Clash Take the 5th Tour
Supported by Sam & Dave and Undertones
updated 2 April 2007
updated 28 Dec 2008 - added venue photos and info
updated 28 Dec 2008 - added Marks photos from the gig
updated Dec 2014 with punters comments on the smashing of Pauls bass guitar
updated 29 March 2016 -added NY times reviews
updated 22 January 2022 - added more tickets
update August 2022 added Father and Sons article
updated Feb 2024 added reviews and more
Not much in the two tapes we know of. The first is a bit duller. Both have some distortion.
Audio 1 -
unknown gen - sound 2.5 - 69mins - 21 tracks
distorted in part but ok'ish
White Riot
Audio 2
unknown gen - Sound 3 - 69mins - 21 tracks
distorted in part but ok'ish
London Calling
White Riot
Sound Quality
This a low generation, quality audience recording but seriously spoilt by bass drum and guitar distortion/amplification problems. A shame as this could have been a great recording. But if you can cope with this distortion and turn bass controls down its an enjoyable listen. Vocals are least affected, then guitars which are not upfront in the mix, losing some of the power of the performance.
Lifetimes 20/20 Video
Not had chance to investigate this but in the NME article by Paul Morley on the - 13th October 'Fastest gang in the West part 1' The article stats that the 20/20 TV crew were intervewing the band.
For more details on the Lifetimes TV news broadcast go to the 7th March 1980
First night at the Palladium
The first of their double nighter at the New York Palladium is usually overlooked in favour of the very well known second night. This is a shame as the performance here is just as strong, if not better than the next night.
According to Johnny Green's book Joe almost didn't get in to do the gig as he was stopped by security with no stage passes! The glitterati were there again as on their Pearl Harbour Palladium debut but there was a greater buzz to these concerts in keeping with the Clash's growing US profile. Thus as well as De Niro and Debbie Harry again, they had Bianca Jagger dancing at the side of the stage.
The rich and famous were allowed backstage after the gig, a situation the band insisted is changed to the fans on the second night. ABC TV recorded a 20/20 show documentary, which Paul Morley details in his NME piece. Ray Lowry (see link) reported the 1st night crowd loved it, applauding and shouting for 10 minutes after White Riot.
Ira Robbins in Trouser Press (link) ‘One thing for certain about a Clash concert - there's no chance of it being slick or standard,… they have reached a level where it's not how good they are at any particular gig, its how hard they work to make it good. Both (Joe & Mick) exuded easy confidence, working without the self-conscious nervousness that marred the Clash's first New York date. All in all, this sloppy mess of a wonderful show proved The Clash can be both fun and exciting. They have maintained their unique ethics while adopting enough conventional technique to make a concert fully satisfying, for critics and paying customers alike.'
Many thanks to Mark from Medford, New York who has supplied us with photos from the Thursday night show. Gettyimages hold a few photos too.
Photos
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Palladium on New York's 14th Street
This was the first of the two concerts at the seated and sold out Palladium on New York's 14th Street.
The 3,800 seater Palladium on New York's 14th Street was an old converted theatre, as ornate as London's Lyceum but sleazier with drug pushers plying their trade outside. Thanks to Sukwoon Noh (it was his first Clash gig) for providing the following recollections of the Palladium;
You can see the ol Palladium inscription in the left photo above the montage on the facia.
"In the 70's and 80's the Palladium was THE place in NYC. That's where all the great new wave bands played. I saw the Jam, Joe Jackson, Ramones, David Johansen and few others. It was essentially a movie theater converted into a concert hall.
Main floor and the second level called the loge. It has since been demolished and in place stands a high-rise. The street level is now an electronic store called 'PC Richards' and the upper levels belong to NY University's dormitory. Only 1 block away from the Irving Plaza [where Joe played with Meskies in 99 & 2001]"
"With my hand on my heart!" Joe shouts over the intro to I'm So Bored With The USA.
As the reggae track spun by Clash DJ ‘Scratchy' Myers fades Safe European Home blasts out at near deafening volume to the assembled congregation of famous faces and sussed New Yorkers. "With my hand on my heart!" Joe shouts over the intro to I'm So Bored With The USA.
The performances are intense and Joe's clearly up for it although his voice sounds a little hoarse. Joe addresses the crowd before an excellent London Calling trying to get more reaction from a not audibly excited audience " first of all there's more of you up there, than down here, this is a new song London Calling to the faraway towns".
The sound problems badly affect Koka Kola;"Now ladies & gentlemen in the gleaming corridors of the 51st floor distortion …". Joe unusually sings the third verse of Jail Guitar Doors with different words. Joe introduces an excellent English Civil War with" This is about our 5th show, Mick's been dragging out an acoustic guitar for this one, but we couldn't get one in New York, one that works, this is the one they booed us for in New York for not being more like Ted Nugent!"
Mickey Gallagher begins his contribution earlier in the set now with Stay Free; "you lot can't see him over there, Mr Mickey Gallagher of the Blockheads". Clampdown like all the new songs is sounding better and better, getting knocked into shape by the live performances.
There is an edit before Police & Thieves where after the sound dips due to a deterioration of sound in the right channel. Before Wrong Em Boyo Joe says "ok now this is something all the hipsters in London, really think their hip on this, so I want to know what you think". Mick sings the guttersnipe section of Garageland maybe because Joe's gone in the crowd or climbing the PA stack. It's the usual encore with the crowd left shouting for more.
I can still see them exploding off the stage during the opening chords of Safe European Home
... I was at the Palladium show (their first in NY?), 4th row on the aisle, thank you! I was 14. I can still see them exploding off the stage during the opening chords of Safe European Home.... Dave
Clash bites Apple
Columbia Daily Spectator - Father and Sons
27September 1979, pg14
Who fan bemoans The Clash
Pop: Soul Act Opens For the Clash
New York Times review
Robert Palmer
Melody Maker : Clash in NYC- Waiting for Ivan
Mary Harron
ACCORDING to reports, it / was a hot. dead, airless summer in New York City. With nothing much happening on the local music scene, excitement centred on the English visitors. The Gang of Four were ecstatically received, scoring over the Buzzcocks, while Eddie and the Hot Rods -found a kinder welcome than they do at home...
Melody Maker Clash Bites Apple
Link
Van Gosse, ,
29 September 1979
FIRST time here, in February, the Clash were merely grand. The energy was awesome but the music was more volume than anything else; in the end it was just oatervating...
The Clash/Undertones/Sam & Dave:
The Palladium, NYC
Andy Schwartz, New York Rocker,
November 1979
THIS REVIEW is being turned in weeks late, and I know why. After all these years and all these bands, all the disappointing second albums and bum gigs and sad declines - after all that, it's still like a dagger in the heart to be let down by a band you once loved.
NME - Fastest gang in the West part 1 & 2
13th October (PDF pt1), and 20th October (PDF pt2)
The Last Gang in The West Leaves Town (HTML)
NME 13 & 20 Oct Paul Morley
Paul Morley of the NME travels on the tour bus from Detroit on the 17th through to New York on the 21st interviewing and following the band.
DETAILS: The Scene. The Clash on tour of America. There's a glamorous image, with a confident, crusading edge to it. The Clash: a lot of hope and responsibility there. America: it still means a lot. Clash's current six week coast to coast tip to toe tour of the United States Of America is their first major assault.
Face Magazine (Penny Smith feature)
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Ira Robbins - Trouser Press Magazine
Link or text version
The Clash
One thing for certain about a Clash concert—there's no chance or it being slick or standard. In New York during their second American tour, the fearsome foursome—survivors of enough self induced setbacks to stop an army-proved they have reached a level where it's not how good they are at any particular gig, it's how hard they work to make it good...
interview Pennie Smith Telephone Interview - published in Q Magazine
Steve Bateman On Friday
I had the privilege of interviewing one of my idols, and one of Britain's most celebrated / revered rock photographers, Pennie Smith. In just over 3 decades, ....
Gregory Ego BLOG - It was thirty years ago ..
It was thirty years ago today… The Clash -- without whom I wouldn't be who I am today (for better or worse) -- playing at the Palladium in New York City on September 21, 1979.
A little ragged at first, the band heated up and then provided a pressure-cooker performance. It's the concert which imprinted "revolution rock" onto my neurons.... archived PDF
The Story Behind Paul Simonon & His Famous Smashed Bass Guitar
Marco On The Bass
Sunday, Dec 30, 2012
Paul Simonon of The Clash is the reason I initially stuck with the bass guitar despite initially knowing nothing about notes, scales or bass lines. As I fell more deeply in love with ska, reggae and punk music as a young and angry teenager, it was the knowledge that Simonon was a reggae fan, a rude boy and self taught musician that continued to inspire me. That and the iconic image of him smashing his beloved Fender Precision bass guitar sealed the deal. I wanted to be like him and I had to have the same guitar!... archived PDF
A Riot of Our Own pg194
The Clash Official | Facebook
Rockscene Coast to Coast, and in New York at the Palladium
Photos / September 1979 /
All Rockscene magazines are now available to view online
archived PDF
Blackmarketclash | Leave a comment
Photos
Photos from the 20th
Many thanks to Mark from Medford, New York who has supplied us with photos from the Thursday night show.
Quite a few photos at Getty images
quite a few photos at Getty images - archived PDf of them here
24 photos here from Mark, New York
Subject: Re: shots from the Sept 20 NYC show
Thanks to Mark from Medford, Lawn Guylind, New York for these series of shots. These are from the Thursday night show. Forwent the gear for Friday. <youamwho[a]gmail.com>
Other photos
Did you go? What do you remember
Info, articles, reviews, comments or photos welcome.
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Setlist
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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)
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& 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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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.
BOOKS
by Johnny Green (Author), Garry Barker (Author), Ray Lowry (Illustrator)
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Hundreds of fans comments about the gigs they went to...
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