Sort it Out Tour
Supported by the Innocents and the Slits.

Major update Aprl 2024

No known audio or video

If you know of any recording, please email blackmarketclash

Exeter University

The Exeter Great Hall, located at the University of Exeter, has a rich history as a concert venue. The hall, which can accommodate up to 1,800 people, has hosted numerous musical artists over the years, including Belinda Carlisle, Kaiser Chiefs, Bob Marley & The Wailers, The Specials, and Frank Turner[4][5]. Muse, a popular British rock band, performed at the venue in 1997, one of their earliest known performances.

The Great Hall has a long history of staging concerts by both national and international music greats[4]. It is one of the largest live music venues in the South West[5]. The building itself, designed by John Peter Gandy, was erected between 1829 and 1831[2].

While the search results do not include any photos of the interior or exterior of the Great Hall, they provide valuable information about its history as a concert venue and its significance as a large public meeting place in Exeter[1][3][4][5].

1. University of Exeter Alumni Memories - Exeter Gigs: Dive into the memories of Exeter gigs on the University of Exeter Alumni website.

2. Exeter Hall - Wikipedia: Explore information about Exeter Hall on Wikipedia.

3. A History of Gigs - Live Events Exeter: Discover the history of gigs at Exeter on the Live Events Exeter website. Great Hall - Live Events Exeter:

4. Learn about the Great Hall venue on the Live Events Exeter website.

5. Live Music Services - Event Exeter: Explore live music services offered by Event Exeter.

Did you go? Comments, info welcome...

Info, articles, reviews, comments or photos welcome.
Please email blackmarketclash

Joe Swinford | facebook.com - My second ever Clash show...Exeter University  November 1978. I had a batch of pics from that show that were taken by a pro. Dunno what happened to them.

Nick Tanton - I walked from Exmouth to Exeter at 4 am to get tickets from h.m.v. arrived at 6.30 to join the queue of 200 like minded souls. Brilliant gig.

Mike Hallam - Kicked in the head by Simonon trying to climb onstage, he was wearing DMs too. Think it might have been a Major Domo actually, bought a pair just after, rubber sole so no bruising

Andy Brock - My first Clash gig. 

Charlie Cook - I was at that gig what a night I was at the front under Paul great night great memories

Darren G Jones - I went to that gig , my first clash gig . Couple people I know printed their own tickets cos it was easy to copy. The venue has an 1800 capacity and my recollection of it was it sold out . My first clash gig . I also know there were one or two forged tickets around . When you look at how basic the design is , easy to see why!

Searching For The Young Joe Rebel - Punk Rock - Part 3

Joe Swinford | facebook.com

My first Clash show was at Torquay Town Hall in mid 1978 as part of the Clash On Parole Tour (see pic below). Memory is hazy, but I do remember it was a life-changing show. After watching all these piss poor third division bands, The Clash were a revelation. Strummer was sporting his Rebel Truce shirt, and Mick Jones looked more like Keef than Keef did at that time. I'd traveled down to Torquay from Exeter with a car load of local punks (and hangers on), who were very excitable and boisterous. One of 'em, who we will call Roy, cut his hands open attempting to swing from an old bus shelter!

I never had a lot of money, and I'd salivate over The Clash gear that they had specially designed by Alex Michon. This stuff was like rocking horse shit in Exeter. However, one of my punk pals got me a job with his father's building firm, and we would make regular excursions to London, to check out Seditionaries, Boy, Beaufort Market, Robot, Johnson's and Kensington Market for the brilliant clobber on offer. Most of it was way out of my price range, but I did manage to cop a few items on our various trips to "The Smoke." All are long gone, but I do remember a blue mohair jumper, the imfamous "cowboys" t-shirt, Clash zip trousers (poorly made, and didn't last long) and shirt. Black La Rocka jeans and shirt, green mac from Kensington Market, white, suede and black leather creepers from Robot, and various Clash tees and accessories. 

By the end of 1978 I was a fully fledged Clash fan, and I was ecstatic when I learned they'd be rolling into Exeter as part of the Sort It Out Tour. Ticket purchased and excitement was building.

On the day of the show, a couple pubs had eased their "No Punks" policy and allowed us service. One such boozer was the aptly named Oddfellows, just off Exeter High Street. A small gaff, with a bar and a backroom with a pool table and jukebox. By early afternoon, the pub was filling up with local, and out of town punks. A rumour began circulating that The Clash were staying at the nearby Royal Clarence Hotel, so me and two punk pals decided to check out the validation of this rumour.

We walked the short distance from the pub to the hotel and noticed a white transit van parked outside with a Sex Pistols sticker on the back of the bus. Inside were a couple small flight cases and various bags and holdalls. Feeling brave we entered the hotel and sat down at a table in the adjoining hotel tea and breakfast room. Almost immediately, we were approached by a waitress and a smartly dressed middle aged man. A lot of fuss was being made of us, with the offer of tea and cakes and sandwiches. The middle aged man introduced himself as the hotel manager, and began asking us questions about tour dates and mundane stuff. The penny dropped. He thinks we are The Clash!! We happily played along with this ruse until he departed. After about 10 minutes, I caught sight of a bloke in a long leather trenchcoat, with upturned collar partially covering his face. He was accompanied by a blonde girl, and they walked over to the piano that was in the corner of the room, banged out a couple notes, looked over at us, nodded, then turned on his heels and was gone. It was Joe fuckin' Strummer!!!! Almost immediately, the hotel manager reappeared and said a journalist was here to interview us (he still thought we were The Clash!). We sheepishly followed the hotel manager out into the foyer, only to be greeted by a journalist who said "You aren't The Clash!!!" We'd been rumbled. We quickly vacated the hotel and made our way back to pub. We were pissing ourselves with what had just happened. However, there was more to come.

To be continued...

Photos

THE CLASH ON PAROLE | facebook.com

Is this from Exeter?

If you know of any recording, email blackmarketclash