use of his always active vocal chords. Since he fronted what was probably the most globally renowned and infamous of the west coast punk bands, Dead Kennedys, we will celebrate the start of his recovery by having him lead off our occasional musical meand

It is many happy returns today to Mick Jones, guitarist with The Clash and Big Audio Dynamite, who was born on this day in 1955. He was...