The Clash Live - The Rainbow, London – 9 May 1977

Sounds? Punks at the Rainbow

Clash Rainbow date

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May 1977

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The Clash punk concert ticket The Rainbow, London 1977
This is my ticket to The Clash's gig at The Rainbow in north London on Tuesday 13 December 1977. A group of us from south London made the trip across the river to The Rainbow. It really was a momentous occasion for me and my friends, and we proudly wore our punk gear much to the shock of the commuters on the tube. The Clash were fantastic but the all-seater venue wasn't right for them or for Sham 69 who were the support band. Not that we sat down at all. Here is a review of this concert that appeared in Melody Maker:

Pass

The Rainbow, London

The famous riot gig in which 200 seats were ripped out. Ecstatic fans could not sit down and as the Jam finished their set the mayhem began. The Clash opened with Londons Burning and fighting broke out.

The Rainbow - Punk 77

Link or Archive PDF

The Rainbow in Finsbury Park N4. Large venue that was originally part of the Astoria chain of cinemas in the 1930's that like so many became a rock venue.

In its time it had seen just about every major act play there from Jimi Hendrix to the Who. Closed in 1975 it lost some ground to Camden's Roundhouse but its reopening and refurbishment in 1977 set it back on course as a prominent North London venue.

In punky times it was infamous for the Clash riot where seats were torn up. The Stranglers regularly played here and the Ramones had their 1977 New year Eve concert immortalised on vinyl with the double classic 'It's Alive'. In 1977/1978 Jock McDonald would rent out the top and put on gigs, meaning you could have Thin Lizzy playing below while the Meat cranked it out upstairs.

Set on an island between two one way systems that went to and from the West End you could reach it by exiting the labyrinthine Finsbury Park Tube station tunnels and it was always worth getting a quick drinkie in the George Robey pub opposite.

Sadly residents complaints about noise and people shut it down in the Eighties. Now some god-awful gospel revival bollocks occur there. Fantastic ceiling of star and palm trees....but no Rainbow.

Photos, links

Historic Theatre Photos provides images and information about the Rainbow Theatre, including its architectural style and history. Cinema Treasures has a collection of 53 photos of the Rainbow Theatre. Reddit has photos from the famous Rainbow Theatre in London, taken on March 31st, 1974.

The Rainbow Theatre, 2002

The Rainbow in Finsbury Park, N4

The Rainbow Theatre
232 Seven Sisters Road
London
N4 3NX

The Rainbow Theatre Facebook

The Rainbow Theatre, Finsbury Park, London

The Rainbow Theatre, located in 232-238 Seven Sisters Road, Finsbury Park, London, is a historic venue known for its unique architectural style and its significance in the music scene. The theatre was built in 1930 as an "atmospheric cinema" designed to house entertainment extravaganzas, including film shows 2.

The building's interior is described as a Moorish Harem, complete with a domed Byzantine cupola, staircases, corridors, Baroque mirrors, and wall friezes that could have come from India. The first thing you see upon entering is an illuminated fountain set within an eight-sided raised star pool 6. The theatre is considered one of the greatest cinemas of its kind in Europe .2

In the 1960s, the theatre began to be used for concerts, hosting performances by renowned artists such as Frank Sinatra, Miles Davis, the Beatles, and Cliff Richard. In November 1971, it reopened as a full-time rock concert venue with a show by The Who . The theatre continued to host rock concerts regularly until 1982 10 10.

The Clash's performance on May 9, 1977, as part of their White Riot Tour and was described as electric, with the band effectively communicating and connecting with an audience of 3000 1.

The song "White Riot" was written by Joe Strummer and bassist Paul Simonon after they were involved in the riots at the Notting Hill Carnival of 1976 4. The song is considered a classic in The Clash's canon and was performed in public for the first time during the White Riot Tour 12.

The Rainbow Theatre lay derelict from 1982 until 1996 when its freehold was acquired by the Universal Church, a Brazilian foundation. The church carried out an extensive restoration of the building . As of the current date, the building still stands, serving as a testament to its rich history in the entertainment industry.10

Links

[1] Explore The Rainbow Theatre on GuideTags - [2] Rainbow Theatre on Wikipedia - [3] Rainbow Building on Architect Magazine - [4] White Riot on Wikipedia - [6] Rainbow History - [7] Rainbow Building on TrendHunter - [9] On This Day in 1977 - White Riot Tour - [10] Historic Theatre Photos - Astoria, Finsbury Park - [12] The Clash White Riot 7-Inch Review - [14] Rainbow Theatre - A Famous Music Venue - [16] The Clash London Up Down Westway - [17] Clash at Rainbow Finsbury Park - May 1977 - [18] Rainbow Theatre on YouTube - [21] From Colman to Costello - Astoria and The Rainbow Finsbury Park (PDF) - [23] The Clash, The Jam, Buzzcocks - White Riot Tour - [24] Rainbow Theatre on Concert Archives

INTERVIEW WITH RICK BURTON, FORMER STAGE MANAGER THERE

Youtube dicussion

Mark Chatterton's Rock Files 145 subscribers Subscribe 25 Share Download Clip Save 1,381 views 9 Jul 2021 The Rainbow Theatre was one of London's premier music venues in the 1970s and early 80s.

Band's ranging from the Who to the Jam, the Grateful Dead and Bob Marley all played there. Mark Chatterton interviews Rick Burton, former stage manager at the Rainbow about his time there, the history of the place, it's unique architecture, who player there, what live albums were recorded there and what it was actually like back in the golden age of rock 'n roll.

I wanna riot! Fans smash 200 seats at punk show

1977 The Clash at the Rainbow - unknown, hi-res copy wanted

Significant moment in punk history

The Clash's concert at the Rainbow Theatre on May 9, 1977, was described as a riot in the press, but the response after the event was mixed. Some observers saw it as a reflection of the turbulent times and the punk movement's response to social discontent.

The concert was seen as a significant moment in punk history, coming just weeks after the release of The Clash's debut album and a few months after the Sex Pistols' infamous TV interview with Bill Grundy, which had caused public outrage and led to the cancellation of many dates on their Anarchy In The UK tour[1].

The White Riot Tour, of which this concert was a part, was a landmark event in punk history. It took the punk movement to various parts of Britain and featured other prominent punk bands like The Jam, Buzzcocks, Subway Sect, and The Prefects[2]. The tour was also notable for the integration of new band member Topper Headon on drums[2].

The concert was likely filmed, contributing to the Punk Rock Movie by Don Letts and Julian Temple [3].

It was not just a musical event but a social phenomenon that captured the spirit of the times and the punk movement's response to social discontent[1].

Jon Savage, a journalist known for his review and recorded history of punk concerts in London, attended The Clash at the Rainbow in 1977. He wrote about the electric tension of the show and how vital The Clash was to defining London, England in 1977[5]. Despite the chaotic atmosphere, Savage noted that the band could communicate and connect with an audience of 3000 just as well as they could with audiences of 200 when they played at smaller venues[5].

However, not all responses were positive. Some critics felt that the concert was poorly organized and that the band's performance was disappointing[9]. Despite these criticisms, the concert at the Rainbow Theatre remains a significant event in the history of punk rock.

Links:
[1] The Guardian - Clash at Rainbow Theatre
[2] Far Out Magazine - White Riot Tour
[3] Black Market Clash - Swindon 1977
[4] Wikipedia - White Night Riots
[5] GuideTags - Rainbow Theatre
[6] Glasgow Music City Tours - White Riot Tour Edinburgh '77
[7] Black Market Clash - Harlesden Coliseum 1977
[8] FoundSF - White Night Riot
[9] 20th Century Punk Archives - Clash at the Rainbow
[10] 49th Shelf - The Chat with Henry Tsang
[11] Wikipedia - The Clash
[12] Arsenal Pulp Press - White Riot
[13] Trinity Bristol - Jimmy Cauty ADP

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

spine chilling to see a whole row of seats being ripped from the floor and launched onto the stage

Daryl Humphreys - Watching from the back it was spine chilling to see a whole row of seats being ripped from the floor and launched onto the stage. JS told the crown at the back to stop pushing forward as those at the front we're getting crushed. I've still got my tickets in a scrap book somewhere

Shinned up a drainpipe and through a toilet window for this gig

Allen Niven - Shinned up a drainpipe and through a toilet window for this gig..

IJane Clemetson - was there - fantastic gig - such a long time ago!!

Alexis Korner - Far left is that bird who used to spend all night at The Roxy cutting people's hair in the toilet. Surprised she's actually watching the show rather than giving someone a dodgy haircut in the bogs.

Dave Cooper - Got thrown out the side door and back through the front doors....3 times

Bruno Blum - I was there. Great show.

Pete Levick - I was there.

Nicholas Ward - i was there & still got my ticket [u25] + others from the punk era.

Martin Kerans - I was there. But in the stalls!

Colin Adkins - I was there.

Bill Lilley - Lived in Crouch End at the time - had to go - first ‘punk' band to play the Rainbow - maybe they should have taken the seats out prior to the gig - whoever thought that many people would actually sit down?

Gary Cooper - I was there....

"Scared shitless!"

Mark Carter - This was my first Clash gig and I remember as a 16 year old being both excited and scared shitless as various bits of ripped up debris showered down and the bouncers getting particularly arsey about it, there were quite a few punters wearing safety pins and a few in makeshift outfits but the whole Mohican punk look was a long way off from these gigs and all the gigs I went to in 77/78

best medium size venue in London back then

Alan Alder - The Rainbow was the best medium size venue in London back then. Went there about 20 times. The seats got trashed so many times they eventually took them out. Beautiful inside as well with the fountain in the foyer etc. Pretty much everyone played there including The Beatles many times. Such a shame it's not still a music venue, it should be a London landmark and tribute to British music.

Kerry Doole - I was at the May 9 show. What a lineup and such a great gig.

Kevin Pike - I was there and definitely not a Riot

Gary Strachan - I was there

Annette Weatherman - I was at this show; sat in the 2nd tier and watched the mini-riot in front of the stage. They tore several seats out! And Joe traded shirts with a kid, changing clothes in the middle of the set.

Ranking Fred - Hi 'nnett, this show marks another turning point for the Band, I remember Joe cursing because a date at the Rainbow, very big, it was several concerts that wouldn't take place in several small venues, fortunately, they continued and played wherever they could !! A beautiful Sunday to you

Blackmarketclash | Leave a comment

The Clash Jam split following the Rainbow Gig

Punk Wreck

Jill Furmanovsjy recalls 'White riot, I wanna riot, white riot, a riot of my own!' There was a riot at this gig when the audience smashed up a load of seats. Shot at the Rainbow Theatre in December 1977

The Clash (Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon and Nicky 'Topper' Headon) back stage before their most famous gig at the Rainbow Theatre. Time Out editor Gordon Thomson said: "The Clash gig went down in history as the greatest London band, in their prime, at the moment when punk rock spilled out of the clubs and into the major venues."

The band were supported on the night by some of the most notorious punk/new wave bands of the time, The Jam, The Buzzcocks, Subway Sect and The Prefects. Joe Strummer said of the performance: "We were in the right place doing the right thing at the right time."
This is a limited edition of 100 fine art prints. The remaining prints in this edition come complete with a certified Allan Ballard stamp. Please contact us at info@rockarchive.com regarding our current availability of limited edition prints signed by Allan Ballard.

The Sun: Punk Wreck!

11 May 1977

THE CLASH ON PAROLE
THE CLASH ON PAROLE | Facebook

Fans riot and theatre boss is delighted!

PUNK WRECK

Monday 9th May 1977, the Clash headline the Rainbow Theatre at Finsbury Park as part of their ‘White Riot' Tour.

They were supported by Prefects, Subway Sect, Buzzcocks and The Jam and the event at the time, was one of biggest punk gigs ever held in London.

Despite fans ripping out seats and causing an estimated £1000 worth of damage, the Rainbow Theatre's Director Alan Schaverien was not put off..

"It was not malicious damage but natural exuberance…we expected some damage and arrangements were made to cover the cost of it… we shall have more punk concerts soon." Alan Schaverien Source: Islington Heritage Services

The Clash returned to the Rainbow Theatre for a string of shows in December 1977 and Rock Against Racism concert with reggae band Aswad in 1979.

Sniffin Glue fanzine review

Billy Bragg - NME

"I saw them at the old Rainbow Theatre in Finsbury Park - one of the first nights of the White Riot tour in 1977. They completely had it. They had a backdrop from the Notting Hill carnival riot the year before with the line of coppers charging along Ladbroke Grove, and they just had the best sound - they really connected with the crowd.

"I think they started with ‘London's Burning' and then it was just mad jumping up and down for 45 minutes. The audience sitting further towards the front trashed the seats - it was reported as a riot, but wasn't really, it was just exuberance, I think that show was the moment when punk stopped being a cliquey phenomenon and really grasped the popular imagination. It was the most amazing thing." (Billy Bragg)

Robert Lloyd of the Nightingales and the Prefects

"Poptones: You toured with the Clash as the Prefects - was it during this event that you realised that the punk rock dream was not to come true?

Robert Lloyd: Absolutely, the very first gig we did with them at the rainbow (May 1977) put the kibosh on any notion we might have foolishly have had of a movement, revolution or whatever. the fortunate thing for us young, stupid kids was that this was really early in our, er, career and so we wasted less time running with the pack than we would have."

Selena Quirke: "I was, yeah, on the front page for supposedly wrecking The Rainbow."

Stories from former punks | Museum of London

Selena Quirke and the front pages od the national newspapers

Link or Link or archive PDF

"There were loads actually, but for me personally one of the ones that really stands out is The Clash gig. May the 9th 1977, Clash played The Rainbow. I was there, I was in the front row which I didn't have tickets for but managed to wangle my way into and it was the night that seats, well they called it the riot, didn't they, it was the White Riot tour for The Clash and they claimed that the punks had like wrecked The Rainbow Theatre, thrown all the seats everywhere. The next day it was in the papers. I actually hadn't gone home that night and was wearing the same clothes and my picture was in the Evening Standard and I was, I remember being on the bus and people looking at me and that's what it was down to, because I was, yeah, on the front page for supposedly wrecking The Rainbow."

Audio Player

Surtey dilemma for club which banned punk rock

Staffordshire Newsletter
Friday 20 May 1977

Profiting from a sick society

Coventry Evening Telegraph
Wednesday 11 May 1977

SOUNDS PUNKS AT THE RAINBOW: AN EVENT

21st May 1977

Record Mirror PERCY PUNK VIOLENCE CLASH RAINBOW

25 February 1978

RECORD MIRROR: AND WHAT A RIOT!

14 May 1977

Punk Rock, Latest English Craze Tries to Destroy the Passerby

The Clash, punk & The Rainbow

Calveston Daily News US
7 July 1977

CLICHE #1 1977 Punk Fanzine

Featuring: Live gig review of The Clash at the Rainbow May 9th 1977 + singles reviews.

Clash of opinion

Two different views of the Clash at London's Rainbow last week

Source unknown
May 1977

de concert

Les InRocks [French] [2003]

... article
... photos
... translated article (via Google)

SOUNDS: The Clash, The Jam, The Buzzcocks: The Rainbow Theatre, London

text link

Live Review by Jon Savage, Sounds, 21 May 1977

Rock ‘n' roll can be one of the few honest things left in this world. Yes. An event, a gathering of the clans. Yes. But it was all down to ...

RECORD MIRROR: Punk - It's a real killer

Punk its a Real Killer - as a letters pour in over punk violence

Record Mirror Letters Page
(25 June 77)

Melody Maker: Caught in the Act

14 May 1977

It was going to be a long evening, that much was certain ...

THE TIMES: The Clash at Full Strength

Ned Chaillet - Link

Album tracking: Methedrine Power

June 1977
- almost unreadable

Original or text

Times: Is Punk Junk?

Clive Bennett: Clearly its devoteses do not think so

11 May 1977

Since no loud mouthed annoucers ...

THE GUARDIAN: It was described as a riot': the Clash at the Rainbow, London, 1977

9 Dec 2016
Eddie Duggan on a legendary punk gig

Billy Bragg

Q Magazine Punk Special
June 2002

During the Clash's White Riot Tour gig, 200 seats are trashed ..
Billy Bragg

Record Mirror - Mark Bolan on the Clash Tour and advert Sex Pistols single

4 June 1977
Rainbow gig & ST album

The Sun: On the road with the The Clash

23 Nov 77

I wanna riot! Fans smash 200 seats at punk show

London Evening Standard

article wanted

Daily Mail:

article wanted

Daily Mail described it as a riot with seats being ripped up and thrown about. The truth is that some seats became detached from their weak mountings as we surged about and the broken seats were simply passed out of the crowd.

Sounds backstage photos

photos at the Rainbow

The Clash Rock the Rainbow 1977

Posted on October 2, 2015 by Phop 7 wonder

The Clash, Rainbow Theatre

Monday 9th May 1977, the Clash headline the Rainbow Theatre at Finsbury Park as part of their ‘White Riot' Tour.

Mondernaut! : Foto al concerto dei Clash per il "White Riot Tour". The Rainbow Theatre, Londra 1977

The Clash "White Riot Tour" London gig at The Rainbow Theatre on 09.05.1977

London gig at The Rainbow Theatre on 09.05.1977 is a milestone in British punk history, since it is considered as the largest punk gig to be held in London to date.

Part of their first headline tour with The Jam, The Buzzcocks, Subway Sect and The Prefects as support acts, this gig ended up in a true riot when fans started tearing out seats, throwing them on stage and causing unprecedent damages. However, as 1977 was the year of punk frenzy, the theatre`s demolition was hailed as a success and the Rainbow's director, Allan Schaverien,stated about the incident: "

Erica Echenberg ,17 Photos

Musicpictures.com

The Clash: A teenage love story

1977 was punk's Year Zero, the year Joe Strummer and chums made their call to arms to the nation's youth. Martin James heard the call, cheeked his mum and ran away to join the 'White Riot' tour. 27 years on, he sits down with Messrs Jones and Simonon to reminisce...

Also references Harldesen March 1977, Erics, Electric Circus, Rainbow May 77, Aylesbury Friars 78.

Record Mirror PUNK ROCK SURVEY
WILL SUCCESS BUY ABN END TO THE BANS?

6 August 1977

Bottom of first column, Clash Rainbow problems caused by singe price tockets and a rush from the back.

Voted Best London Gig Of All Time

Daniel Melia - 20th May 2005

Gigwise or archived PDF

The Clash's 1977 performance at London's Rainbow Theatre has been voted the best gig in the countries capital ever.

A poll of over 100 Time Out writers and contributors voted it the most legendary performance ever reports Ananova. The gig is mostly remembered for a riot in which fans ripped out hundreds of seats.

The band were supported on the night by some of the most notorious punk/new wave bands of the time; The Jam, The Buzzcocks, Subway Sect and The Prefects. Joe Strummer said of the performance: "We were in the right place doing the right thing at the right time."

Time Out editor Gordon Thomson said: "The Clash gig went down in history as the greatest London band, in their prime, at the moment when punk rock spilled out of the clubs and into the major venues."

In second place was Brian Wilson's Smile performance at the Royal Festival Hall last year, followed by Stevie Wonder in third and The Rolling Stones in fourth.

The top ten are:
The Clash, The Rainbow Theatre, May 9, 1977
Brian Wilson, Royal Festival Hall, February 20, 2004
Stevie Wonder, The Rainbow Theatre, February 24, 1974
Rolling Stones, The Crawdaddy Club, April 28, 1963
Duke Ellington, London Palladium, June 12, 1933
N*E*R*D with Justin Timberlake, Brixton Academy, November 9, 2003
Bob Marley, Lyceum Ballroom, July 17, 1975
The Smiths, Jubilee Gardens, June 10, 1984
White Stripes, Camden Dingwalls, July 30, 2001
The Beatles, The Pigalle, Piccadilly, April 21, 1963

Record Mirror DJ VIC VOMIT'S 'WHITE RIOT PUNK DISCO' LOSES BOOKINGS AFTER RAINBOW RIOT

11 June 1977

Record Mirror Interview with The Clash

23 July 1977

Interview includes Birmingham Rag Market, new songs, pressures on/from fans, hotels and pigeons, CBS, Rainbow 'Riot' gig, Teds and the Jam on "talking Conservative nonense" on the White Riot Tour.

3 pages

[1] All FB posts on Clash Official (none currently)
[2] All FB posts - The Clash Rainbow White

The Clash Official

The Clash backstage before

The Clash, 1977

The White Riot tour takes over London's Rainbow Theatre

9th May 1977

The Clash with The Jam, Buzzcocks and Subway Sect.

The Clash first gig at The Rainbow in 1977 was described as "a riot"

#onthisday 1977 The Clash played The Rainbow Theatre, London

"Hundreds of teenagers stood up to see the band and to dance, and the chairs collapsed under the weight. Far from rioting, we were simply passing the broken seats forward to the stage" - Eddie Duggan