Short 'Secret' Midlands Tour

updated 25 December 2008 - added punters comments

Audio

below average sound - sound 1.5 - 55min - unknown gen - 15 tracks

Janie Jones

Sound Quailty

Sadly this is not a good recording suffering a general lack of clarity, distant vocals and distortion. However guitars, drums and bass come across OK (bass somewhat buried and even Joe’s rhythm work can be made out. The new songs, performance and audience atmosphere make it an enjoyable listen and well worth having.

The tapers can be heard throughout seeking better positions, settling for the balcony (hence the distance problems) to avoid the bouncers, suggesting early that "this is gonna be dangerous".

Short mini-tour of the Midlands

In January of 1978 The Clash undertook a 'secret' tour of the Midlands in the UK and played three gigs. It seems that they were arranged mostly for the benefit of American record producer Sandy Pearlman, who was best known at the time for producing Blue Oyster Cult.

Sandy Pealrman who was being brought over from America to the second album. Johnney Green in A Riot of Our Own pg97 describes the near riot that took place. The NME report [below] screams the headline 'White Riot in Dusnstable'.

He turned up at all three gigs and tried to get into the band's backstage dressing room before the gig. The band's over-zealous the last (at Lanchester Polytechnic, Coventry, on 26 Jan 1978) zealous roadie Robin Banks used undue force to keep him out, resulting in the long-haired American laying prostrate with a bleeding nose as the band stepped over him to get on the stage.

PAUL: The record company had this idea that they wanted a big name American producer for the second album. I think Mick probably had an inter-est in Pearlman, and anyway he kept turning up at our shows. Mick's old schoolmate Robin Crocker (AKA Banks) used to be our security and at this one gig we're trying to get changed before going on, and this guy's trying to get in, when suddenly there's a 'wallop' and Sandy Pearlman's lying on the floor with blood coming out of his nose. So he's dragged out as Mick shouts at Robin, 'He's our producer!' But he kept coming back even after the punch-up so he was obviously keen.

A quick secret tour arranged by Bernie
(and poss. J Green).

Dates confirmed from NME Jan 28 1978. 'A Riot of our Own' p58 mentions these dates extensively.

Sandy Pearlman Tour

It’s back to the venue, which had now become synonymous with punk for one of several impromptu dates on a “short midlands tour” gigs organised at the behest of Bernie so as Sandy Pearlman (Give em Enough Ropes would be American producer) could get to see and meet the band.

Pearlman did turn up at Lanchester Poly. near Coventry where famously Robin Crocker, Micks mate, thumped him in the face for attempting to enter the dressing room, Pearlmans view of events is somewhat different however. It was enough of an assault to have Bernie cowering over, dabbing Pearlmans nose with a silk bloodstained handkerchief as the band stepped over and went on stage. Little is known of this short tour, however a review exists from the NME from the Dunstable gig.

NME / T-Zers

28 January 78

"Secret Clash gigs"

Link

Advert with earlier date

Tommy Gun & The Last Gang In Town debut

Whatever the reasons for these dates, The Clash put in a great performance to a very lively crowd and Joe is in a talkative mood between songs. Tommy Gun and the Last Gang In Town get there first known public performances.

Suffering hepatitus Joe is not in good mood, " I thought you all grew up last year. Listen I’m the one who has to take this shirt down the laundrette and I don’t like it crusty!” is his amiable intro and response to a still gobbing audience.

Following the short tour he would spend 2 weeks in Stephens Hospital before flying out to Jamaica with Mick at the end of February. Joe claimed the tiring disease may have been from a direct hit in his gob some phlegm from the Top rank at Sheffield back on November the 1st.

The set opens with bass drum beats out followed by a raw guitar blasting the opening chords of Complete Control, their new opening song until its replacement on the UK leg of the Sort It Out Tour in November.

The audience sing along giving the recording plenty of atmosphere if not clarity. Birmingham’s Burning is next and is met with riotous acclaim. Audience participation is vociferous as the tapers seek shelter, Joe shouts in a confrontational manner, "What do ya think I am, A Teddy Boy of somethink" before Jail Guitar Doors.

The end of Clash City Rockers is ad libbed with alternative lyrics

Last Gang in Town gets its known debut and it’s faster than its later recorded version with a different ending but with the same lyrics.

Tommy Gun also has a different ending without the machine gun drums added later at Topper’s suggestion. It has a small edit after before Capital Radio kicks in.

Police and Thieves is a further highlight, Joe procaliming in advance, "And this still aint what you want?". It ends with extended with a rap about the “King of Finsbury Park, right now he sits in front of his TV” as Mick produces some tremendous feedback. Most of the words cannot be made out but it is a clue to the identity of the king of early evening ITV in Groovy Times.

There are several edits: during Capital Radio, before Tommy Gun, I’m So Bored With the USA, Janie Jones and Garageland none losing more than a few seconds. Joe chats between songs throughout.

Following I'm so bored theres a power cut, Joe shouts "fcuk, fcuk, power cut, give me an e (chord)".

Garageland descends into a partial audience sing a long with tremendous applause at the end. Joe, exhausted, announces, "and here's the good news, we're gonna charge 80p or a quid on the door next time, instead of £2."

The lyrics to Whats My Name are altered to 'come to Birmingham'. Before the 2 song encore Joe tells the audience clamouring for more to calm down “we’re not that good!” but the Barbarella’s crowd clearly beg to differ.

I was lucky enough to see the Clash 17 times

Hi, Just come across your fantastic website! Its really well researched and helped me fill a few gaps in.....I was lucky enough to see the Clash 17 times (well thats what i always thought!) between '77 and '81.

One thing bugs me - Barbarella's gigs in 1978.

I really don't remember the gig on January 24 at all! According to my records I saw them on May 7 and definitely don't recall seeing them the day after the RAR gig (which I went to) on May 1st. But I definitely did see them twice at Barbs in this period. There are two reasons why this sticks in my mind - for the first one a film crew was present (for Rude Boy?) and secondly Bernie had a fit when he heard that Barbarellas was charging (I think £2.00) to get in (or was not letting u-18's in) either way they came back and did a gig for 50 pence admission!

This could well have been the Jan 24 show, but more likely the May 1, as I think they were close together (but I don't recall it being just a week apart). Hopefully you can shed some light on this...........or perhaps its my memory that is frazzled after 30 years! J Heath

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Setlist

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15	Complete Control Londons Burning Jail Guitar Doors Clash City Rockers Last Gang in Town The Prisoner White Man in Ham Palais Capital Radio Tommy Gun Police and Thieves I'm So Bored with the USA Janie Jones Garageland Whats My Name White Riot