The Clash Live - Montreal - St Denis Theatre,Tuesday 25th September 1979

British lead punk invasion
Wave of new wave hits city
By DAVID SHERMAN of The Gazette

The city played host to a punk triple header last night as one of Britain's top new wave outfits The Clash along with the Undertones and the all-women band the B-Girls played to a small but rabid following at Theatre St. Denis.

Though the most fascinating part of the show was in the lobby, where a diz- zying collection of suitably attired punks strutted and stumbled, the more than three hours of pounding punk music was interesting for the wide dif- ference in talent displayed.

The 8 p.m. show started with the B- Girls, four women in white boots, tight black pants and red plaid shirts who could neither sing on key nor play their instrurnents.

It progressed to the Undertones, five properly dishevelled young men who play a monotonously strident brand of new wave and capped-off with The Clash, one of the more respected and popular British punk bands, who nds, who play a scalding though not altogether unpleas ant variation on the theme of unban frustration.

The Clash, led by lead singer Joe Strummer, is more articulate than the run-of-the-mill punk groups. Their lyrics, when they can be heard, tell a more sensitive tale than simple angry cynicism and their arrangements are more sophisticated, though not by much, than the typical anarchistic as sault.

Guitarist Mick Jones can play and in between bolting around the stage he beefs up Strummer's wailing vocals with streetfuls of hard edged guitar and vocal harmonies.

Crash's roots go back to a cheap flat in London in 1976 when Paul Simonon. who had been playing his bass for only six weeks, joined Jones and Strummer in some wall-cracking rehearsal.

They joined up with drummer Top- per Headon a few months later and proceeded with the often perilous busi- ness of playing in England's notorious punk bars.

They survived the thrown bottles and glasses and after two records their latest is Give 'Em Enough Rope considered by many to be the most indicative of serious new wave music.

But for the hundreds who were not sardined, squirming around the stage for the three acts, the true spectacle was in the lobby.

Fashion is as much a part of the scene as music and last night's cast of characters were wrapped in leather and leopard skin, studded dog collars and chains, often under heads of hair. including one dyed shocking blue. that looked as if it had been run over by a power mower.

It, like me, your definition of great rock n' roll includes the notion of "fun", a Clash concert will send you scrambling to change all that. Whatever inspired the band's superb set at a nearly-full Théâtre St-Denis in Montreal last Tuesday night, it was not a carefree rock n' roll spirit. Singer Joe Strummer's face, fixed with a permanent sneer and a glare which threatened to burn through the theatre's back wall, made that more than obvious. This band meant business.

The show was a 90-minute lesson in what punk music is supposed to achieve: intensity, commitment and lack of pretense.

The Clash are convinced rock'n'roll can change things, so convinced that they waste no time with love songs or any material which doesn't stamp its message clearly. Like the Sex Pistols, probably the only other punk outfit to match their performing intensity, The Clash hardly perform a single song which isn't overtly political.

Unlike the Pistols, though, The Clash are less concerned with nihilism and self- destruction than with self-preservation and fighting back against the Right The song titles say it all: Hate and War, English Civil War, Guns on the Roof. The incendiary final encore in Montreal was White Riot, an urge for whites to back the coloured struggle in Britain.

A lot of The Clash's impact is obviously cultural and on this, their second tour in North America, they brought a show which was as much like seeing them in Britain as possible. It included The Undertones, one of Britain's best up-and- coming bands, and the inspired addition of an English DJ who played the latest UK singles between sets.

Like the Kinks in their early days, however, the very Britishness of The Clash can puzzle North Americans and will probably limit them to eternal cult status here Strummer tore through songs in his usual Cockney tones in Montreal and, as usual, the lyrics were hard for even Anglophiles to decipher. Highlights like the spoken introduction to Clampdown were probably lost entirely to many ears.

Strummer seemed to have equal trouble understanding punk behaviour, in its outdated Canadian style. The crowd was certainly partisan with several hundred pogoers at the front if not exactly frenzied. The band was not impressed. "Let's have some more noise in here," complained Strummer. Upfront, the saliva was flying like London 1977 and Strummer eventually brought somebody bilingual up from the audience to translate, "Do not spit on me."

Strummer, guiatrist Mick Jones and bassist Paul Simenon made a democratic frontline, trading lead vocals to give Strummer's forever-hoarse voice a break. Instrumentally, all three were superb as were drummer Nicky Headon and a new keyboardist whose name was impossible to catch.

In particular, the way Jones and Strummer work together illustrates how the Clash avoid punk clichés like the relentless double-time rhythm guitar. It was never obvious which of them was playing what part, the two guitarists wove patterns like a younger - and peppier Wood and Richards.

The Undertones played a set that was slightly too loud and three or four songs too long. Apart from having one of the ugliest lead singers ever to front a band they have some great original songs like Jimmy, Jimmy and a whole lot of teenage Irish energy

Strummer politely asked a guy in the front of the crowd to ask another fan (en francais) to stop spitting on him

SINGING FOOLS VIDEO - Comments - Yes, it was Theatre St-Denis on September 25, 1979. They did an a capella intro to Clampdown. And later Strummer politely asked a guy in the front of the crowd to ask another fan (en francais) to stop spitting on him. "Crache pas sur lui!" Undertones opened. Watched as my mate was being squeezed flat in the front row. Lots of sweat. Very hot. Very Montreal. "Crache pas sur lui!" Undertones opened. Watched as my mate was being squeezed flat in the front row. Lots of sweat. Very hot. Very Montreal.

Doug Hibbard - Great show. The B Girls were a little silly. Put our rental car in the ditch on the way back to Ottawa. No problem.But the hitchhikers were a bit scared.

A Menard - There was a third band for this show.....opening band.....The B Girls, an all girl punk band from Toronto.

Zack Urlocker - I was at this show as well as when they played Verdun Auditorium in '82. The Clash were great, the Undertones were fun. The band was way less polished live, and some songs were pretty fast. But it was a good show. Audio and video from other venues on the tour were pretty consistent with how they played that night. The venue got pretty warm though and I do recall people booing the local radio station CHOM-FM. And Joe Strummer did ask someone to tell the audience in french to stop spitting on the band. Read more

Support acts were The B Girls and The Undertones, with DJ Scratchy playing new UK releases between sets. This was the same day that the Montreal Star newspaper ceased publication. The drum kit stand was adorned with the front page of that day's New York Post, with the large, garish headline "Docs Reattach Woman's Arm". The Clash Opened with Safe European Home, followed by I'm So Bored With the USA. They didn't play Tommy Gun. Audience members were encouraged to come on stage during the last song, White Riot, [I among them], with onstage security at the back, guarding the amps and drum kit. The Theatre St Denis had seating capacity of about 2,200 at the time, though few, especially in the front, spent much time seated.

Joe pulled me up with one arm and asked me to translate whatever he said in Français

Marc Perron - Yup, that's me up there (My post with my ticket stub)....Joe pulled me up with one arm and asked me to translate whatever he said in Français.....Arrêtez de cracher sur le groupe...Hepatitis was a big problem in the punk scene and spitting was one of the causes....

Marcus Macdonald - That was a great show! Somehow the weed didn't erase one second of this show. I close my eyes, and I am there, I can still see Joe Strummer in that frenzied hall, and hear London Calling....

Sid Ken McAuliffe - I was there in Montreal ! That was an amazing show ! Changed my life

David Knowles - John Marshall - One of my favourite concerts… Ever! I remember seeing you there (photographer). I was quite close the same spot.

Ervey Gutierrez - As The Edge from U2 said when he inducted them into the Hall of Fame, if it wasn’t for The Rolling Stones, they would be the greatest rock band in the world, I totally agree.

Derek Christie - facebook - I was there! Great shot ! - Derek Christie - facebook - On this day in 1979, a life changing experience: The Clash @ Theatre St Denis, Montreal. I still feel the G-force to this day.

Luigi Monteferrante - I was there, even jumped on stage, danced. Great show. I was 17, the only student in a high school listening to punk since it first exploded, and remembered that in the ninth grade, hence 1977, presented God Save... In English Literature class as poetry. All I got were snarls and derision, except for the teacher, a cool hippy who enjoyed my enthusiasm and ardor. Also saw Gang of Four, The Vibrators, New Order.

Paul Murphy - Hitchhiked from Vermont, crossing the border by foot, to see them there that night

Luigi Monteferrante - I saw them in Montréal! What a show! I was right in front, and even danced onstage with others. Mega. Great show. I was 17, the only student in a high school listening to punk since it first exploded, and remembered that in the ninth grade, hence 1977, presented God Save... In English Literature class as poetry. All I got were snarls and derision, except for the teacher, a cool hippy who enjoyed my enthusiasm and ardor. Also saw Gang of Four, The Vibrators, New Order.

People were spitting on them so they got a guy from the audience to tell them in French to cut it out

Mike Bessette - I bet that was the part where the fan, guy with microphone, translated in French for Joe Strummer, asking the crowd not to spit.

@zurlocker1 - YouTube - I was at this show as well as when they played Verdun Auditorium in '82. The Clash were great, the Undertones were fun. The band was way less polished live, and some songs were pretty fast. But it was a good show. Audio and video from other venues on the tour were pretty consistent with how they played that night. The venue got pretty warm though and I do recall people booing the local radio station CHOM-FM. And Joe Strummer did ask someone to tell the audience in french to stop spitting on the band.

Yup, that's me up there, Joe pulled me up with one arm and asked me to translate whatever he said in Français

Marc Perron - Yup, that's me up there (My post with my ticket stub)....Joe pulled me up with one arm and asked me to translate whatever he said in Français.....Arrêtez de cracher sur le groupe...Hepatitis was a big problem in the punk scene and spitting was one of the causes....

Terry Flanagan - One of the finest rock shows I had the privilege of attending, with friends Paul Reynolds and Frederick Portigal. An incendiary show, like every Clash performance of the era and I still rate this show as one of the best I have ever seen.

The sound in Montreal was perfect, for the time. The band came onto the stage as if they knew, they truly were the Only Band That Mattered. Not a lot of between song patter... they were there to bludgeon us. They succeeded.

In my top five favourite concerts of all time, this was indeed incendiary, from the moment the Clash took to the stage, they were taking no prisoners. Friends, Paul Reynolds and Frederick Portigal were with me. Paul and I were standing on the arms of our chairs within moments of the first song... Fred, not so much. Being a jazz fan and unfamiliar with the Clash catalogue, he sat with a puzzled look on his face. The fabulous Undertones, with their first ever North American appearance, were the support act.

The Undertones - in their first North American appearance - were the support act. Surprisingly, Theatre St. Denis was not completely full.

@amenard8765 - YouTube - There was a third band for this show.....opening band.....The B Girls, an all girl punk band from Toronto.

Marcus Macdonald - That was a great show! Somehow the weed didn't erase one second of this show. I close my eyes, and I am there, I can still see Joe Strummer in that frenzied hall, and hear London Calling....

A Riot of our Own - In Quebec the hotel receptionist proudly informed me I would have an emperor-sized bed for the night. We threw a party to say goodbye to the Undertones before we headed south. Kosmo stacked the fridge and cracked the jokes. We had treated them well, but the crowds hadnít. I had watched them every night, as I always watched the support bands. Feargal had been taking notes from Joe, prowling the stage and talking to the audience, not at them. But it hadnít seemed to make much difference.

John Wetzler - Some how I don’t think I’ve seen a live Clash picture with Mick Jones and an acoustic guitar.

Gorm Gullo - I've never seen M.J. with an acoustic before either. Wonder what song(s) he used it for?

Dave Spencer - @davespencer7970 - Youtube - Saw the next stop on the 'Take the Fifth' tour 4 days later in Montreal. I believe Montreal and NYC were the only 2 places where fans got up on stage during White Riot...I was bouncing around on stage and Joe motioned me over and we were singing the chorus together into the same microphone. Undertones opened...great night. Thanks for posting.

TVOD - Link - Battered Wives open their 79 or 80 show in Montreal. Pretty sure I read there was a protest from feminist groups in front of the venue because of the opener band name.

The Clash performing at the Theatre St Denis in Montreal with the B Girls and The Undertones, 1979