Clash Melee Points Up Danger of Overselling
by Robert Palmer
New York Times June 3, 1981

The Clash concerts at the Bond's International Casino, West 45th Street and Broadway, have been causing quite a stir, and not because of the British rock band's political lyrics and incendiary performing style. Bond's was closed by the city Department of Buildings on Saturday after the Clash played to a crowd estimated at 3,640 people; the club's legal capacity is 1800.

But after the club complied with building inspectors by installing fire-exit signs and making other minor alterations, it was allowed to reopen - on the condition that audiences not exceed the legal limit.

The Clash agreed to play six extra performances to accomodate ticket-holders who were turned away from this week's performances.

The reason ticket-holders are being asked to attend the added performances is that the Clash's engagement was dramatically oversold. Anyone who has attended rock shows in large clubs like Bond's and the Ritz knows that overselling is nothing new.

Other Incidents

One downtown club that is closed oversold an engagement by Chuck Berry so heavily last year that the entire block in front of it was packed by angry ticket-holders who were unable to gain admission.

The Fire Department arrived and demanded that the crowd from the first show be cleared out. The second show finally got under way at around 3 A.M.

More recently, a show by Adam and the Ants at the Ritz found the club jammed and a large number of people pressed together outside, hoping to get in. In a related incident, a full house at the Ritz began throwing bottles at the club's video screen two weeks ago when the British band Public Image Ltd. performed behind the screen, refused to come out from behind it and taunted the audience.

Several fans then stormed the stage, ripping down the equipment. There was a moment of near-panic on the crowded dance floor, though apparently no one was hurt.

As more and more rock groups ...[unreadable]... Bond's and the Ritz, which have open dance floors rather than the reserved seats found in theaters and sports arenas, incidents like these can only mutiply. All nightclubs are limited in capacity by the Fire Department, but in the past, these limits have been widely ignored. They should not be.

Possibility of Legislation

If rock shows at large clubs result in more trouble, and especially if there are injuries, legislation governing ticketing, security and other rock club procedures might well result. Such legislation would undoubtedly make it more duifficult for rock clubs and independent promoters to hold their own in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

The ...[unreadable]... clear. If the club owners can't do job of regulating themselves, someone else is going to step in.

New York Times 6/3/81