A private invite gig for journalists and friends.
Updated May 2021 Added review and set list
updated Aug 2021 - added facebook photos
Updated November 2022 added rare flyer
Some video footage exists;
On various snippets of the band playing. Julian Temple's early footage? It's very frustrating that lots of video exists of the band, audio too, and as the years pass it 'dies' in storage. Like the Bonds footage for example. Sony have no intention of putting out non-commercial 'outakes'. It is just waiting to be sent to landfill.
Audio? Rob Harper talked of a 'practice' tape ...
There is rumour of some audio recordings? Rob Harper talked of a tape when Terry was sacked to help prepare for the Anarchy Tour. Terry's last gig was at High Wycombe on the 18th November
1976/77 Julian Temple's early footage 18hrs
Known to contain several concerts including The Roxy 1 Jan 1977 and Harlesden plus Rehearsals footageJulian Temples 1976 footage 18 hours - included Roxy/Anarchy Tour/Harlesden/Rainbow - only the footage that was used in the film eventually got digitised because it was shot on an obscure format that does exist anymore and so it cost a fortune to put onto tape.
Subway Sect at Rehersals Rehearsals
There is some video footage of Subway Sect at Rehearsal Rehearsal - 4mins which ha sbeen released on the Commercial DVD 'Punk in London'
A private invite gig for journalists and friends
The Clash were based just inside the gates of the British Rail Yard in Chalk Farm Road, Camden Town, London in a first-floor British Rail goods yard known as Rehearsal Rehearsals within walking distance of the musical venues of Dingwalls and the Roundhouse. (Clash.org)
Back in 1976, it was just another abandoned area of North London which, after years of neglect, had been left to the drunks and winos that littered the pavements of Chalk Farm Road. Rehearsal Rehearsals sat in the middle of it in a filthy, dilapidated former British Rail goods yard.
1976 Mick and Paul ask Joe to join the band
FLYER
Party Invitation Flyer for 13th August 1976 [see photo text]
AUCTION INFO: Straight out of Ted Carroll's old Cadillac Shack in the last couple of weeks. Ted owned Chiswick Records and was sent the invitation. He had previously signed and released the 101'ers which had Joe Strummer as a band member. (Sold for £5,500)
REDEMPTION SONG: Rehearsal Rehearsals
By the end of August the Clash had played two more shows: one on the B thirteenth at Rehearsal Rehearsals, a showcase to which booking agents and press were invited (three journalists turned up, two from Sounds, one, Caroline Coon, from Melody Maker), and the second the night at The Screen on the Green.
PASSION IS A FASHION: Rehearsal Rehearsals
Rhodes organised an invite-only showcase for industry figures and jour- nalists on Friday, 13 August. The most important guests were the three writers that were championing The Clash and Pistols in the music press - Melody Makers Caroline Coon and Sounds's Jonh Ingham and Giovanni Dadomo. Roger Armstrong and Ted Carroll were also there.
'Bernie had bought a couple of bottles of really cheap, nasty German wine, so Ted went out and bought two or three bottles of drinkable stuff,' recalls Roger Armstrong. 'I remember the seating was a dentist's chair and an orange-crate. They had their little stage area and it was really great, 'cos they actually did it like they were doing a show. They were hiding behind a curtain. I think somebody got up, it might have been Caroline, and made an announcement - "The CLASH!" - and they ran on with their painted jackets, gave it everything, and there's like ten of us there.'
Micky Foote says: 'They were fucking brilliant! I'd listened to it for two months but anyone who came in there would've been blown away. The three guitars sounded phenomenal. Each of them knew exactly what they wanted - Keith Levene had a Marshall with a pre-amp, Joe had a Telecaster going through a Vox, Mick tried lots of different set-ups. It was a sound designed for maximum impact.'
The group were rewarded with a review in Sounds, written by Giovanni.
It was a virtual love-letter, noting 'a compelling tapestry of sound and colour' and plenty of that old Mod flash. It concluded that they'd 'frighten The Sex Pistols shitless'.
RETURN OF THE LAST GANG IN TOWN:
Rehearsal Rehearsals
In a suitably punkish gesture of defiance, the showcase took place on Friday 13 August. At first, it looked as though the fates were intent on wreaking immediate revenge, because — although a few bookers were present — only three of the numerous invited music journalists turned up. But, as Andy Czezowski has indicated, they were the right three to attract: Caroline Coon, Jonh Ingham and Giovanni Dadomo. Ultimately, by means direct and indirect, all of them would play a vital part in advancing the Clash cause. Bernie's plan was vindicated almost immediately, when Giovanni reviewed the show for Sounds, his piece illustrated with a photo taken by his wife, Eve.
At 9 pm, the band walked downstairs to where the small audience had been enjoying free drinks and listening to the juke box, plugged in their guitars... ‘And for the next 40- odd minutes, it was like being hit by a runaway fire engine,' wrote Giovanni. ‘Not once, but again and again and again.' Making allowances for one or two ‘little cock-ups', he was quick to ‘dispel any notion that the music is one relentless semi-cacophony, because in all that nuclear glare, there are incandescent gems of solos and references to everything from "You Really Got Me" to you-name-it. Also, Strummer seems to have finally found his niche, his always manic deliveries finally finding their place in a compelling tapestry of sound and colour.' He praised the band's image, ‘as much the antithesis of the bearded bedenimed latterday hippy as the mods were the rockers. Clash have plenty of that old mod flash, too.' He signed off by declaring that he couldn't wait to see them again in a real venue — and, like Caroline and John, he would indeed attend many of the band's gigs over the next few months — but the key sentence, part of which was blown up and used as the headline, was, ‘I think they're the first band to come along who'll really frighten the Sex Pistols shitless.'
JOE STRUMMER AND THE LEGEND OF THE CLASH:
Rehearsal Rehearsals
The Clash's second gig, on 13 August, was meant to be their official unveiling to the world — an invite-only set at Rehearsals for some twenty-five invited guests. These included sundry pressmen, booking agents and mates. Journalists Jonh Ingham, Caroline Coon and Giovanni Dadomo were present, with the latter giving The Clash an effusive write-up. ‘I think they're the first band to come along who'll really fright- en the Sex Pistols senseless'. His review mentioned that ‘Strummer finally seems to have found his niche, his always manic deliveries finally finding their place in a compelling tapestry of sound and colour.' | remember this being the first review that really got me interested in The Clash. Giovanni praised the group's look, assimilation of musical styles and attack to a point where you felt like you were reading about the band you'd always dreamed of. Who could resist a group that made you feel like you've been ‘hit by a runaway fire engine. Not once, but again and again and again?'
THE CLASH: OFFICIAL: Rehearsal Rehearsals
JOE: Bernie organised a showcase gig at our rehearsal rooms for journalists: Jonh Ingham, Caroline Coon, people who stuck their head above the parapet in order to publicise Punk, which was not an easy game. It would have been easier for them to have ignored us and carried on writing about Grand Funk Railroad or something — they took some flak by writing about us. Tony
Parsons was another one who was there at the beginning.
MICK: We had to give the rehearsal room more than just a lick of paint. I remember spending days painting and listening to Rastafarian reggae, it was the soundtrack to that time.
JOE: Bernie had made us paint the rehearsal rooms before the gig, and we didn't really have any clothes except the ones we were wearing, or what we got from thrift stores. So there was paint everywhere, which is what I think gave Paul the idea of flicking it on our shoes and trousers, to jazz them up. It gave us an identity, too. So we came out resplendent, covered in paint. Just up the road from Rehearsals Rehearsals were the people who Bernie used to spray his cars, so we went to them and they sprayed the guitars and amps, jackets, ties, shirts and shoes using spray guns. We must have looked fairly striking when we came on stage. If somewhat ridiculous.
MICK: By the second gig we had skinny ties and semi-smart jackets, but we'd gone through the painting thing. Paul made the connection between Jackson Pollock and our spritzing the paint on ourselves.
PAUL: I was walking down Denmark Street one day and I saw Glen Matlock. He was wearing what I first thought were Laura Ashley print trousers, but when I looked closer they were more Jackson Pollock. I realised that he'd splashed paint all over them. So thinking like Picasso, who'd pick up an idea and take it further, I went back to Rehearsals Rehearsals, got some gloss paint and splashed it on my shoes. It looked pretty good so I got a black shirt and did a bit on that with different paint and it was all about being aware of your textures (laughs). Because ideas were always discussed openly I only needed to do a few things for Mick and Joe to see what was going on and do their own stuff. It led to getting our guitars sprayed and then I got some stencils, probably from Bernie, which would clip together and so I sprayed words on jackets and shirts.
Is the original set list?
Full sizeThis has been circulated without authenticty that it is as described, the original set list.
Joe, Mick & Paul at Rehearsals, 1976
Party Invitation Flyer for Rehearsals Rehearsals Studio on the 13th August 1976
Rehearsal Rehearsals
Rehearsal Rehearsals was a significant music venue in Camden Town, London, particularly during the 1970s and 1980s. It was the recording studio where The Clash shot the front cover of their debut album, which has since become iconic[1]. The band also used the space as a rehearsal studio during the early part of their career[5]. The venue was located in a rundown British Rail goods yard, which is now part of Camden Market[1].
1. Camden Town's Punk Story
2.Up and down the Westway: The Clash's London - Treble
3. The Clash - Wikipedia
4. The Clash, Joe Strummer, Paul Simonon, Mick Jones, 'Rehearsal Rehearsals, Camden Town, No.III' - Proud Galleries
5. Clash City, PopMatters
6. An Endless Room
7. Standard Music Library
8. Short Record Companies on Google Maps
9. Back Yard Recordings on Google Maps
10. Camden Studios on Google Maps
11. London Concert Choir
12. Talentbanq Tickets
13. Dingwalls
The Bakers description of Rehearsal Rehearsals
Camden Town is a district of Inner London, just 2.4 miles northwest of Charing Cross. Back in 1976, it was just another abandoned area of North London which, after years of neglect, had been left to the drunks and winos that littered the pavements of Chalk Farm Road.
‘Rehearsal Rehearsals' sat in the middle of it in a filthy, dilapidated former British Rail goods yard. I arrived there with my schoolmates The Subway Sect, to help with band rehearsals after Malcolm McLaren had seen fit to call Bernie Rhodes and arrange for some much-needed rehearsal time.
However it was with anything but relish that we first encountered the cold, dank, and unpleasant rehearsal space. It's crumbling, musty atmosphere reminded me of my grandmother's old coal cellar and the damp cold penetrated everything, even in that hot month of August.
‘Rehearsals' was a place you didn't feel you wanted to hang around in any longer than you had to. Although brave attempts had been made to make it bearable, it was nevertheless a bleak and depressing environment.
Sign for Rehearsal Rehearsals
Rehearsal Rehearsals famous shot
THE CLASH ON PAROLE | Facebook
Photos
The Clash, Rehearsal Rehearsals, Chalk Farm
The Clash, Rehearsal Rehearsals, Chalk Farm, 1976, with Keith Levene and Terry "Tory Crimes" #TheClash #KeithLevene pic.twitter.com/fa9N9lkmst
— KEZ O))) (@kezwilliams13) February 17, 2020
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In 1976, Joe Strummer accepts Mick and Paul's invitation to join the band
The Clash played their first full performance for friends and journalists at Rehearsal Rehearsals in London
Music Reissues Weekly Keith Levene and The Clash
Covers the first few months of The Clash from London SS to 101'ers to the first few gigs of the Clash.
Link - archived PDF - added July 2024
Photos from article
Pictured right, The Clash rehearsing in late June or July 1976 with Terry Chimes on drums. Keith Levene, second right
Pictured right, The Clash during the 13 August 1976 showcase at their rehearsal room. Keith Levene, right
Pictured left, The Clash rehearsing in late June or July 1976 with Terry Chimes on drums. Keith Levene, third right at microphone
Pictured left, The Clash rehearsing in June 1976 with Paul Buck on drums. Keith Levene, right
How The Clash and I took punk underground in 1970s Camden
Ham & High
(Hampstead News)
20 March 2014
Barry Auguste
Barry 'The Baker 'Auguste was the roadie for punk rockers The Clash. Here, he recalls the bands formative years in Chalk Farm ...
The Clash: Giovanni Dadomo review
SOUNDS
c13th August 1976
The Clash London
BEFORE WE begin, some clarification. For a start, this isn't intended to be a ‘review' as such; consider it rather as a somewhat peripheral cluster of observa-tions regarding one The Clash ...
Live Review by Giovanni Dadomo
The first band to come along who'll really frighten the Sex Pistols ...
Sounds, 21 August 1976.
'Night and day' with the Clash
Clash.org
The Rehearsal space was a very small area just inside the big arch-topped door (15ft x 10ft approx.) which is opposite the walkway (album cover)
'Riot of Our Own'
Clash.org
At the very beginning.........The Clash were based just inside the gates of the British Rail Yard in Chalk Farm Road, Camden Town, London in a first-floor British Rail goods yard known as Rehearsal Rehearsals (p.52)..........within walking distance of the musical venues of Dingwalls and the Roundhouse.
The Subways and Tunnels of Camden Town
Excetra Music
'Rehearsal Rehearsals' sat in the middle of it in a filthy, dilapidated former British Rail goods yard. I arrived there with my schoolmates The Subway Sect, to help with band rehearsals after Malcolm McLaren had seen fit to call Bernie Rhodes
Rehearsal Rehearsals, Camden Town, London - Photos
Open photos in full in new window
Photo: Kate Simon
Other
Extensive archive of articles, magazines and other from the early gigs in 1976
Archive - Snippets - UK Articles - Video Audio - Social media - Fanzines Blogs - Retrospective articles - Photos
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Not known - some video does exist
If you know of any recording, email blackmarketclash
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EARLY GIGS '76, A collection of from early 1976 to New Year 1976.
Extensive archive of articles, magazines and other from the early gigs in 1976
EARLY GIGS '76, BOOKS
Black Swan pg142 ...
Black Swan pg95, 96 ...
Black Swan pg ...
Black Swan pg42 ...
There are several sights that provide setlists but most mirror www.blackmarketclash.co.uk. They are worth checking. from Setlist FM (cannot be relied on) from Songkick (cannot be relied on) & from the newer Concert Database and also Concert Archives Also useful: Ultimate Music database, All Music, Clash books at DISCOGS Articles, check 'Rocks Back Pages'
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