16 Tons Tour
Supported by Mikey Dread + Violation [who later turned into the southern death cult]

updated 29 July 2005
updated 14 July 2008 - added Rock n Folk French gig review

Audio 1

Unknown gen - Sound 1.5 - 1hr 17mins - 24 tracks

Wrong 'Em Boyo

Sound Quality

The worst of the generally poor 16 Tons UK Tour 1st leg recordings. The set has no surprises also making this one of the least enjoyable Clash boots. It is though the first recording to have Mikey Dread toasting on Armagideon Time.

A poor recording, copied too many times with noise and distortion.

Though worse exist, it is for completists, or those who where there only. Bass is best but vocals are very distant and Joe’s between song comments cannot be made out. There is very little range or clarity but does include the full set played although there are some between song edits.

Ticket

St.Georges Hall, Bradford

The Clash were to return to the old St.Georges Hall again in 1982, they liked it for its municipal grandeur with oak panelling and portraits of previous town dignitaries on the walls! A big change from the Top Ranks elsewhere on the tour!

19 dates into a long exhausting tour and it’s a standard set with few surprises. Joe’s between song comments are few and it’s a professional but not particularly inspired performance. Protex Blue is back as is Julie’s Been Working For The Drug Squad on the second encore. Police & Thieves is played “straight” without the Hit The Road Jack or other variations played on this tour.

It’s most notable for the recorded appearance of Mikey Dread toasting in the gaps between Joe’s vocals on Armagideon Time. Mikey was generally well received in the UK leg of the tour but not so later in the States. Mickey Gallagher is still absent presumably because of Blockheads duties.

The band launch into a confident Clash City Rockers. Quickly followed by Brand New Cadilac and a big sounding Safe European Home. Joes words are lost to the poor sound and hall echo, though the instrumentation is better.

Link

The bands elevation leads to Joe ad libbing midway through a faster, brashier Jimmy Jazz & London Calling. There's some audience participation at this stage in response to the stage. Guns of Brixton kicks in, Pauls vocals a bit clearer than Joe's. It plays powerfully. The first album ethos carries over as Joe introduces 'an old song' Protex Blue. Micks vocals coming across semi-clear shouting the close, Johnny Johnny as the band follow into the chords to Micks 2nd stint at the vocals Train In Vain.

There's a slight cut after Train In Vain, though it seems to follow without any loss. Joe chatters briefly before Koka Kola which ends with mick shouting "1-2-3-4" as the band continue into a very mature I Fought the Law which is greeted by the loudest cheer, but not for long as the applause is muted as the band race continously onward into White Man. Joe croaking out.

Bankrobber has a more funky faster feel, much different than the recorded version. Mick fills in with some neat lead guitar work which goes astray aand the band wind the song out. There's some Mick chatter before Clampdown. There's some more Joe ad libs at the end of the song, which has a slight cut after it has finished.

Joe is to be heard having some banter as the recording comes back with seaminlgly little cut out. Wrong Em Boyo follows. Paul's bass keeps this song flowing nicely amongst some lost words and jamming Mick guitar work. Toppers drums are almost indecipherable.

There's a cut/slight gap, again seemingly missing little as the fans applause is still fading out. Mick has some trouble with people shouting out requests, the noisy audience and the possible the crush at the front before launching into Stay Free.

A powerful Police and Thieves, a LP rendition of Tommy Gun, Mick seemingly enjoying his solo bits.

Janie Jones is followed by a Garageland. There's a long spell of audience cheering with some audience chatter at the end of the set.

Topper's first on fiddling with his kit before the band kick into a Mickey Dread Armagideon Time which tamelessly drifts and loses itself into the opening chords of Wrong Em Boyo again before Joe opens up the lyrics of the English Civil War, Micks guitar follows and the band get into the song.

A rousing Complete Control followed by a slight cut and plenty of audience noise before a rocking Julie's Been Working For the Drug Squad and the usual rousing Londons Burning.

What a band to have seen live. Life changing.

Joe Fabian wrote...

One of the best gigs, It's in my top 10 of all gigs I have been to. A different level of quality. The atmosphere was energised by everyone being searched and having to take off anything that could be used as a weapon .I had to hand over my studded belt. The police were at the back of the hall waiting for it to kick off. I only had a ticket for upstairs on the balcony so a mate through his stalls ticket up to me in a matchbox so I could get down to the front. What a band to have seen live which was their 16 tons tour, promoting the "London calling" album

Robin Tate agree with this, one of best gigs I've been to. Don't remember being searched or coppers at back. Saw some great bands at St George's.

Tino Palmer
Got me head kicked in by skins after the gig. Five stitches. We should have been support but...

Steve Fletcher
Epic gig. Strummer stopped gig early and had crowd mass gob on a persistent flobber, crowd control at its very best 

Graham Brook
I was there 14 years old. Life changing.

Rock & Folk review of Bradford Gig (French)

no.158

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Setlist

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24	Clash City Rockers Brand New Cadillac Safe European Home Jimmy Jazz London Calling The Guns Of Brixton Protex Blue Train In Vain Koka Kola I Fought the Law White Man In Ham Palais Bankrobber Clampdown Wrong 'Em Boyo Stay Free Police and Thieves Tommy Gun Janie Jones Garageland Armagideon Time English Civil War Complete Control Julie's been working for... London's Burning