Written by: Alex Green

On what would have been his 70th birthday (Aug 21), George Harrison’s Dark Horse Records is releasing a never-before-heard track by Joe Strummer.

Titled “Fantastic” the song is a preview from the label’s upcoming box set Joe Strummer 002: The Mescaleros Years.

A percussive number that slowly builds into a rousing sing-a-long crescendo, the vocals for “Fantastic” were recorded in December of 2002 at Rockfield Studios in Monmouthshire, Wales. The recording was done just weeks after Joe Strummer and The Mescaleros would play their final show at Liverpool University in late November.

“Fantastic” is a stirring homage to the “lost, unborn and unmade” that takes place on what Strummer refers to as “The Ramshackle Day Parade” and it stands proudly next to the former Clash singer’s best work.

The box set is a deliciously exhaustive survey of Strummer’s time with the Mescaleros and it arrives in grand fashion: A 4 CD w/72-page book and 7 LP w/32-page book, special edition packaging and exclusive 12”x12” art print.

The collection contains all three Mescaleros albums, as well as demos, outtakes, unreleased tracks, handwritten notes and lyrics.

Joe Strummer 002: The Mescaleros Years will be out September 16.

Pre-orders are available now HERE.