Pearl Harbour Tour supported by Bo Diddley & The Dils

updated August 2022 added reviews, poster and comments

Audio 1 -

upgrade wanted - Sound 1.5 - 57min - unknown gen? - 17 tracks

Tommy Gun

Radio KLOS 95.5?

Flyer rindicates the concert is promoted by Radio KLOS.

The only recording in circulation is sadly a poor one.

It has slight speed problems, running a fraction slow. You can make out the vocals and just about what is said, as well as the lead guitar and drums, much else is distorted. Most of the sound is at the bottom end as well. Its from a well copied version.

"Spit drenched, poseur, stage hopping affairs.....Vicious crowds"

"The 79 shows, Santa Monica Civic, Palladium and Kezar in the city (sf) were spit drenched, poseur, stage hopping affairs.....Vicious crowds. (Although the Santa Monica Civic has a place in my heart, as it was close to our home and we saw countless shows there including a wild Joe Strummer with Xander Schloss on lead concert in the late 80’s that was something special)

The punk thing was just happening in 79 and la was more orange county punk (black flag, circle jerks, germs etc etc) than san francisco. (Dead Kennedy’s etc). Which was more “authentic” punk than LA

The two cities hate each other, (still do) culturally, sport teams, you name it.. It must have been mind blowing for the clash to step into what is basically another world, California. A lot of anger from The Clash, it must have been hard to play with people spitting on you and jumping on the stage just to show off.

Still the energy, humor and wit of joe are what i remember best. For better or worse, all venues had no seating anywhere near the floor, so it was general crush down front. No mercy was shown to the weak."

Photo outside

Active or Pasive: Two rock voices

The Los Angeles Times
Sun 4 Feb 1979

THE ARRIVAL in LA of The Clash

Don Snowden, L.A. Weekly, 23 February 1979

text version

THE ARRIVAL in LA of The Clash, the hot English rock band, had been eagerly anticipated by local hard-core rockers ever since the release of the band's debut album almost two years ago.

Coming here at the end of a particularly slack period of concert action only served to fan the flames higher. The level of expectancy in the lobby before the set was the highest I ?ve ever witnessed at a rock show. And The Clash more than lived up to expectations.

a little song Hank Williams wrote for us

Hank Williams features regularly in Joe’s sarky song intro’s on this tour, “well case you were wondering what that was, a little song Hank Williams wrote for us before he took too many drugs and kicked the bucket”. Continuing in a non-pc vein Joe intros Tommy Gun with “this is Topper Headon with a spastic wrist!”.

Tommy Gun uniquely whether by design or accident has a short musical and lyrical break not heard either live or recorded previously, just before the “9 o’clock news” section. Mick’s guitar work sounds great throughout but Joe sounds hoarse, labouring the intensity somewhat, maybe nervous in front of such a large audience and first gig in LA area.

There is an edit after Safe European Home when the sounds drops a touch poorer. English Civil War and Guns On The Roof are great performances as is Police & Thieves but the sound is very poor after an edit which loses a section of the song.

Complete Control stops near the end, for fighting or instrument problems is not clear and then restarts from mid song. Capital Radio is not as extended with ad libs here but Joe explains one of the reasons for the slow intro “listen to the gentle music, may it soothe the savage breast in you!

Because you’re going to have to hear it, because we recorded it off your local radio, its what they play 24 hours a day….1-2-3-4”. There is an edit at the end of Radio which probably loses one or more of Janie Jones, Garageland and Julie. The recording restarts with London’s Burning and ends abruptly with the last chord of White Riot.

Anyone have an upgrade nearer the master?

Johnny Green - A Riot of Our Own pg138

The Clash assault on the USA

Record Mirror?

(poor quality)

Clash Crests on new Punk Wave

SM The Los Angeles Times
Sat Jan 20 1979 -
Robert Hilburn

Clash specializes in high energy

The Los Angeles Times
Sun 12 Feb 1979

text version

Setlist

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17	I'm so Bored with USA Drug Stabbing Time Jail Guitar Doors Tommy Gun Hate and War Clash City Rockers White Man In Ham Palais Safe European Home Stay Free English Civil War Guns On the Roof Police and Thieves Complete Control Complete Control Capital Radio London's Burning White Riot