Updated December 2022 - added numerous articles

Audio sources:

1. old video
2. 1991 Rebroadcast UK SatTV
3. 2001 Rebroadcast UK BBC2 TOTP2
4. 1990's rebroadcast UK?

Digital TV broadcast - Tommy Gun

91 Re-bradcast (via tape) - Tommy Gun (better?)

Audio Sources (audio from video):

2. 1991 Rebroadcast UK SatTV
3. 2001 Rebroadcast UK BBC2 TOTP2 [Clash City Rockers only]

Sound Quality

The very 1st rebroadcast of one of the two clash performances was a Something Else compilation programme.The song in the compilation was Tommy Gun.

BBC2 in the UK had a DIY ethic

The show put out by BBC2 in the UK had a DIY ethic, devised and presented by teenagers, it featured a mixture of of topics and music about current social events. The actual date was not as the boot LP [Death or Glory] lists as 1981, but January 1978, the BBC TOTP2 A/V source from 2001 has more info.

According to what I was able to dig up about the footage you are about to see from UK television show Something Else, the performance by The Clash that was filmed in 1978 was allegedly their one and only live contribution to be televised by the BBC. Strummer and his bandmates never appeared on Top of the Pops because they refused to lip-synch their songs. In addition to that cool piece of punk history, Joy Division’s appearance on the show, during which they played “Transmission” and “She’s Lost Control” would be the last videotaped-for-TV footage of the band when it was shot in the studio for the show in 1979.

It’s important to clear up the possible misconception that all of the bands in the footage below appeared at the same time on Something Else, though The Jam and Joy Division performances were aired on the same show. It’s also safe to assume that appearances by all four of these bands on one singular TV show might have caused viewers to spontaneously combust into flames after witnessing the adrenalin charged performances by four of the greatest bands to ever come out of the UK. The program itself was a precursor to other notable shows like The Tube and Oxford Road Show which integrated the format used by Something Else. The show’s “vibe” was also famously parodied by the strangely ribald BBC comedy/music series The Young Ones. The dig was also said to be directed at the Oxford Road Show which as I mentioned borrowed heavily from Something Else.

The episode in question, Demolition, was the first show of season one which aired on November 9th, 1982. During the episode we see Rick, played by the late Rik Mayall, frantically “shushing” his roomies so he can watch the faux television show “Nosin’ Around” which later causes him to kick in the TV screen in frustration because someone purporting to “speak for the youth” was wearing “flared trousers.” I can’t say that I blame him for his reaction either as I feel the much the same way anytime I see someone wearing white shoes. While I’m sure the footage I’ve posted won’t make you want to stick your foot up your television’s “ass” so it shits size eights, it will make you want to smash something. So perhaps have an easily breakable item close by that you won’t miss just to be safe. Posers get LOST!

Record Mirror, Clash on BBC2, Something Else

11 March 1978

Link

The Clash | Facebook

All FB posts on Clash Official Page
All FB posts on Clash Official Group
All FB posts

Photo from video

Punks rock in for politics

Liverpool Echo -
Monday 18 February 1978

PDF

Looks like this was broadcast on 18th February

Teenagers make lively varied pilot

The Stage
Thursday 16 March 1978

PDF

Subject : Today programme radio 4 28th May 2001
Something Else BBC TV programme of January 1978

From: info@bbc.co.uk
Subject: Today programme 5411577

Thank you for your recent e-mail concerning 'Today' on Radio 4 and 'Something Else' on BBC ONE. I apologise for the delay in our reply. We know our correspondents appreciate a quick response, and it is a matter of regret to us that you have had to wait for so long on this occasion.

I am sorry to inform you that, due to copyright and contractual restrictions, copies of these programmes are not available.

You may be interested to know that the 'Today' website allows you to listen to parts of programmes. However, at present, a technical hitch is preventing sound clips from before the 2 July 2001 being accessed. BBC Online are working on the problem and it will be resolved as soon as possible. The website is:

www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/today

I hope you find this information helpful and thank you, once again, for your interest in the BBC.

Regards

Yvonne Erskine
BBC Information

Setlist

1 2 3	Clash City Rockers interview Tommy Gun