page updated - started March 2024
No known audio or video
If you know of any recording, please email blackmarketclash
Secret warmup date for US Tour
The top-secret concert in a former porno movie house was designed to give the press and a few die-hard followers a sneak preview of the new Clash album, London Calling, and to serve as a warmup for the upcoming American tour.
Old porno cinema, Notting Hill, London
The British are coming
Review of Clash secret date
The Tampa Tribune Sun May 11 1980
Editor's note: Regarded as one of the finest of the new bands coming from England, The Clash demonstrated an even newer sound in a historic concert at the Notting Hill section of London. The writer, a student at the University of South Florida, attended the concert and has written his impressions of the event.
The Clash combines fury and skill
By STEVEN RUPERT
No longer archaic amateurs who funnelled a stance into a sound, members of The Clash are now musicians.
In a great critical backlash. the same papers that paraded The Clash to the top of English pop and exalted them as the only band that matters now seem shocked at the creative changes in the band.
But The Clash's radical departure froth primitive power chords to horns and keyboards does not signal an end to their conviction. It is, rather, a natural musical progression.
The Clash has souled out. Long live The Clash.
The top-secret concert in a former porno movie house was designed to give the press and a few die-hard followers a sneak preview of the new Clash album, London Calling, and to serve as a warmup for the upcoming American tour. The 300 fans inside were matched outside, as word of the show got out. About 50 persons waited outside during the entire concert, and were rewarded with Clash T-shirts, compliments of the band.
The concert audience was part journalists, part punk and mostly surprised.
Da boyz spontaneously leapt onto the stage from a balcony and went immediately into "Safe European Home," a safe-enough opener. But it was rearranged, with a longer reggae break in the middle. The punk constituency blossomed into a finely integrated pogo-ing mass that sent a rush of hot air across this excited crowed.
Singer Joe Strummer was typically uncomposed as he called out the lyrics. He leaned out over the pogoing punks and, as the song abruptly ended, was left dangling like a man over a cliff.
"Enough of that s---," he cried, and the enthusiasm of the crowd turned silent as keyboardist Micky Gallagher and three horn players appeared on the stage. Silence turned to whispered curiosity and mumbled amazement; The Clash with horns? Give us the Stones with a "mellowtron" or bluegrass with drums. But don't give us The Clash with horns!
Even the punks sat down. The atmosphere was not unlike Dylan's electric set at Newport in 1965. What are they trying to do, the crowd asked. Several punks spit on the brassmen a normal punk occurrence for even favored bands before a single note was played.
The band's first song with the new sidemen was an old ska tune, "Wrong 'Em Boyo." The horn embellishments accentuated the song's false intro, then fit nicely into the reggae backbeat of this didactic little ditty. The horns did not stand out or get in the way. They seemed naturally married to the con-text of 1980s reggae.
The next two songs were pure rockers, sans horns: "Janey Jones" amd "Career Opportunities," splendid old-time Clash shockers, heavy on the lyrics and intensity.
Mick Jones carries the song with some or his best fretwork, slicing a power chord at precise instants. Paul Simonon's bass is no longer a mere backdrop. His confidence has allowed him to contort a simple bass run into a menacing power riff that builds the music to an awesome proportion.
After so much fury, the music then slows down to "Jimmy Jazz," with Strummer trading his guitar for dark sunglasses. The Clash doing a slow song? Sorry folks, but it WORKS. Strummer's grainy moaning helps pull it off, but the horn section really gave this song the atmopshere it was meant to bring. In fact, the break in this song was pure horns.
After a few reggae treats titled "Rudie Won't Fail," "Hateful" and "The Guns of Brixton," the pace quickened to the bludgeoning blitzkrieg bop that made The Clash back-alley heroes.
"Working for the Clampdown" is a fine piece of political rock, as is "Spanish Bombs."
Again it slowed down to showcase Jones' soft-toned vocals on "Lost in the Supermarket," a fine suburban squatting song.
The horns were around for most of the set, doing an admirable job despite being constantly assaulted by flying projectiles launched by the disillusioned punk populace. The horns actually made a smaller dent on the music than they did on the audience. Even "Judas" was screamed out once or twice.
The horns left to a sarcastic wave of applause and The Clash sent everybody home with "Armageddom Time" "London's Burning" and "London Calling." And Strummer returns to his finest emotional pleading:
"The ice age is coming, the sun is zooming in/Engines stop running, the wheat is growing thin/A nuclear error, but I have no fear/London is drowning and I live by the river."
The encore had most everyone on their feet, although a few remained sit-ting in protest of the horns. It must have been the most unemotive, unresponsive and unenergetic crowd that has ever attended a Clash show. Only the die-hard punks pogoed throughout.
The music press pundits of the crowd seemed unamused by The Clash's blatant disregard for the punk ethos the group had helped to create. The crowd feared something had gone awry. Had The Clash's cultural reactions to high-rise living and dole-queue rock given way to a sound that's clean, professional and musically geared for the American audience they once seemed so bored with? Have The Clash taken themselves seriously?
Like any other young band that makes a niche with its first album, The Clash have to do its growing up in public.
Like McCartney said of The Beatles, The Clash must make its mistakes in public. The addition of the horns was not a mistake. Only a step into the future that improvements in musical techniques surely bring.
The fans hated Dylan when he turned electric. The mods disassociated themselves from The Who when Townshend embraced psychedelia. But neither was a sellout to trendiness. Both were necessary exercises in exploring new frontiers.
The Clash may alienate some bond-age-pants punks, but those who care about musical quality will recognize The Clash's experimentation and realize it is impossible to remain talented amateurs forever. This venture into other musical fields makes the overall sound more listenable which, ultimately, will broaden their audience.
The Clash took a chance by creating something new. It is still a band that cares, that sings about social oppression and difficulties. It has just found a wider musical format in which to pre-sent it.
It is refreshing to see a band that looks into the 1980s instead of sitting on the redundant tired poses of yesterday.
The British are coming
Review of Clash secret date (above)
The Tampa Tribune Sun May 11 1980
Blackmarketclash | Facebook
Did you go? Comments, info welcome...
Info, articles, reviews, comments or photos welcome.
Please email blackmarketclash
Extensive archive of articles, magazines and other from the Take the Fifth Tour of the US, late 1979
Archive - Dates - UK articles - US articles - Photos - Snippets - Memorabilia - Audio-Video
|
No known audio or video
If you know of any recording, email blackmarketclash
Known setlist
1 |
Safe European Home |
![]() |
Extensive archive of articles, magazines and other from the Take the Fifth Tour of the US, late 1979
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'
Stream, download, subscribe
Stream and download The Clash here:
https://TheClash.lnk.to/BestOfAY
Subscribe to The Clash’s YouTube channel:
https://TheClash.lnk.to/YouTube_Subsc...
Follow The Clash:
Official website - https://www.theclash.com/
Facebook - / theclash
Twitter - / theclash
Instagram - / the_clash
Follow The Clash on :
Twitter: http://bit.ly/I0EsOs
Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1eQ196D
Subscribe to our channel to watch more: http://bit.ly/1jY5CFd
ARTICLES, POSTERS, CLIPPINGS ... A collection of A collection of articles, interviews, reviews, posters, tour dates from the Clash's Take the Fifth US Tour covering the period of the Pearl Harbour Tour. If you know of any articles or references for this particular gig, anything that is missing, please do let us know.
VIDEO AND AUDIO Video and audio footage from the tour including radio interviews.
|
Wikipedia - band mambers
Wikipedia - The Clash
Search all of facebook
Search all of Twitter
Search for a local library
Search auction site
Search flickr
Search Instagram
Search the internet
Search The Internet Archive
A complete treasure trove of archive of audio (official, unofficial), readable books, magazine
Magazine searches
Creem Magazine [US]
Record Mirror [UK]
Rockscene Magazine [US]
Boston Rock [US]
British Library [UK]
Nothing Else On Flickr
Large catalogue of music magazines
Fanzine searches
Slash Fanzine [US]
No Mag Fanzine [US]
Damage Fanzine [US]
Dry zines Fanzine [US]
Auction sites
Great for rare sales such as posters & tickets
Photos.com
includes images
Heritage Auctions
Past - Current
Image search
Getty Images The Clash here
Need to vary search and year
The Clash Art for Sale - Fine Art America
Collection of Clash images, need to vary search and year
WireImages here
Brixton Academy 8 March 1984
ST. PAUL, MN - MAY 15
Other 1984 photos
Sacramento Oct 22 1982
Oct 13 1982 Shea
Oct 12 1982 Shea
San Francisco, Jun 22 1982
Hamburg, Germany May 12 1981
San Francisco, Mar 02 1980
Los Angeles, April 27 1980
Notre Dame Hall Jul 06 1979
New York Sep 20 1979
Southall Jul 14 1979
San Francisco, Feb 09 1979
San FranciscoFeb 08 1979
Berkeley, Feb 02 1979
Toronto, Feb 20 1979
RAR Apr 30 1978
Roxy Oct 25 1978
Rainbow May 9 1977
Us May 28 1983
Photoshelter here
Sep 11, 2013: THE CLASH (REUNION) - Paris France 2 IMAGES
Mar 16, 1984: THE CLASH - Out of Control UK Tour - Academy Brixton London 19 IMAGES
Jul 10, 1982: THE CLASH - Casbah Club UK Tour - Brixton Fair Deal London 16 IMAGES
1982: THE CLASH - Photosession in San Francisco CA USA 2 IMAGES
Jul 25, 1981: JOE STRUMMER - At an event at the Wimpy Bar Piccadilly Circus London 33 IMAGES
Jun 16, 1980: THE CLASH - Hammersmith Palais London 13 IMAGES
Feb 17, 1980: THE CLASH - Lyceum Ballroom London 8 IMAGES
Jul 06, 1979: THE CLASH - Notre Dame Hall London 54 IMAGES
Jan 03, 1979: THE CLASH - Lyceum Ballroom London 19 IMAGES
Dec 1978: THE CLASH - Lyceum Ballroom London 34 IMAGES
Jul 24, 1978: THE CLASH - Music Machine London 48 IMAGES
Aug 05, 1977: THE CLASH - Mont-de-Marsan Punk Rock Festival France 33 IMAGES
1977: THE CLASH - London 18 IMAGES
Any further info, articles, reviews, comments or photos welcome.
Submit an article here
We are looking for scans - articles - tickets - posters - flyers - handbills - memorabilia - photos - comments / any information - you might have.
Please like and post on our Facebook page or alternatively email blackmarketclash
You can also follow us on Twitter
We also have a Clash Twitter list of other notable Clash Twitter accounts here
Blackmarketclash Links
Extensive links page can be found here with links to web, twitter, Facebook, traders etc..
If Music Could Talk
The best Clash messageboard and which also has links to downloads on its megalists
www.Blackmarketclash.co.uk
Go here for uploads and downloads. It's not a massive space so its on an as and when basis.
Also go to 101 Guitars for downloads
Contact your local library here and see if they can help.
If you are searching for articles in the USA - DPLA Find the local US library link here
WorldCat? - find your local library Link
British Newspaper Archive - United Kingdom Link
Newspaper ARCHIVE - USA+ Link
Historical Newspapers - USA & beyond Link
Elephind.com - international Link
New York Times - USA Link
Gallica - France - Not very helpful Link
Explore the British Library Link
Trove - Australia National Library Link
The Official Clash
Search @theclash & enter search in search box. Place, venue, etc
The Official Clash Group
Search @theclashofficialgroup & enter search in search box. Place, venue, etc
Joe Strummer
And there are two Joe Strummer sites, official and unnoffical here
Clash City Collectors - excellent
Facebook Page - for Clash Collectors to share unusual & interesting items like..Vinyl. Badges, Posters, etc anything by the Clash. Search Clash City Collectors & enter search in search box. Place, venue, etc
Clash on Parole - excellent
Facebook page - The only page that matters
Search Clash on Parole & enter search in the search box. Place, venue, etc
Clash City Snappers
Anything to do with The Clash. Photos inspired by lyrics, song titles, music, artwork, members, attitude, rhetoric,haunts,locations etc, of the greatest and coolest rock 'n' roll band ever.Tributes to Joe especially wanted. Pictures of graffitti, murals, music collections, memorabilia all welcome. No limit to postings. Don't wait to be invited, just join and upload.
Search Flickr / Clash City Snappers
Search Flickr / 'The Clash'
Search Flickr / 'The Clash' ticket
I saw The Clash at Bonds - excellent
Facebook page - The Clash played a series of 17 concerts at Bond's Casino in New York City in May and June of 1981 in support of their album Sandinista!. Due to their wide publicity, the concerts became an important moment in the history of the Clash. Search I Saw The Clash at Bonds & enter search in red box. Place, venue, etc
Loving the Clash
Facebook page - The only Clash page that is totally dedicated to the last gang in town. Search Loving The Clash & enter search in the search box. Place, venue, etc
Blackmarketclash.co.uk
Facebook page - Our very own Facebook page. Search Blackmarketclash.co.uk & enter search in red box. Place, venue, etc
Search all of Twitter
Search Enter as below - Twitter All of these words eg Bonds and in this exact phrase, enter 'The Clash'
www.theclash.com/
Images on the offical Clash site. http://www.theclash.com/gallery
www.theclash.com/ (all images via google).
Images on the offical Clash site. site:http://www.theclash.com/