White Riot Tour with the with The Aggravators & Subway Sect

updated October 2020 - added photos.
updated June 2022 - added new review and set list

Audio - from master

Sound 3 - 46min - 16 tracks

Remote Control

master tape also includes

6 minutes by The Aggravators
5 minutes by Subway Sect
1minute interview with The Aggravators bass player

Sound Quality

Decent audience recording

This very welcome new recording from the classic White Riot Tour came into circulation in late 2002 and unusually includes songs from the support groups;

Track 1 The Aggravators (local punk band) and Tracks 2 & 3 from Subway Sect. Typically of this tour most of the audience do not know how to react to The Clash, many coming out of curiosity about the new punk phenomenon plastered across their newspapers.

No bands that looked or played like The Clash had ever played in Swindon before.

At one point Joe says to the audience "We're not from outer space you know!" at which someone shouts, "Could have fooled me" The best shows are when the audience respond to the on stage energy of The Clash which in turn further fuels the band's attack.

With the audience largely lukewarm The Clash's performance is not as charged as others on the tour. However when the repeatedly called for White Riot is finally played the audience do react to the extent that Joe says mid song "This is better"

"In the beginning there was The Clash... and they came to Swindon!"

An ad for the gig in the Evening Advertiser

RECORD MIRROR: CLASH AT AFFAIR

14 May 1977

Link

Swindon Affair

Affair was a small venue, in this medium sized southern town and was used for other punk gigs in 77 but appears then to have been either closed or renamed.

The Affair nightclub in Swindon, which hosted The Clash during their White Riot Tour and the event is remembered as a high point in Swindon's punk era[1][4].

The local band The Aggravators supported The Clash during this gig[1][12].

The Affair nightclub went through several name changes over the years, becoming known as Bubbles, New York New York, and Po Na Na, among others[1].

Ian Reid, who managed The Affair at the time of The Clash's performance, later became the manager of another notable band from Swindon, XTC[10].

On the same night as a major fire at the Methodist Central Mission Hall in Swindon[4]. This coincidence added to the intensity and the lore surrounding the gig, with The Clash even altering the lyrics of their songs to reference the events of the night[4].

The Clash at The Affair - BBC Wiltshire
Night The Clash were on a mission - Swindon Advertiser
The Spectrum Building - Historic England
The Aggravators - Bored Teenagers
The Corn Exchange Old Town - The Swindonian
The Clash, The Jam, Buzzcocks White Riot Tour - Far Out Magazine
The Aggravators History - David Marx
The Clash Live - Flickr

PoNaNa

The Clash set begins with Joe commenting on problems with the sound "Mine's not working either" The band continue to tune up, amidst shouts already for White Riot, before Joe shouts "Swindon's Burning" and launch into London's Burning.

77 vintage energy levels continue into 1977 and into an excellent Pressure Drop. Joe comments at the lack of reaction from the majority "Don't clap if you don't move!" I'm So Bored With The USA is strong with Paul's bass lines to the fore. There is then a lengthy gap before Janie Jones "If you can't see what's happening, he's broken a bass string" - No Johnny Green or spare guitars to deal with the problem. The audience shout out requests including unusually one for KeysTo Your Heart.

Hate & War is strong as is Cheat but Joe's vocals can hardly be heard until mid-song. The sound dips a touch for 48 Hours before reverting back (but with several tape drop-ours) on an extended Police & Thieves with Joe improvising new lines;" Walking down Swindon High Street, nothing in your pocket, just walking, along comes the Police, say Hey where do you think you're going? It's late, you know it ain't allowed you mustn't deviate!…" Joe's continues until Mick's shouted 1-2-3-4 brings one of the set's highlights to an end.

"Listen to the tunes on the Dr Goebel's Show" is Joe's intro to Capital Radio, which also suffers several drop-outs. Deny next "A love song for the girls". Joe introduces a strong Remote Control "We were just told yesterday that this was going to be our next single" and Mick says "TOLD" emphasises their disgust at CBS's decision to release the song as their next single without asking them.

Career Opportunities is followed by Garageland dedicated to the Aggravators. "This is a pop song entitled White Riot"; the audience finally responding to a manically fast performance with Joe breaking off to congratulate them "this is better"

The audience shout for an encore, before an edit starts with Joe delivering some laid back Californian audience repartee "We're gonna do one more then fuck off! He's in love; he's in love…" leads into a stronger reprise of Janie Jones, getting the nod as the encore number rather than the usual 1977

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BBC: Rock 'n' Roll Wiltshire,
The Clash at The Affair

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The Clash at The Affair

Steve Baker

Read the story of the Swindon band who supported punk legends The Clash at The Affair nightclub in Swindon in 1977.

In the beginning there was The Clash... and they came to Swindon!

The date was Wednesday 4th May 1977 and it was a momentous occasion, at least in the minds of those that were enamoured with the noise that was punk.

The Clash were coming to town, and just about everyone was talking about it.

At the time I was the vocalist in Swindon punk band The Aggravators, and had been given a support slot by Ian Reid who managed The Affair nightclub at the time, and later went on to manage XTC.

The Affair later changed hands numerous times, and as a nightclub went through a succession of names such as Bubbles, New York New York and Po Na Na.

My fellow bandmates and I jumped over the moon to be offered the gig. For our tiny band back then it felt like a chance in a lifetime!

The Clash were due to play across the road at a venue called The Central Hall which was a lot bigger than The Affair, with two support bands Subway Sect and ourselves playing first, over in the small nightclub in Wyvern square.

Mysteriously, a short time before we were due to take the stage a fire started in The Central Hall, leaving Joe Strummer and the rest of the band with no choice other than to move all of their gear across to The Affair in order to be able to play.

When the time finally came, we thrashed through our set with wild abandon, savouring every second of it. As soon as we had finished playing, we hurried backstage to talk to The Clash and ask for their opinion, and Joe commented on one of our songs, by saying that he liked the guitar riff.

They were very encouraging, really down to earth, and totally devoid of any airs and graces.

The Clash

Vic Goddard and The Subway Sect ploughed through their set confidently leaving the crowd calling for more, then at last it was time for The Clash!

By now the place was heaving, and after what felt like an eternity, Joe and the boys took the stage by storm.

Thrashing through their songs that were soon to become classics they left the faithful amongst us spellbound, and the morbidly curious stunned!

Joe Strummer snarling his way through 'Janie Jones' is something I'll never forget, and the compliment of Joe dedicating 'Garageland' to us spoke volumes.

He even improvised a few lyrics - introducing 'London's Burning' as 'Swindon's Burning' and changing a line in 'Police and Thieves' to "Walking down Swindon High Street…"

The Clash, were in my mind, the embodiment of Punk rock, and are probably the definitive band of their kind in that era. And even though I state the obvious - Joe Strummer is still very sorely missed.

Setlist

I believe this is the original set list for this show. Very first song is indeed Londons Burning. jukesavages(at)aol.com

Review - source/date unknown

3) Opening for The Clash on their 'White Riot' tour, was a terrific experience, which has remained with me to the present day.

First off, they were due to play the slightly bigger Central Hall across the road from The Affair, but there was a fire (hence the term, 'Swindon's Burning'), which entailed The Clash, Subway Sect and The Aggravators all playing in the same, relatively tiny Affair. Due to said fire, they used our back-line and drums (and XTC's house PA), and were us such, more than gracious.

I was still at school at the time, and didn't drink, but I remember Paul Simonen ploughing us all with drinks: lager, white wine, red wine, shorts, you name it... Great bloke. Spent the best part of an hour propping the bar up with Mick Jones, discussing Jimi Hendrix and Mott The Hoople; and if memory serves, when I packed my amp up - which Mick used - all the controls were on num bert ten - which is as it absolutely should be! Joe Strummer dedicated 'Garageland' to The Aggravators, and gave me his T-shirt at the end of the night.

So yeah, an altogether memorable evening. Plus, their performance ranks as one of the finest I've ever seen by anyone: loud, tight, frenetic, dangerous, urgent, true and packed with quintessentially fab songs (all off the first album). .

BBC - Wiltshire - History -
The Clash at The Affair

Online or view PDF archive

6 Feb 2009 - Read the story of the Swindon band who supported punk legends The Clash at The Affair nightclub in Swindon in 1977.

BBC - Wiltshire - History -
Rock legends at The Brunel Rooms

Online or archived PDF

30 Jan 2009 - Take a look back to the late seventies when bands such as The Jam, Talking Heads and Blondie played at The Brunel Rooms nightclub in Swindon. ... acts that made up the burgeoning Punk and New Wave music scene. ... The band made their debut at the Brunel on Friday 30th June 1977, and the ...

Remembering when Swindon was centre of a punk explosion

Online or view PDF archive

24 Jul 2013 - Remembering when Swindon was centre of a punk explosion ... punters observe the group, fresh from supporting the Sex Pistols, ... It is March 1977 and The Stranglers are thrilling - but why aren't there ... Next, The Clash: an apocalyptic night at The Affair involving the fire ... Promoted Stories ... Read more.

Night The Clash were on a mission

Swindon Advertiser

Online or view PDF archive

30 Apr 2013 - The best thing about punk music was that you could read in the New ... watch The Clash and support group, the Subway Sect, at the mission hall, ... it was decided that all three bands should play the Affair, otherwise, ... graphically recalls the events of May 1977 He says: "The Clash gig ... Promoted Stories.

Do you know anything about this gig?

Did you go? Comments, info welcome...

All help appreciated. Info, articles, reviews, comments or photos welcome.
Please email blackmarketclash

Hot n sweaty

Jerryrabbit, 2nd May 2013. I also was at that gig, hot n sweaty to say the least.

Fantastic night and it is still something I talk about now

Caruso54, 1st May 2013 . - I remember that gig too! Fantastic night and it is still something I talk about now when the conversation gets around to bands and singers the kids have seen!

Bassist in The Aggravators

Barf King Humbug - I was the bassist in The Aggravators, regarding posters, I don't have any, I lost all my memorabilia in a house move many years ago. The only poster i've seen in recent years is the tour one which has already been posted on the page.

The Affair used a bog standard one for all punk gigs, designed I believe by Andy Partridge of XTC, I do remember seeing one of those, someone may have a copy, although none of The Aggravators has one to my knowledge.

Blackmarketclash | Leave a comment

The Aggravators - Bored Teenagers

Link

Formed in March 1977, The Aggravators were Swindon's first punk band. ... live performance at Swindon's ' THE AFFAIR ', a nightclub also managed by Ian Reid. ... moment came when we supported The Clash when they came to Swindon. ... Read memoirs from when the band supported the Clash on the 'White Riot Tour'  ...

Photo credit: unknown

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Setlist

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16	London's Burning 1977 Pressure Drop I'm So Bored With The USA Janie Jones Remote Control Cheat 48 Hours Police & Thieves Capital Radio Deny Remote Control Career Opportunities Garageland White Riot Janie Jones (Encore)