Second night of two 'Secret Gigs', Thursday and Friday 5th & 6th July.

updated 20 May 2006
updated Dec 2014 added poster

No known audio or video

If you know of any recording, please email blackmarketclash

Notre Dame 6th July 'Secret Gig' - must be out there somewhere!

A tape does exist of the other night its just not in circulation, not yet anyway. We want a copy!

Thursday was recorded (this is Friday's)

I've just come across your site and was intrigued about the bootleg of the 1979 concert at Notre Dame Hall, because it was recorded by a friend of mine on a cheap cassette player. I can't believe its still doing the rounds today !.

It was, as you rightly say, recorded at the Thursday night concert (the next lunch time we played the tape back to listen to it in St. James's Park near where we both worked, until a member of the Royal Parks Police told us to turn it down).

To fit it onto a C60 cassette, my friend edited out at least 2 songs from the set the band played - 1 was definitely a version of ‘Jimmy Jazz' (which we thought was called ‘The Police walked in for Jazz') and I'm pretty sure another was ‘Lovers Rock' - we just thought those were the weakest of the new numbers the band had played. My friend sold the bootleg tape through ads in Sounds and NME, through approaching likely looking punks in the Kings Road, and also on a stall in the Great Gear Market in the Kings Road where my girlfriend worked. We also recorded a whole host of other bands during 1979 and the early part of 1980 and sold bootlegs of concerts by The Jam, Adam and the Ants, Gang of Four to name but a few. Unfortunately, from a sound quality point of view, the Clash concert was the last to be recorded on the cheapo cassette as my friend splashed out on a more sophisticated device which enabled the later concerts we taped to sound much better and would have done wonders for the Clash recording.

Two "secret" gigs, "because they had nothing better to do"

This very interesting tape for which a substantial upgrade now exists with all 18 tracks and better sound.

It contains the first public performances for 5 London Calling songs. Two of which Hateful and I'm Not Down were only played the next night and not again, plus Rudi Can't Fail and Death or Glory which reappeared briefly in 1980 and 1983 respectively. London Calling has some lyric changes over its later released version.

This is the first of two "secret" gigs played in the small Notre Dame Hall, off Leicester Square, central London. These were played either to trial new material before the Rainbow Theatre, Southall Defence Fund gig on the 14th July or simply as Joe says in the intro, because they had nothing better to do.

Classic poster, flyer

Coloured versions have been created subsquently

Photo form 1980 and premier of Rude Boy. Michael Smith
- The previous year, 1979, we saw The Clash perform in the tiny Notre Dame church hall, just to the right of the cinema.

Tickets

Notre Dame Hall, London

No known recording from the 6th. The taper appears to have only recorded one night.

Recording

I've just come across your site and was intrigued about the bootleg of the 1979 concert at Notre Dame Hall, because it was recorded by a friend of mine on a cheap cassette player. I can't believe its still doing the rounds today !

It was, as you rightly say, recorded at the Thursday night concert (the next lunch time we played the tape back to listen to it in St. James's Park near where we both worked, until a member of the Royal Parks Police told us to turn it down).

BEST MAGAZINE - IN THE CITY

Review of Notre Dame gigs with photos

Sept 79

Record Mirror? - Clash: gunning for a wider target

14 Jul 79

Notre Dame 1979 review - Allied Propaganda

Facebook - enlarge image

A Riot of Our Own p165

Letters Page

Sounds 28th, July 1979 - Enlarge image

Both nights were equally fantastic

Mark Carter - Link - Both nights were equally fantastic and quite intimate compared to the larger Lyceum sized venues they were now playing. Still got my flyer as well.

Jonny Diamond - Fantastic. I have been after one of those for ages !! One of my favourite memories of seeing the Clash Modettes supporting if memory serves correct ...

@chelseachelseaboy - YouTube - I was at this gig....Leicester Square, brilliant show, they were really up for it.

Ian Brazil - I was at the Notre Dame Hall gig. 2 consecutive nights, not very ‘secret gig’. I believe it was the first time the band played London Calling live. They had just returned from the USA. The Rocker look took a lot of the audience by surprise. Good times.

Memorable night. No security.

punkr77 - This Clash show was very unannounced. And I didnt know about it !!! That is until we were record shopping in Rough Trade Records on a Saturday and buddy behind the counter alerted us to this upcoming show.

I was probably wearing a Clash t shirt.....we bought a ticket...cant remember which day...

I do remember them road testing a few tracks off of London Calling 4 months before its release. First time I saw the Modettes opening..and the only time I saw the Low Numbers.

Another memorable night. No security. Just Johnny Green and Baker patrolling the front. Jam packed in there..it was a church Hall not a concert hall. Good times.

Magenta Devine was holding the guest list on the door

Kevin Patrick Southworth - I was at both nights. Brilliant gigs. Bass guitarist of the Low Numbers, Bob, had a busted string and Paul lent him his guitar. I also remember Eddie Tudor-pole being there and doing a couple of numbers with the Mo-Dettes. Magenta Devine was holding the guest list on the door, thats's how I got in.

Brett Silver - Kevin Patrick Southworth  - was a great night

Kevin Patrick Southworth - Brett Silver  - That was a good gig. Many years later, at a BBQ in Watford, I met the bass player from Low Numbers. He was surprised when I reeled off his band name and the broken guitar string incident.

Brett Silver - Magenta got us into so many gigs on the guest list back in the day. oh to be young again

I was there …magnificent gig…

Tim Rylah - facebook.com - I was there…magnificent gig…

Joe Williams - I went on the Friday 5th. First time I heard London Calling and Rudie Can't Fail. G Bushell, writing in Sounds, slated the band and described Rudie as a regurgitation of (White Man) In Hammersmith Palais!

I was there with a bunch of my school mates and my older and younger brothers. Somehow, my little brother, Art, ended up backstage, talking to Mick as he got changed to come on, and watched the entire gig from behind. He is there in the picture of Paul and Joe's crossed guitar necks (the little guy). Brilliant. I want to tag him in the photo but it won't let me.

Andrew Strayler - July 6th for me. Didnt know about it until the day of the show.

Dave Reeves - Facebook - I went to these gigs with Andy Patrick, Johnny Grant, Craig Duffy 

Glenn Miller - Went both nights,

Mark Chapman - Went both nights

David Aris - This was the first gig I went to

Alick Michel - Was there. Got the poster

JoJo Smith - I was there!!!!

Warren Dighton - Was there Debut London Calling.

Gee Gee - I was there. First playing of tracks from London Calling.

Promoted by ..

Amanda Austin - Promoted by Alec from The Temper and the posters were produced by him as well.

Richie Tomlinson - Gig promoted by Steve Burges and Will Murray, Cock Sparrer bassist and tour manager respectively.

pretty much word of mouth that they were playing

Mark Carter - As I walked up to this gig at the Notre Dame Hall, which was pretty much word of mouth that they were playing, I walked straight past these shots being taken only realising after who was being photographed, they played 2 storming shows both nights though which included a first live playing of quite a few tracks from the forthcoming London Calling album.

Jonny Diamond - One of my favourite Clash gigs . Good memories of the day

Mark Carter - I remember walking to work off Carnaby street that morning and seeing this flyer hanging off a post, thought it was a joke, got into work and phoned Notre Dame Hall, “mate, who’s playing tonight?” …….”Who do think” “the Clash?”…..”maybe, but you need to just turn up, no advance tickets”. Ending up going to both nights, both brilliant, showcased a number of tracks from the upcoming London Calling. Of all the many amazing Clash gigs I was at, these 2 are right up there.

Flyer

Mark Carter - Having a clear out and came across this flyer, I remember walking through Soho the morning of the first night and saw it stuck on a wall in Dean Street, having already got a ticket for the Rainbow gig later that month, I just assumed this was some sort of wind up, but after arriving at work I phoned the Notre Dame hall and eventually it was answered, the bloke on the phone was pretty cagey when I asked who was playing that night “who do you think is playing?” was his response, “well I heard the Clash are” I replied, “well why don’t you turn up and find out?” He said, then he just hung up.

So, I did turn up, to a half full Notre Dame Hall, the Modettes  who were one of the support bands were good, but the Clash were brilliant and they included some new tracks from the then unreleased London Calling.

Suffice to say I was back the second night, venue was fuller but still not packed out. I’d seen the Clash play many times before and after but these 2 nights were special.

Robert Chandler - Also, the designer knew what was going on by including Montgomery Clift in FROM HERE TO ETERNITY on the bugle in the poster design.

Mark Carter - Robert Chandler  - yes they did, I suspect it was designed by someone who was in the inner sanctum of the Clash and was aware of some of the upcoming songs.

Julie Greenfield - Robert Chandler  - I noticed that too. Not seen this before.

Vidar Ringstrøm - Got handed a flyer and was there

Robin Tate - Calvin - Facebook -as far as I’m aware the original flyers were all B&W zeroxes, here’s my original. The colour ones were knocked up by a really nasty bloke & sold via ebay several years ago unfortunately.

recorded one on my Sony portable cassette recorder

John Kirk - Mark Carter  - great nights Mark recorded one on my Sony portable cassette recorder and as you say first run throughs live of LC tracks

Tenpole Tudor and the Modettes supported the Clash

David Abse - I was there - didn’t realise it was a secret. I remember seeing ex blue peter presenter Peter Purves was there (weird!) and Don Letts was filming everything.

Frank Southey - I was there one night. Tenpole Tudor and the Modettes supported the Clash. Tiny hall. But to be honest my biggest memory was a poor bloke just in front of me getting a beer glass smashed on his head. Frightening!

Jimmy Pursey on White Riot

Jonny Diamond - Remember the ‘secret ‘ gig well. Modettes support and Jimmy Pursey on White Riot

Tim Rylah - Yeah I was there…magnificent gig…

Robert Miles-Kingston - That was a fantastic gig. Spanish Bombs

2 brilliant gigs

Andrew Strayler - I was at the first night...But not the second. Found out about these shows while in Rough Trade record shopping. Instead of going home we headed to the Notre Dame Hall for the Friday show.

Richie Tomlinson - Promoted by a couple of the guys from Cock Sparrer no less

Mark Carter - 2 brilliant gigs which I attended both nights, even the second night word hadn't got out to the point that the tiny Norte dame hall wasn't packed , I'm sure one of heads in the audience is mine, great pics thanks for posting.

We ended up having a few beers and a chat with them

Michael Germain - Facebook - I was there both nights first night we went to a pub before the gig started lo and behold the clash were in there having a drink we ended up having a few beers and a chat with them they were brilliant talked to us like equals no bullshit the gigs were outstanding as well never will forget those two notredame hall gigs the clash at there best!

Blackmarketclash | Leave a comment

5th & 6th July 1979, The Clash play two secret shows...

The Clash | Facebook

5th & 6th July 1979, The Clash play two secret shows in London's Notre Dame Hall in Leicester Sq. The gig included the first live performances of 5 songs from London Calling, 2 of which, Hateful and I’m Not Down where not known to be performed again. © Virginia Turbett

1979, The Clash perform at Notre Dame Hall in London

The Clash - search results | Facebook

The Clash | Facebook

Audio - "Remembered fondly"

Gary Crowley - 8 May 2018

Evening everyone...ICYMI earlier, Jim & I had a hoot on the NEW show remembering yours & our most memorable Punk & New Wave gigs. This 1979 Clash gig @ the Notre Dame Hall was remembered fondly. You can catch up @ Mixcloud

Go to 50mins to hear about the Notre Dame gigs

Gary Crowley | Facebook

https://m.mixcloud.com/.../gary-crowleys-punk-new-wave.../

Open photos in full in new window

Virginia Turbett - from the 6th July

Virginia Turbett was lucky enough to be at the Clash’s gig at the Notre Dame Hall on this the 6th of July 1979 & Verginia published a Booklet of her photographs she took around 5 years ago.

17 photos Virginia Turbett from the the 6th July
- Clash on Parole post
Her photos are on sale at Getty Images here

More of Virginia's photos were published in a book,
DRAW ANOTHER BREATH - THE CLASH 1979-80.
Details can be found here
Published by Hanging Around Books 2019, it is a small collection of
images from their Notre Dame gig on 6th July 1979.

Virginia's post on is also on Clash City Collectors / Facebook

Copies are/were available from Ronnie Gurr at hangingaroundbooks.com 

Book images posted by Virginia

Photos by Steve Morley and Justin Thomas from 6th

11 photos by Steve Morley and Justin Thomas from the 6th, the 2nd night
Clash on Parole Post

Photo of CLASH; L-R: Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon performing live onstage (Photo by Steve Morley/Redferns)

5th July - photo credit unknown

The Sex Pistols at Notre Dame Hall.

Photos

The Clash in Leicester Square, London, as captured by Virginia Turbett after they had sound-checked for their ’secret’ Notre Dame gig on 6th July 1979

The Clash Official | Facebook

facebook.com

A day in the life of The Clash - 6th July 1979

The Clash Official | Facebook - facebook.com -
https://www.facebook.com/

A day in the life of The Clash - 6th July 1979. This is the day they played a secret gig at the Notre Dame Hall near London's Leicester Square. We see them rehearsing for the show, posing outside the venue, signing autographs and walking around Leicester Square with Sounds journalist Dave McCullough. All photos by Virginia Turbett.

Saturday 06 July 1979 - Virginia Turbett

Rehearsing on stage & during a soundcheck at Notre Dame Hall , London

Virginia Turbett | Facebook - The Clash Official | facebook.com

THE CLASH ON PAROLE | facebook.com

THE CLASH ON PAROLE | Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/

The Clash live at Notre dame ballroom London 1979

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There are several sights that provide setlists but most mirror www.blackmarketclash.co.uk. They are worth checking.

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from Songkick (cannot be relied on)
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