Though some entertained faint hopes that The Clash [ tickets ] would reunite in connection with the recent British release of WestWay To The World, a documentary film of the legendary punk band's career, it never materialized. But some solace can be found in the fact that ex-Clash member Joe Strummer [ tickets ] has a new album and tour on the way.

Strummer and his current band, the Mescaleros, put together the North American jaunt in support of the forthcoming album ''Rock Art And The X-Ray Style,'' (Hellcat/Epitaph) due in stores Nov. 2. It will be the first non-soundtrack album from Strummer in a decade.

The band opens its whirlwind 19-city tour of large clubs and theaters Nov. 1 in Seattle, and wraps on Nov. 24 in Philadelphia.

''This is my Bee Gees series,'' Strummer told British music magazine NME earlier this year. ''If you go see the Bee Gees play, you want to hear them play 'Massachusetts' or 'Stayin' Alive.' So We'll be playing some cool Clash hits like 'London Calling.'''

Strummer and the rest of The Clash were honored with the recent release of ''Burning London: The Clash Tribute'' (Epic), which featured renditions of the band's music by the likes of 311, Rancid, Silverchair, Indigo Girls, No Doubt, Ice Cube & Mack 10, Afghan Whigs and others.