Cardiff Top Rank

The Cardiff Top Rank Suite, which opened in 1963 on Queen Street, was a renowned music venue that hosted iconic acts such as The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Elvis Costello, U2, The Police, The Cure, and The Clash [2] [3]. They held a few Battle of the Bands, there as well.

The venue closed in 1982 but continued under different names until it was demolished in 2005 [3]. It was one of the most popular nightclubs and live music venues in Cardiff during the 1970s and 1980s[1][4].

Wikipedia - Top Rank Suite
Concert Archives - Top Rank
Wales Online - Dance Floor of One of Cardiff's Best Loved Clubs
Wales Online - Nostalgic Pictures and Memories of Cardiff's Long Lost Clubs
Keep Cardiff Live - Retro Music

Fantastic gig, came out buzzing

Ian Chapman - The Cardiff date is still the best gig I have ever attended. I replicated that poster for a school art project, a year later my pal who stayed on for 6th year said it hung on the art class wall. I was delighted.

Wot a gig

Paul Brown - I was at that gig. So loud every track sounded the same. Tommy gun was awesome though

David Heafield - Me too , I've still got the "crosshairs" badge that Mick is wearing , they threw some out to the crowd at the end of the gig ,I caught one.

Don Sinclair - Brill gig , never forget

Janice Horsell - I was there xx awesome!

Lesley Neary - Wot a gig

Still got the "target" badge somewhere

David Heafield - I was here at this gig too , still got the "target" badge somewhere .....I never realised until years later that I had seen The Specials as the Coventry Automatics but remember Suicide well , enjoyed them

Rob Davis - I was at this. Great night. Some of the crowd didn't like Suicide, I did.

Dickie Cordle - It was a great gig and I still love suicide, ghost rider is a classic!

Tim Lewis - What a night. Met Mick at the bar and got a badge off him. Still got it

-------

Best Clash performance I ever saw

https://www.facebook.com/
Pretty impressive... - Cardiff Music History / Hanes Miwsig Caerdydd | Facebook

Cardiff Music History / Hanes Miwsig Caerdydd - Pretty impressive line up here. Apparently Crazy Cavan & The Rhythm Rockers didn't play. I'm pretty sure this was 1978. (Advert)

Mike Williams - Caught The Specials rehearsing on the stairs at the back entrance of The Top Rank, they were playing a reggae/punk mix at the time....soon evolved into the ska sound they became famous for...

David Jones - I went to that gig, one of the best ever. Suicide were epic, how you continue to perform having had a glass in your head is beyond me.

John Williams - Fantastic show - no Crazy Cavan but Suicide we're awesome - Alan Vega singing Frankie Teardrop with blood running down his face. Best Clash performance I ever saw too

Still got the 'Up Yours' punkzine I bought on the way out for 20p

https://www.facebook.com/ - The Clash at the Top Rank, 11th July 1978 (ticket)

Madoc Roberts - Great gig. I thought Suicide were interesting.

Peter Jones - "I was there" (Meirion) 4th time I'd seen the Clash - Top Rank & Union in '77, Viccy Park Rock Against Racism earlier in '78. Great gig but Suicide were rubbish

Janice Horsell - I was there as an impressionable 15 yr old! It was awesome

Mitzy Griffiths - Always paid on the door. I was there for this one. Still got the 'Up Yours' punkzine I bought on the way out for 20p

I still can't decide if Suicide were utter genius or utter shite

Rob Brew - Mitzy Griffiths my brother was one of the four man team that made that. Mike Urban - It may have been me who sold it to you!

Wendy May - I was there too, great night! Though Suicide didn't go down well with The Clash fans!

Geoff Munro - Great gig ... supported by The Specials and Suicide ... punk, ska and electronic ... diversity in action !!! I still can't decide if Suicide were utter genius or utter shite, though I do have one of their albums !!! A lot of the crowd thought the latter unfortunately !!!

My 1st ever gig, Fucking amazing

(1) The Clash at the Top Rank, 11th July 1978 - search results | Facebook
Cardiff Music History / Hanes Miwsig Caerdydd

Simon Buck - Support from Suicide and The Coventry Specials (or was it Automatics?) as they were called at the time. A very hot and sputum spattered evening

Jonny Williams - Magnificent gig, the Coventry Specials and Suicide too

Rob Davis - Was in the crowd. Brilliant night.

Bridget Box - I was there & snogged one of them, but can't remember which one! They were stood at the bar during the support which I think was The Slits. Good times

Alan Bound - My first Clash gig.

I've still got the "crosshairs" badge that Mick is wearing

David Heafield - Me too , I've still got the "crosshairs" badge that Mick is wearing , they threw some out to the crowd at the end of the gig ,I caught one.

Janice Horsell - I was there xx awesome!

Lesley Neary - Wot a gig

Mark Orchard - My 1st ever gig, Fucking amazing concert (Flyer)

Ian Smith - I was there, the Clash were amazing. So much energy.

Tim Lewis - Cardiff was ace. Had my badge off Mick at the bar as they sneaked in to see Suicide. I have him a polo mint in exchange

Photos

Open photos in full in new window

THE CLASH ON PAROLE | Facebook

Clash on Parole Tour 1978, the band headline Top Rank ...

Instagram · the_clash
Clash on Parole Tour 1978, the band headline Top Rank ...

The Clash at Cardiff Top Rank, 11th July 1978 Photos John Davies

Facebook · Cardiff Music History / Hanes Miwsig Caerdydd
340+ reactions
The Clash... - Cardiff Music History / Hanes Miwsig Caerdydd

Cardiff Music History / Hanes Miwsig Caerdydd

Dave Smitham - These photos are great - sadly missed this one / just a thought - wasn't wonderful when you could just take a camera into a gig without being stopped (unlike today) -

Second Time Around - Great photos, including the crowd, well before the early 80's ' Punk uniform' look took over, fantastic times. I think I had a purple blazer on[ with badges on the narrow lapels ], a lime green button down shirt and navy 'Max Wall' style leggings on, all bought from the local jumble sale. Looked shocking I expect, but I didn't care...ah youth...

also check thread here Clash on Parole Tour | Facebook

Again

THE CLASH ON PAROLE | Facebook

THE CLASH ON PAROLE | facebook.com

A huge thanks to John Davies & Andrew Rees for this slice of history.

Not sure ...

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The Clash at the... - Cardiff Music History / Hanes Miwsig Caerdydd | Facebook
Cardiff Music History / Hanes Miwsig Caerdydd

Note: We are not sure that this photo is from Cardiff on the Parole Tour

The backdrop is the November tour and the attire to not match the photos from 11 July at Cardiff (see above) ( Cardiff's Music Archives). The flags backdrop are from the November Sort it Out Tour.

Dave Smithson took photos in November and the photos in the official Clash page do not match that date/day/gig either. We'll leave it up for the comments thought.

There are two photos that come together frequently. The otehr of Joe we think is from 11 July. We think the official site have errored?

The Clash | Facebook

The Specials at the Top Rank Suite, 11th July 1978

Supporting The Clash Photo: John Davies, https://www.facebook.com/

Second Time Around - Didn’t enjoy the Coventry Specials or Suicide on the night. The Clash were orgasmic… https://www.facebook.com/

Extensive archive of articles, magazines and other from the On Parole Tour, June - July 1978

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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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