HAVANA 3 A.M. : The Clash Legacy Earns Interest for Punk-Era Veterans’ New Group

Paul Simonon and Gary Myrick hardly seemed like painters as they sat poolside at a Hollywood hotel recently, wearing rough-edged biker garb and speaking in South London and Texas working-class accents, respectively.

But both musicians pointed to their skill with brush and palette as a key to the development of their band, Havana 3 A.M. The band’s sound, sort of a spaghetti Western/surf melange with topical lyrics, can be heard on the recent debut album, “Havana 3 A.M.,” and at its area concert debut Monday at the Roxy. It also plays Thursday at Bogart’s in Long Beach and Saturday at the Bacchanal in San Diego.

“I feel lucky I’ve got the music and the painting,” said Simonon, who was the bassist in the Clash. “There’s quite a few groups from the ‘60s who were big but lost their self-respect. That can happen if you have just the one thing, just the music.”

Added Myrick, a favorite of Los Angeles’ early-’80s new-wave scene: “It can be sad. We’re both lucky we can retreat into our own world where we don’t need anyone else to work. That helps sanity.”

Of course, Simonon’s residual royalties and fame have also helped him since the Clash dissolved in 1985.

“You could say the Clash funded this group in the early days,” said Simonon of his nearly two-year partnership with guitarist Myrick, English singer Nigel Dixon and Welsh drummer Travis Williams.

“Otherwise I would have had to get in another group quicker or do paintings with a mind to selling them for a living. None of us could have afforded to even do a demo. But thanks to the Clash. . . .”

And to the Clash’s reputation.

“Anything that gets (people) through the door to check it out,” said Myrick. “We’re doing our own sound, so we’re not in competition with the past.”