Chuck Prophet doing 'London Calling'

San Francisco singer-songwriter Chuck Prophet is fearless. After recording his most recent album, "Let Freedom Ring," in Mexico City in the midst of the swine flu pandemic, he's currently out on the road with fellow local musician Chris Von Sneidern performing the Clash's classic "London Calling" album in its entirety. Their pickup band, Spanish Bombs, plays the Great American Music Hall on Jan. 29, after a brief European tour (a portion of the proceeds from the show will go to the Food Not Bombs organization). We checked in with Prophet recently while the group was making its way across Spain.

Q: You're covering the Clash's "London Calling." The whole thing?

A: Yep. It's crazy. Figured if the Coen brothers can remake "True Grit," why not? So we cast it like a movie. I thought, if Chris von Sneidern will do the Mick Jones bits, I'll do it. I thought I knew the record inside out. It's a lot more words and chords than I remembered. It's like learning Shakespeare.

Q: Do you even have to do the songs you don't like?

A: Oh, yes. I know it's not exactly the Virgin Mary on toast, but we're staying true to the record in that respect. We're not tinkering with the story. We're not changing the ending. We're not changing one comma. But we have changed the grooves under the songs' feet.

Q: Did this idea come about after seeing all the bad '80s cover bands sell out shows week after week while actual singer-songwriters struggle to get gigs?

A: Singer-songwriters inhabit a certain ghetto, for sure. It's not pretty out there. But "London Calling" is nothing to apologize for. Wonky '80s nostalgia or not, it really does remind me of why I got into playing music in the first place.

Q: Do you remember buying the record?

A: I do remember buying it. I originally bought the cassette used at Rasputin's record shop in Pleasant Hill. Listened to it repeatedly. That record is the Rosetta stone of the punk apocalypse. It's all in there. Figure out the language it's written in and you've got the keys to the highway. I was young. My brain was soft. I soaked it up.

Q: Will you be sporting a Mohawk for the occasion?

A: Probably not the most flattering haircut for me. I'm already a bit long in the face, don't you think? I mean, why would I want to open myself up to that kind of ridicule?

Q: Do you remember what happened to Pussy Galore after they covered the Rolling Stones' "Exile on Main Street"? They broke up. How do you plan on breaking up with yourself?

A: I've been duct-taped back together so many times already, what does it matter?

Q: What other classic albums do you think you might take on next?

A: "London Calling" is rare. I doubt I'd ever be tempted to do something like this again, but if I did, I wouldn't pick a double album. {sbox}

To hear Chuck Prophet's music, go to www.chuckprophet.com.

Follow Aidin Vaziri at twitter.com/MusicSF. E-mail him at avaziri@sfchronicle.com.

This article appeared on page Q - 34 of the San Francisco Chronicle