Leicester De Montfort Hall

The Clash had played the famous and grand De Montfort Hall previously on the 1977 White Riot tour, the 1978 Sort It Out tour and the 1980 16 Tons Tour. They would return for the 5th time in 1984.  The band also played with regret also at the Polytechnic and Granby Hall. 

It was built in 1913 but still in use today. Although normally seated, for gigs it would be standing only allowing a capacity of 2,200. It had/has great acoustics and a bar down the length of one side.

De Montfort Hall, located in Leicester, UK, has a rich history dating back to its opening on July 21, 1913. The hall was a gift to the public from Alfred Corah, the head of Leicester's largest hosiery company, and is named after Simon De Montfort, the sixth Earl of Leicester, a crucial figure in medieval history. The venue has served as a cultural beacon for the people of Leicester, hosting a wide range of events, including music concerts, royal visits, comedy shows, company dances, political meetings, and election ballots. It has also been a venue for graduation ceremonies, exhibitions, and sporting events. The hall has witnessed various significant events, such as the first knighting in Leicester since 1426 and performances by renowned artists like The Clash and Debbie Harry from Blondie.

The building was constructed by the Corporation of Leicester in 1912 and 1913, at a cost of £21,000. It is designed in a Neoclassical style and is still owned and run by Leicester City Council. The hall's architect was Shirley Harrison, and it is praised for its fine acoustics, with a flexible auditorium that can accommodate different event layouts, a capacity of 400 to 2,200, and an outdoor amphitheater with a capacity of 250 to 7,000. The venue also houses a historic organ donated by an anonymous benefactor.

De Montfort Hall continues to be a vital part of Leicester's cultural scene, hosting a diverse program of entertainment, including classical concerts, pop groups, ballet, opera, jazz and blues, stand-up comedy, plays, and children's shows. It remains an active and popular music and performance venue, maintaining its legacy as a significant cultural and historical landmark in Leicester.

De Montfort Hall is still operational and continues to host various events. However, the building has undergone renovations and improvements over the years to maintain its structure and enhance its facilities.

See also the-clash-de-montfort-hall-leicester, De Montfort Hall - Wikipedia

Facebook | De Montfort Hall - According to our records, The Clash, played four times at the Hall: 28 May 1977, 16 January 1980, 20 July 1982 and 12 February 1984. (Includes photo). Link to Clash | Facebook page

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COMMENTS / SOCIAL MEDIA

Facebook page - De Montfort Hall / The Clash
Facebook Page - The Clash / Leicester

A legendary concert in all ways

[Nigel] ...  A legendary concert in all ways - I had just started work in April and spent my first weeks wages on the Clash Album, I am surprised to see that they played the Poly - I have no recollection of missing it, as far as my memory stands, as soon as the tour was announced I checked the dates and got the tickets. (But I also remember it as costing less than £1.50 so my memory is obviously less than perfect.)
 
It was my first punk concert and my first impression was that at eighteen and 6' 3", I was 4 years older and two foot taller than the rest of the hall.
 
Subway Sect - I have little recollection other than competent but not inspiring.
 
Slits - technically the worst band I have ever seen (and I've seen thousands) - rarely managed to get all 4 to start the same song at the same time, usually ended with drums or bass continuing after the rest finished and they seemed unable to learn that running around each other in circles meant that the leads got tangled up, cutting out guitars & ripping microphones from hand at inappropriate moments. 
However there were unique with a certain magic about them and I was certainly not put off enough to stop me buying Cut or seeing them live a few years later.
 
Buzzcocks - superb - I remember them as a lot more aggressive and harder than the poppy band I saw in later years. Spent the next couple of months touring the local record shops of Leicester trying to find someone who could get me a copy of Spiral Scratch. 
 
Clash - amazing - everything I hoped and expected (You've heard the recording and so can image). De Montfort Hall was one of the best venues in Britain with amazing acoustics, easy to enter or leave and had a decent bar the whole length of one side.

Nigel

PS I was also at Watchfield Aug 1975 and saw the 101ers - I saw three or four days of bands and they were one of only a couple of bands who stood out (and the only one of those who I had not heard of). Good enough for me to have caught most of two sets.  However I was convinced that they were called the Fabulous 101ers - I checked out a Watchfield site and although not listed someone has commented "on the first Friday night a riproaring set from the fabulas 101ers" suggests I was not the only one who might have thought this.  (http://www.ukrockfestivals.com/watchfieldfestival-menu.html)

One of the best gigs I ever attended

Rob Massey I was there. One of the best gigs I ever attended. Not got the ticket though.

Nick Weston I was there as well and had a drink with the band at the long DeMont bar as we were early. Also kept the advert from the Leicester Mercury. Great site, I am amazed at how much information you have compared to any other site I've seen for any band.  I thought the some recollections and ticket stubs copies might be of interest to you: Nick

Ray Simpson - They were brilliant. All day event with all the top punk bands on show.

Cate Bennison - I was there. A brilliant night! Slits, Subway Sect and Buzzcocks supported them. And right before my O levels started!!

Blackmarketclash | Leave a comment

S&T fanzine / review of Du Montford Hall

issue #5 (1980)

Review of Du Montford Hall 28 May 77 (this concert) and 16th January 1980

Chris Knowles, Clash City Showdown, review

Link

The Essential Clash Bootleg Bible includes this gig .. or here...

On this day in 1977 The Clash played De Montefort Hall, Leicester

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Clash City Collectors: 13 photos

Toby Watts · 14 January 2019 - These photos were taken by a young Belgium photographer who was living with us at the time( named Dali Deklerk I think ) He was at the gig with my pal Kev Reverb (from the band Crazyhead ),who got a mention on the bootleg (he was Kev Christ at the time and his mate was Ronnie Slicker ,although Joe Strummer said Ronnie Sucker )live at Cardiff although it was recorded at Leicester. He posted the pictures on his Facebook site

Kev Reverb added 13 photos and a video to the album The Clash White Riot Tour. 28 May 1977 · · De Montfort Hall , Leicester Saturday 28th May 1977.

Photos: 77-05-28 Leicester

Open photos in full in new window

Toby Watts also kindly shared….

These photos were taken tonight on this the 28th of May 1977 at the DeMontfort Hall in Leicester by a young Belgium photographer who was living with us at the time (named Dali Deklerk I think )

He was at the gig with my pal Kev Reverb (from the band Crazyhead ),who got a mention on the bootleg (he was Kev Christ at the time and his mate was Ronnie Slicker ,although Joe Strummer said Ronnie Sucker) live at Cardiff although it was recorded at Leicester.

He posted the pictures on his Facebook site

Clash City Collectors | Toby Watts also kindly shared… | Facebook

The Clash Leicester De Montfort Hall 28-05-1977

The Clash at De Montfort Hall in 1977

The Clash - Live From Leicester - 1977

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)
... both have lists of people who say they went

& 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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