Extensive archive of articles, magazines and other from the 'Sandy Pearlman dates in early gigs in 1978, and the Festival gigs in May 1978

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Retrospective articles

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Fanzines

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Photos

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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The RAR gig

The RAR gig proved a significant milestone in The Clash's history: the first time in front of a huge audience; estimated at anywhere between 50 to 100,000. It attracted national media attention and had a direct association with organised left wing politics to which the Clash, Joe particularly, were sympathetic.

Much was made of Joe's Brigade Rosse shirt. Famoulsly interviewed after by Terry Lot for Record Mirror Joe had quite a bit to say. The full text from that interview is here.

The event is well documented, A Riot Of Our Own, Last Gang both have extensive chronologies, and also amongst the media at the time as well as the Rude Boy video and DVD footage. Both are identical and contain 2 songs as does the promo cassette from Atlantic Publishing (for further info on this cass. check George Gimarcs 'Post Punk Dairy' page 103). One track made it onto the official live release.

Significant impact

RAR had a significant impact in raising the consciousness of young people against racism and the National Front. Playing at the rally was perfectly logical in view of the bands anti-racist stance since forming two year's earlier. A platform for The Clash to present their stance, through songs such as English Civil War (debuted here), about the dangers of the far right.

The previous Aug 77 had seen riots in Lewisham with NF marchers confroneted by ANLanti-protestors. Link here.

The bands performance is a very well received, one of the highlights of Rude Boy is seeing tens of thousands of people pogoing to White Riot. Hazan and Mingay for the Rude Boy film recorded White Riot and London's Burning.

Audio and video and overdubs

Songs that can be found on the Rude Boy promo cassette (Rude Boy outtakes), whilst London's Burning is on the official release, From Here To Eternity, all in excellent sound quality, though there was some subsequent remixes of studio dubs to enhance the quality. The films producers claim this to be minimal but other sources, such as Green suggest otherwise.

They also claimed film was in short supply so they tended to never record whole gigs, though more may exist somewhere as may further professional audio recordings from the gig and 1978 as a whole.

Rock against racism: on the front line with the Clash, Specials, Undertones & Elvis Costello

12.10.2014 | Dangerous Minds

It all began in 1968 when an old Tory coot Enoch Powell gave a racist speech against immigration and anti-discrimination legislation at his West Midlands constituency in England. Powell claimed he was horrified at what he believed was an unstoppable flow of immigration that would eventually swamp the country where "in fifteen or twenty years' time the black man will have the whip hand over the white man." It was an incendiary and offensive speech full bile and hate, and became known as the "Rivers of blood speech" because of Powell's quotation from Virgil's Aeneid about "'the River Tiber foaming with much blood.'"

Many of the white working class supported Powell, most shamefully the London dockers' union staged a one day strike in his favor. Powell became the pin-up of the far right and his words appeared to sanction their rise, in particular the odious neo-Nazi National Front that promoted its racist policies with the boot as much as the ballot. Against this rose Rock Against Racism - "a raggedy arsed united front" co-founded by Red Saunders, Roger Huddle and others in 1976.

At first, Rock Against Racism was just an idea - a way to bring together a new generation of youth against the stealthy rise of the far right. It may have remained just an idea had it not been for Eric Clapton announcing (see video) during a concert in 1976 that the UK had "become overcrowded" and his fans should vote for Enoch Powell to stop Britain from becoming "a black colony." Allegedly Clapton then shouted "Keep Britain white." His racist tirade led to Saunders and Huddle writing a letter to the music paper NME pointing out that half Clapton's music was black. The letter ended with a call for readers to help establish Rock Against Racism. The response was overwhelmingly positive.

In April 1978, 100,000 people marched across London in support of Rock Against Racism, which was followed by a concert at Victoria Park headlined by The Clash and the Tom Robinson Band. It was a momentous event, which singer and activist Billy Bragg correctly described as "the moment when my generation took sides."

Photographer Syd Shelton documented the rise of Rock Against Racism during the 1970s and 1980s from its first demonstrations, the concert in Victoria Park, to the gigs, bands, musicians (The Clash, The Specials, The Undertones, Elvis Costello, etc), the young activists and supporters who stood up and proudly said: "Love Music, Hate Racism."

Previously on Dangerous Minds

Anti Nazi march planned by RAR

31 March 1978

Record Mirror Join the fight against the front

8 April 1978

Link

Record Mirror Anti Nazi fest.

8 April 1978

Link

<to add>

NME Thrills

Tom Robinson rally

The Clash were added later

Link

Supporters card, travel (coach) details

Rare RAR poster

The Clash Ignore Alien Orders | Facebook

"Although we were already going to the RAR event at Victoria Park - primarily to see X-Ray Spex and Steel Pulse - we were then really excited to hear that The Clash were to be a late inclusion. Getting to Victoria Park was easy for us Eppingites, as it was a short trip on the Central Line to Mile End underground station. We then followed the slow moving and excited crowd to the park.

First up were those Day-Glo punks, X Ray-Spex. Poly Styrene had shaved her head before the gig and was wearing a woolly scarf wrapped around her head. I wondered whether this was an anti-sex symbol stance, or was she just feeling ill? All afternoon the bands were plagued by poor sound quality. But Polly’s distinctive vocals and saxophone- driven sound were going down well with the crowd.

Next up, the main course and the band that everyone was eagerly waiting for, the mighty Clash. Joe Strummer came on stage wearing a red T-shirt, with a Red Brigade slogan on the front, and white drainpipe jeans. He looked the business, and in sharp contrast to the longhaired Mick Jones. They kicked off their set with Complete Control and finished with Jimmy Pursey jumping on stage and singing White Riot with them." (Ed Silvester)

“The first time I saw The Clash was at Victoria Park, London, the Rock against Racism show in 1978. Me, my brother and my best mate had read about the gig in the music papers and decided we had to go, we were 16 and 17 years old and had never been anywhere like this before, but this was not to be missed.

We got the train from Sheffield to St Pancras along with a few like-minded souls and then made our way to the meeting point at Trafalgar Square to find hundreds of people gathered there. After all the speeches and rallying, the march set off, banners flying, towards Hackney through areas of London we had never heard of and past glowering groups of geezers outside pubs, all looking like they wanted to kick our heads in just for being on their turf, never mind the fact we were all punks, hippies and political types, not their mates at all. We didn’t care one bit, this was something special and we were gonna see The Clash for the first time!”

We finally got to Victoria Park and saw the size of the crowd and the stage set and ready, Steel Pulse and the Tom Robinson Band played which was great but we only really cared about The Clash. They came on and the crowd went crazy, it’s all a bit of a blur 40 years later but I can still hear the racket now as they blasted through the songs we had only previously heard in our bedrooms. Mick leaping about the stage, Joe’s voice and the drums and bass booming across the park. I bet the tower block residents loved it!" (Robert Brown)

"When I look back on that day now I realise just how important it was to my friends and me. We immersed ourselves in music even more after Victoria Park and The Clash became ‘our band’. We’d go and see them every chance we had and every new release of theirs was a major event for us. It might sound corny, but I do believe that the event helped to shape our lives. My brother Ben Marshall and his mate Jim Shelley went on to become journalists - both initially writing about music, before moving in to the mainstream media. My cousin Michael still plays in local punk bands and I became a DJ, a job that I did for 25 years, and one that took me all over the world. And whilst I’m not saying it was all down to that one performance, seeing The Clash at Victoria Park was certainly a major catalyst. It showed us the power of music. How music can connect with people and how it really can change things.” (Dave Mothersole)

Extracts from IGNORE ALIEN ORDERS: ON PAROLE WITH THE CLASH. YOu can bu the book here
https://www.tonybeesleymodworld.co.uk

4 page flyer

4 page flyer reverse

Flyers

Clash/Buzzcocks/X-Ray Spex Rock Against Racism/Anti Nazi League 1978 Carnival Poster

Sold at Record Mecca auctions - A very rare poster advertising the April, 1978 London 'CARNIVAL' sponsored by Rock Against Racism and the Anti-Nazi League.

The concert featured The Clash, Buzzcocks, Steel Pulse, X-Ray Spex, The Ruts, Sham 69, Generation X and the Tom Robinson Band. The Southall based reggae band Misty In Roots led the march from the back of a lorry (truck) during the carnival, although they did not appear on the main stage.

Two posters

There were two posters for this event; the first listed the Tom Robinson Band and Steel Pulse and this one, the second (very similar in design) added X-Ray Spex (all of the other bands signed on afterward and didn't appear on any posters.)

The posters were printed on newsprint and machine folded; most were pasted up on walls, and few survived. This example is in mint condition, and measures 24 1/2″ x 36. Designed by the great David King.

Read more about this historic event at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_Against_Racism and
http://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/apr/20/popandrock.race

THIS ITEM HAS BEEN SOLD.

The National Front is a Nazi Front

Transport Ticket

Programme

Temporary Hoarding which was the 'programme' for the Anti Nazi League/ Rock Against Racism 'Carnival

Very rare copy of Temporary Hoarding which was the 'programme' for the Anti Nazi League/ Rock Against Racism 'Carnival Against the Nazis'outdoor gig at Victoria Park, Hackney, London on 30th April 1978.

Starting with a march from Trafalgar Square, this was the first big live and free event; it featured X-Ray Spex, Steele Pulse, The Clash and the Tom Robinson Band, which drew 80,000-100,000 people (I was there).

A little grubby on the outside with some light creasing as it's been lurking about my studio/s for 45 years. This item folds- out from the closed size of 17" x 12 1/2" to 24 3/4 x 17", and again to 34" x 23 3/4" to reveal the huge montage inside. there are no rips of tears nor marking inside.

Sounds, Black and white ready to fight

The Carnival Against The Nazis gig in Hackney reviewed by John Gill in Sounds 13th May 1978,
including X-Ray Spex, The Clash, Steel Pulse and Tom Robinson Band

NME, Carnival

6 May 1978
review Chris Salewicz

GUARDIAN: ‘If there are death threats, don't tell me' - how Rock Against Racism fought fascism

Online or Archived PDF

Something very wow about Strummer

1978? at a Rock Against Racism/Anti-Nazi festival in Victoria Park(?) I saw the Clash live for the first time. The sound was appalling and Mick Jones was wearing pink trousers. We were miles away from the stage but there was still something very wow about Strummer. So much anger. So much energy.

Lots of links
The Clash @ Victoria Park, London - search results | Facebook
THE CLASH - Rock Against Racism - search results | Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/

Marched for hours from Trafalgar Square and was bricked by NF skinheads on route

Peter Strike - Yes I did go, infact I went on that particular coach from Norwich and had the same yellow ticket .... marched for hours from Trafalgar Square and was bricked by NF skinheads on route , arrived at Victoria Park to find that I had missed The Clash , X ray spex and Sham 69 !!! Gutted but caught the end of Tom Robinson ... still very glad that I was there that day though Great memories ..

I was there

[deleted] - r/theclash - Saw at the 1978 Rock Against Racism gig in Victoria Park, Hackney. Loved their clothes and it was fun watching Mick trying to keep his guitar on when the strap broke during first number I think.

Ian Murphy - My first gig was the Rock Against Racism rally in Victoria Park, at which The Clash played.

Nigel Limerick - Saw them at the Victoria Park Mile End. East London same year. I was in that huge crowd on the film (somewhere)

John Guy - yes.....Victoria Park, April '78

Ian Murphy - My first gig was the Rock Against Racism rally in Victoria Park, at which The Clash played.

John Guy - yes.....Victoria Park, April '78

Picto_Leng - Yes it was the Rock Against Racism gig. I remember Patrick Fitzgerald being bottled off, and X-Ray Spex were equally dire but well received.

Ian Murphy - My first gig was the Rock Against Racism rally in Victoria Park, at which The Clash played.

John Guy - yes.....Victoria Park, April '78

Nigel Limerick - Saw them at the Victoria Park Mile End. East London same year. I was in that huge crowd on the film (somewhere)

Jeff Briggs - Facebook - I saw them at Victoria Park, Rainbow, Lewisham, Lyceum twice, Brixton fair deal twice

Elevator-Beautiful  - r/theclash - I saw them at Victoria Park, Hackney in 78, The Rainbow in 79, it was a benefit gig and the best show I've ever seen, 81 in London, can't remember where but it was the Radio Clash residency with Futura spray painting behind them as they played, 82 Brixton after Topper had been sacked. I saw BAD in 86 at a small club in London just as E=mc hit, I met Joe at a Earthquake Weather record signing, I queued up for ages and when it was my turn I told him I just wanted to meet him and tell him what he meant to me, his face lit up and he pulled down an empty Earthquake Weather sleeve and signed it for me, he was the coolest man I've ever met, we shook hands and he said "keep rocking" I walked out feeling 10 feet tall. In 1991 I met Mick at a "secret" Paul McCartney show in Southend, in the interval me and my mates were looking around and saw Mick up in one of the boxes, we all shouted "Jonesy!" and he looked down and smiled and waved to us, we met him after the show and he was really friendly and signed flyers for us.

fritter said: - Still one of the best bands. Saw the clash several times. Victoria park RAR was a great day out. Hastings pier pavilion 1977 with Richard Hell. Village with Mikey Dread.

Met Joe in 1999 at Glastonbury. He was in the crowd on the jazz stage watching Burning Spear, there with Craig Charles. It was my son's first Glastonbury, he was 13 and just started listening to the clash and learning guitar. I went and spoke to Joe, apologised for interrupting him and introduced him to my son, Tim. He gave Tim 100% attention and asked him some questions about himself. Tim said he'd just started learning the guitar and Joe said to keep it up. He was charming and attentive.

Me, my son and brother saw Joe play at the Wedgewood rooms 2 or 3 weeks before he died. Terrific gig.Also saw the rock against the rich tour at Poole arts centre back in the 80s, also a great night.

I loved the clash and still listen to their albums. So many great tracks. White Man, bankrobber dub, Brixton, armagideon time for a start. Saw the Good the bad and the Queen the penultimate night at the Hammersmith Palais (the Fall played the final night) and Don Letts played White Man which the whole place sang with passion and gusto. Always question authority.

Patrick Lenihan - First saw The Clash at the Rock Against Racism concert at the Rainbow Finsbury Park - think it was 1979. Then Hammersmith Palais 1980 (?) & Lyceum Ballroom on The Strand 1981(?). All were great events. Just wished I could have seen them more often!

kuepper - I was at the Victoria Park RAR gig, also saw them in Manchester at Belle Vue and the Electric Circus. TBH I only began to really appreciate them later after Sandinista! and Black Market Clash

David Allder - I was there. What a day

Steve Bonzi Vizard - 1st saw the clash at the rock against racism concert victoria park. What a fantastic day.

Andy Gibbs - I was at this Gig. I remember Joe's red brigade T Shirt..Brilliant

Terry Maunder - Went to so many great gigs at Music Machine. Didn't go to this one but RAR march and concert Victoria Park, Hackney, 1978, is one of my most loved gigs/marches. I did get a ticket for the Anarchy tour '76, 8th December, when I was living in Derby, famously cancelled by the Leisure Committee but saw them live the following year at the same venue. Peel used to remark on the bit of paper nailed to the door which simply said "gig cancelled" for the Anarchy tour one. Turned the Anarchy ticket into a small poster which is the wall

Gary Jewess - Saw at Victoria park in 78, ANL concert, I will remember that day forever.

Rock Against Racism at Victoria Park, Hackney, was a rite of passage

LSP - Saw them twice. First time was 11.11.77, Cambridge Corn Exchange, supported by The Lous and Richard Hell & The Voidoids. I'd been going to shows for a year by then, mostly punk, and had seen some great bands, but this one stood out at the time as a Major Event, and remains in my top 3 all-time shows, alongside LZ at Knebworth and Priest at the first Donington. Can't remember much about it, apart from Mick wearing a white suit and Joe's commanding & charismatic stage presence. Would kill for a recording of this, but never found one.

Then 30.4.78 at a Rock Against Racism thing in Victoria Park, Hackney, which was a rite of passage as it was the 1st time we'd travelled for a show. Steel Pulse, X-Ray Spex, The Clash, Tom Robinson Band. Fortunately, some of this features in the Rude Boy movie, also found an audio boot. Would love to have seen them after Rope, didn't happen. After that, meh - very disappointed (at the time) with London Calling, and then they totally lost me with Sandinista. Hey-ho.

I was 14 and went to the Anti-Nazi League carnival

@paulbillerey1594 - I was at this Gig with my brother's Phil and Alex April 1978.
The Clash - London's Burning (Live at Rock Against Racism at Victoria Park, 1978) #shorts - YouTube

@tonymcmahon_historybear - I was 14 and went to the Anti-Nazi League carnival with my mates - gotta confess, I have sharper memories of X-Ray Spex and the Tom Robinson Band playing - shame on me!  The march to that park went on forever - we literally marched from Trafalgar Square to Mile End. Would people walk that far these days?

@leematthews6812 - My first ever gig
The Clash Rock Against Racism Victoria Park 1978 - YouTube

I remember it as though it were yesterday

Chris Lewis-Jones - Great day. I remember it as though it were yesterday!

Ian Brown - Great day

Ian Bruce - Me too

Tony Phillips - And me

Paul Trigg - I was there

Thames Television

Anti Nazi League| Rock against Racism | Protest | Demonstration | Thames Television |1978 - YouTube

First broadcast: 22/02/1979. If you would like to license a clip from this video please e mail: archive@fremantlemedia.com Quote: VT 20551

Thames Televisions 'Our People' programme follows some of the organizers behind the Anti Nazi movement in the East End of London - including the 'Rock against Racism' ANL demonstration and carnival in 1978 

@derin111 - Spotted myself in this video. At around 03.10, I’m the mixed race kid milling through the crowd in the lower left quadrant of the screen. That was a month after I had turned 15 years old. I’m 58 now.
Anti Nazi League| Rock against Racism | Protest | Demonstration | Thames Television |1978 - YouTube

@jeffblack5024 - I was at the ANL carnival in 1978 and still have those beliefs and principles. Generally, the punk rock generation had no time for racism and still doesn't.

Open video in new window

Rock against racism 1978 crowd shots

Rock against racism 1978 crowd shots - YouTube

@JackBlack-gh5yf - What an amazing day that was! I was 17 too :)

@derin111 - I was there. I had just turned 15. I’ve seen myself in the crowd in a longer documentary film of that day.,

@snafutube - i was there .... only 17 at the time ;-)

@tillysanders2593 - Me too and 15

Open video in new window

Our trendy english teacher, Mr Simpson hired a coach from Huddersfield

@johnedmondson3202 - I was there:) our trendy english teacher Mr Simpson hired a coach we were from Huddersfield about to do our  A level boys. Clash xray spexs tom robinson steel pulse, went home had my ear pierced and henna on my hair , happy days
The Clash at Rock Against Racism Victoria Park London 1978.mov - YouTube

Cracking day, unbelievable . Ended up at some squat in Kings Cross

@TheeHoly13 - I was there too. Cracking unbelievable day. Ended up at some squat in Kings Cross. Magnificent. 57 now and just put it on out of curiosity. More power every kid that is till moved to rebel by music. Handle the partying and you’ll be what every tourist wants to be.
The Clash at Rock Against Racism Victoria Park London 1978.mov - YouTube

@ThatOtherMikeyGuy - I know I'm somewhere in that crowd, but I can't spot myself . It was an incredible day.

@larousserie - I fell in love with Polly Styrene that weekend. Brilliant gig.

Jeremy Corbyn

@youngian - Its Jeremy Corbyn at 1m 20s. [prior to: “Someone’s pulled the fucking plugs”]
The Clash at Rock Against Racism Victoria Park London 1978.mov - YouTube

"Great day out from Leeds" ... "went from Salford"

@QuentinUK - I was there, went with Andy Blade, a schoolfriend of my brother.

@MrBryansseals - Great day out from Leeds, Clash and Xray specs were good, as were the topless go go dancers in the pub across the road

@Harrybowie1 - What a GiG,,, Yes,,i was there ,,it cost ,,, belive it or not,,, 50p all in,,,Transport from Salford to London return and the GiG....  what a Day,

The tubes were on strike. so we walked. Every corner seemed to have gangs of skinheads zeigheiling

@pauldesmond3269 - Was gonna get a tube as didnt wanna walk 6 miles or more but the tubes were on strike...as we walked/marched with the rest every corner seemed to have gangs of skinheads zeigheiling ....when we got to the park there were skinheads attacking the gays and pushing and shoving down the front....was quite nervy .

Crowd went mad when they launched into complete control

@kevinhyland5524 - Was certainly there

@catinhell4084 - Was there age fifteen, crowd went mad when they launched into complete control , hard to stay standing , amazing day . X-ray specs were great too
The Clash - Live At Rock Against Racism, 1978 (Full Concert!) - YouTube

@derin111 - I was there having just turned 15 a month before. Recently saw myself there in another video of the day. That is really weird to see yourself at 15 in a crowd like that when you’re now 58! I saw them live a further 10 times.

@jackcawley3435 - i was there... couldnt hear fuckall.. but a great day ..

@tezpop6480 - was there too, the best concert any 15 year old could attend, classic.

@losttango - Well I was there too, and you know what they said? Well some of it was true!

@acs1958 - I was there - great gig - great day out and a great cause!!

What a day!

@davoscaff - I was there. The girl I was with wouldn't go near the front, so we stayed at the back 45 degrees to the right, from the stage. X Ray Spex were good, as were Steel Pulse and Tom Robinson Band. Papers and police claimed 60000 people were there. Everybody else reckoned 200000 to 300000. It was a bugger finding the car after, nearly abandoned it. What a day.

lots of coppers and right-wingers en route

@pauledwards7374 - I was there, aged 13 with three mates from school. Quite scary walking down to the park, lots of coppers and right-wingers en route. Proper punks in the crowd, before there was a uniform for punk. Brilliant day, X-Ray Spex were fantastic, TRB and Steel Pulse too. Oh - and The Clash, for free! Remember the bloke in front of me had attached bricks to his boots and had the words 'I Am God' painted on his jacket. I didn't argue!

@jimshelley8831 - I was luckily enough to see them live 3 times in London, my all time favourite band. Also at the the forefront of Rock against Racism set up after Eric Clapton's racist comments.

The Clash Official | Facebook

On this day in 1978 / Photos

Angus Walsh On this day in 1978. The Clash would of performed at Victoria Park at the Rock against Racism gig on April 30th 1978. Here are some photographs of Joe Strummer. Also my dad was there and what a experience he had!

Mick Jones, Rock Against Racism 1978

Must have been breathtaking! I wish I could have been there, but unfortunately I was 10 years too young! I can only congratulate everyone who was there! The Clash Official | Facebook

Today marks when The Clash played at Rock Against Racism at Victoria Park

The Clash | Facebook - Syd Shelton and Val Wilmer 

NME pullout covering the Rock Against Racism outdoor gig in Victoria Park, London, Sunday 30 April 1978

Link

Open photos in full in new window

30th April 1978 - Jimmy Pursey guests with The Clash on "White Riot", 'Rock Against Racism', Victoria Park, London, England. Facebook

Photo © Denis O'Regan. Source: www.gettyimages.co.uk

The Clash at the Rock Against Racism/Anti-Nazi League carnival in Victoria Park, 30 April 1978.

CLASH TO ME | Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/

Many thanks to David Newton for permission to share this awesome photo he took of The Clash at the Rock Against Racism gig which was held on 30/4/78... Loving The Clash | Facebook

Alamy photos

Rock against racism

Record Mirror ANL photo

6 May 1978

NME pullout covering the Rock Against Racism outdoor gig in Victoria Park

NME: Against the Nazis

NME pullout covering the Rock Against Racism - search results | Facebook

The Clash - NME pullout covering the Rock Against Racism outdoor gig in Victoria Park, London, Sunday 30 April 1978. The Clash were passionate anti-racists and supporters of the Anti-Nazi League so were a natural choice to headline the gig. https://www.facebook.com

All the photos and images

Courtesy of Daen Danny (in the pistols t-shirt)

More photos at the bottom

The Clash at the Rock Against Racism/Anti-Nazi League carnival in Victoria Park, 30 April 1978. All photographs by Syd Shelton

Pictures courtesy of Steve Kirk

Link

More photos

Rock Against Racism badge

Joe Strummer | Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/

“I think people ought to know that we’re anti-fascist, we’re anti-violence, we're anti-racist and we’re pro-creative. We’re against ignorance.” Joe Strummer on The Clash.

Spurs against the Nazis, sticker

Stickers & details

RAR sticker

There is the official footage and an uncirulating full version in black and white of the Clash. Therehave also been documentaries.

Far Out Magazine Relive The Clash's fiery performance

Far Out Magazine Relive The Clash's fiery performance at the Rock Against Racism Carnival in 1978. Archive PDF

The Clash at Victoria Park 'White Riot'

Open in new window (854 x 480)

Documentary: White Riot Rock against racism

BY ALFREDO VIOLANTE WIDMER:

Documenatry Website

White Riot follows the Rock Against Racism movement of the '70s, revealing both the nastiness of the rising National Front at the time and the amazing power of music, activism and a real desire for social change at a grassroots level. Best Documentary BFI London Film Festival.

Rubika Shah's energising film charts a vital London protest movement.

Rock against Racism (RAR) was formed in 1976, prompted by 'music's biggest colonialist' Eric Clapton and his support of racist MP Enoch Powell.

White Riot blends fresh interviews with queasy archive footage to recreate a hostile environment of anti-immigrant hysteria and National Front marches. As neo-Nazis recruited the nation's youth, RAR's multicultural punk and reggae gigs provided rallying points for resistance. As founder Red Saunders explains: 'We peeled away the Union Jack to reveal the swastika'.

The campaign grew from Hoxton fanzine roots to 1978's huge antifascist carnival in Victoria Park, featuring X-Ray Spex, Steel Pulse and of course The Clash, whose rock star charisma and gale-force conviction took RAR's message to the masses.

Open TRAILER in new window (1080p HD) / Youtube / time 2:47mins

WATCH FULL DOCUMENTARY HERE:

White Riot follows the Rock Against Racism movement of the 1970s, revealing both the nastiness of the rising National Front at the time and the amazing power of music, activism and a real desire for social change at a grassroots level. Best Documentary BFI London Film Festivals. Dir. Rubika Shah | 80 mins | UK | 2019

Key cast: Writers: Ed Gibbs & Rubika Shah (Let's Dance: Bowie Down Under 2015) Featuring: Red Saunders; Roger Huddle; Kate Webb; The Clash; Steel Pulse; Tom Robinson; Poly Styrene; Sham 69; Alien Kulture Cover photo by Syd Shelton

Awards: Winner Best Documentary at the BFI London Film Festival; Special Mention for the Generation 14+ Crystal Bear, Berlin Film Festival Also voted top film at the ICO Spring Screening Days - March 2020

WHITE RIOT: documenting Rock Against Racism

Join us from your home for an online conversation exploring the rise of Rock Against Racism.

Chaired by radio DJ, presenter and producer Iyare Igiehon, the conversation features White Riot director Rubika Shah, Pervez Bilgrami of punk band Alien Kulture, and Director of the Black Music Research Unit at Westminster University and former member of Steel Pulse, Mykaell Riley.

Anti Nazi League| Rock against Racism | Protest | Demonstration | Thames Television |1978

First broadcast: 22/02/1979

Thames Televisions 'Our People' programme follows some of the organizers behind the Anti Nazi movement in the East End of London - including the 'Rock against Racism' ANL demonstration and carnival in 1978.

Open TRAILER in new window (480p) / Youtube link / Thames TV Link

Interview / documentary: Carnival by Red Saunders, co-founder of RAR

40 years ago today. 30 April 1978 is a short video piece recollecting the Rock Against Racism Victoria Park Carnival by Red Saunders, co-founder of RAR.

On Sunday 30 April 1978, 80,000 people gathered in Trafalgar Square, and danced their way through the East End to Victoria Park in Hackney for the first big Rock Against Racism Carnival Against the Nazis. RAR had emerged in reaction to an alarming rise in racist attacks on the streets, and support for the neo-Nazi National Front at the ballot box. Mainstays of the UK pop scene such as Eric Clapton and David Bowie - white musicians capitalising on black music - made statements that further inflamed racial tension. A letter to the music press, written by Red Saunders and signed by a group of fans, voicing their horror at such hypocrisy, quickly gained widespread support. RAR was part of a broader anti-racism movement in the late 1970s, but it has become a symbol of the role that people-led movements and popular culture can play in shaping and influencing attitudes.

Also, check out these great films about Rock Against Racism, the Anti-Nazi League, and the anti-racist and anti-fascist struggle in the 1970s:

Nazis are no fun parts 1, 2 and 3
youtube.com/watch?v=2k-67CeuBFI
youtube.com/watch?v=QuauYi_2ec8
youtube.com/watch?v=9kBTQXr4SWk

Open video in new window 720p / 7:30mins / Vimeo link /

Who Shot The Sheriff?

Directed by Alan Miles and featuring the 1978 Rock Against Racism Carnival in East London's Victoria Park, 'Who Shot The Sheriff?' tells the story of one of the most exciting mass movements in British history. The film features interviews and unseen footage from the Rock Against Racism movement of the 1970's including The Clash, X-Ray Spex, The Specials, Misty In Roots, and Sham 69. The documentary tracks the rise of racism and the National Front in Britain during the 70's and shows how a generation, black and white, fought back against the Nazi threat.

Who shot the sheriff? Parts 1,2 and 3 by Alan Miles

Who Shot The Sheriff? PART 1 from Alan Miles on Vimeo.

Directed by Alan Miles and featuring the 1978 Rock Against Racism Carnival in East London's Victoria Park, 'Who Shot The Sheriff?' tells the story of one of the most exciting mass movements in British history. The film features interviews and unseen footage from the Rock Against Racism movement of the 1970's including The Clash, X-Ray Spex, The Specials, Misty In Roots, and Sham 69. The documentary tracks the rise of racism and the National Front in Britain during the 70's and shows how a generation, black and white, fought back against the Nazi threat.

Who Shot The Sheriff? PART 2 from Alan Miles on Vimeo.

Who Shot The Sheriff? PART 3 from Alan Miles on Vimeo.

WHITE RIOT FILM

Rock Against Racism: A fascinating documentary about the heroic, grassroots political movement, featuring Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Poly Styrene, Tom Robinson, Topper Headon, and Pauline Black.

White Riot - What's On - Electric Palace Cinema
https://www.facebook.com/
https://www.electricpalacecinema.com/whats-on/white-riot
White Riot - What's On - Electric Palace Cinema

THE CLASH - Rock Against Racism - search results | Facebook

Rock Against Racism (RAR) was formed in 1976, prompted by 'music's biggest colonialist' Eric Clapton and his support of racist MP Enoch Powell. White Riot blends fresh interviews with queasy archive footage to recreate a hostile environment of anti-immigrant hysteria and National Front marches. As neo-Nazis recruited the nation's youth, RAR’s multicultural punk and reggae gigs provided rallying points for resistance. As founder Red Saunders explains: 'We peeled away the Union Jack to reveal the swastika'.

The campaign grew from Hoxton fanzine roots to 1978's huge antifascist carnival in Victoria Park, featuring X-Ray Spex, Steel Pulse and of course The Clash, whose rock star charisma and gale-force conviction took RAR's message to the masses. — London Film Festival

"Three times in the last 60 years musical movements have played a vital role in confronting the rise of fascist organisations in Britain - The Stars Campaign for Interracial Friendship in the 1950s, Rock Against Racism in the late 1970s and Love Music Hate Racism in the first two decades of the 21st century. This book is a tribute to those three musical movements and the musicians, activists and youth subcultures that surrounded them, and an in-depth study of the rise of modern fascist movements and the political strategies needed to defeat them" -  Rick Blackman, author of Babylon's Burning: Music, Subcultures and Anti-Fascism in Britain 1958-2020.Resonance FM) Manchester, Rock Against Racism 1976-81.

Movie "White Riot" The Clash Tom Robinson SHAM69 Japanese promo flyer

Remember When The Clash Rocked Against Racism in 1978

Remember When - American Songwriter
https://americansongwriter.com/

American Songwriter - On April 30, 1978, 100,000 people marched six miles from Trafalgar Square in London, England, towards the East End of the city for a concert in Victoria Park. Punk's X-Ray Spex and Shamp 69 frontman Jimmy Pursey, along with Patrik Fitzgerald, reggae band Steel Pulse, rockers the Tom Robinson Band, and the main act of the day, The Clash all convened for the one-day act of musical activism Rock Against Racism (RAR).

Archive PDF

Walls come tumbling down the music and politics of Rock Against Racism, 2 Tone and Red Wedge, 1976-1992

Internet Archive

BBC: White Riot:
The music activists who took on racism

The exhilarating protest movement of 1970s Britain, Rock Against Racism, still resonates today. As a new documentary is released, Arwa Haider looks back - and to the future. Read the article or archive PDF

Ranson Note Rock Against Racism Riots, Reggae, Punk, Rebellion & The Clash

Ranson Note

Archive PDF

April 30 1978. Victoria Park, East London. Tens of thousands of punks, new wavers, reggae fans, soul boys, socialists, communists, trade unionists, families and people of all hues had trudged the five miles or so from Trafalgar Square in the heart of the capital, through the City and into East London. Back then it was a hotbed of racism and an area that had been targeted by the National Front for impending local elections. With a general election also on the horizon, these hordes had gathered under the banner of Rock Against Racism, a movement that had mushroomed in little more than a year into a cornerstone of the fight against a rising tide of fascism.

It was the crowning glory of the early days of the organisation and also the focal point of ‘White Riot': a documentary which, after screening at the London Film Festival and enjoying assorted one-off online events, now makes its way into cinemas and on to digital release today. ...

Read the full article

Readers Digest Rock Against Racism, 1978 When music united against fascism

Link or archived PDF

Rock Against Racism: the concert in Victoria Park that united a nation

Roman Road LDN
Frederick O'Brien
5 November 2021

Archive PDF

Victoria Park was witness to one of the biggest anti-racism campaigns of the century, combining the decade's energy for punk rock and protest.

The 1970s was a time when racist attacks on immigrants and ethnic minorities occurred openly on the streets and support was increasing for far-right organisations, such as the National Front. Blending music, politics, and campaigning, Rock Against Racism (RAR) was formed.

The movement's first gig was held in November 1976 at the Princess Alice pub on Commercial Street. Bands and singers, including one of Britain's top reggae bands, Matumbi from south London, and jazz and blues singer Carol Grimes, took to the stage. This gig galvanised local RAR groups to set up their own music concerts across the country, leading to the most famous: ‘Carnival Against the Nazis' in Victoria Park. Read the fulll article

Flashback: The Clash Rock Against Racism in 1978

Watch the punk legends play 'White Riot' at Victoria Park

BY ANDY GREENE
13 May 2014

Behind paywall

The Anti Nazi League Rock Against Racism Rallies

Link

Lots of detail on all the rallies with lotsof photos of the marches and concerts

Archive PDF

The Independent Rock against racism Remembering that gig that started it all

Friday 25 April 2008

Archive PDF

Rock Against Racism and the Anti Nazi League's historic 1978 Carnival is celebrated in an anniversary gig. Here, some of those who organised or played at the original concert - and members of the audience - remember the event Ben Naylor , Chris Mugan , Colin Brown , Charlotte Cripps Read the full article

‘If there are death threats, don't tell me' - how Rock Against Racism fought fascism

Tim Jonze
Tue 23 Aug 2022

Archive PDF

In the 1970s, the National Front were on the march. So Britain's music fans and artists united. As a new show celebrates RAR's achievements, we examine its impact, its legacy - and its thrilling, shambolic climactic concert ...

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April 1978 - Anti-Nazi League march and concert - Victoria Park

WYCOMBEGIGS.co.uk

Archive PDF

There was a mini-pilgrimage from High Wycombe on Sunday 30th April 1978 to attend a joint ‘Anti-Nazi League' and ‘Rock Against Racism' march and concert in London. The march started from Trafalgar Square and would make the 4 mile trek towards Victoria Park in Hackney, East London, for an open air concert attended by an estimated 80,000 people and featuring X-Ray Spex, The Clash, Steel Pulse and Tom Robinson Band.

Read the full article