Bonds Residency: Three weeks & 17 gigs that shook up New York and America. Supported by the Slits

List of support acts

updated June 2005
updated 13 April 2011 - added ticket
updated July 2022 added pass

Audio 1 - aud. master

Sound 3.5 - time 1hr 21mins - DAT-master - tracks 20

This Is Radio Clash

Video - Bonds TV News Reports

short live clips and interviews from Channel 4 & 7 (on Clash on TV Vol.1)

Audio - Radio & TV Reports

a collection of news pieces reporting on the ticket crises at it happenned - 25 mins - updated Jan 2009

More info including full audio and video News Reports here.

For all video,

it is presumed that significant footage comes from the first night but it is also highly likely it came from other nights.

For further details on video on from the opening nights go to the 28th

For information on the Clash on Broadway reels go here

Sound quality

From the audience master recording transferred to DAT. This is a typically sounding Bonds audience recording; clear, undistorted and well detailed. Its deficiencies being distance and depth. Instrumentation is clear except for bass, which is flat and low in the mix.

The quality of performance though tonight transcends the deficiencies of the recording making this an enjoyable and worthwhile bootleg to have.

The recording excludes the encores ending with Clampdown; the end of the main set. As explained in the Background this recording might actually be from the 1st of June and vice versa.

Corrupt municipal practices

If the conspiracy theory of inter-club rivalry and corrupt municipal practices is to be believed (and it was then and is still now widely accepted) then the agreement reached with the Fire Department on Friday 29th May which allowed that night’s concert (and future ones) to go ahead, was presumably not damaging enough for those behind the action.

Certainly we do know that just hours before the Saturday matinee for under 18’s was to go ahead, the Building Department stepped in and effectively closed Bonds indefinitely stating the club was a potential death trap because of unsatisfactory fire exit arrangements. As TV news reports put it “2000 fans were turned away [from the Matinee] with the help of mounted Police” and “hundreds poured into the street shouting obscenities and blocking traffic”. Some protesters were hit by billy clubs and one girl was arrested.

This mini-riot (Don Letts filmed scenes) provoked extensive TV and radio coverage, the front page of the New York Post declared ““Clash” in Times Square” (which the band proudly had made up as T-shirts) and was the basis for the band members oft since repeated boast that it was the first riot in Times Square since Frank Sinatra’s bobbysoxers in the late 40’s.

Kosmo writes in Bob Gruen’s book; “What happened to The Clash at Bonds was that they got phenomenal media coverage… Up to this time the coverage of punk was safety pins and Sid & Nancy. So this was a very positive thing. I think the riot in Times Square did it..The record company were banned from the gig, because they’d done nothing to support Sandinista. So you’ve got the biggest media event going on and CBS have to say, “We can’t help you, contact Kosmo at the Gramercy”. They learned a lesson there. It put The Clash on the map for real, big-time brand recognition. We clawed our way into the Premier Division with that one”

Although these events are covered in some depth by the various books on The Clash and magazine articles at the time, they do contain factual errors.

The Clash could have (like many bands would have done) just walked away and refunded the ticket holders but that would have been contrary to The Clash’s long established and proven track record of commitment to its fans. So The Clash instructed lawyers to seek court orders to overturn the ban and Kosmo and Bernie laboured to negotiate with the authorities. Both Saturday’s planned performances though had to be cancelled as a solution proved hard to achieve. The persuasive power that achieved the breakthrough according to a number of accounts (and its such a great story it has to be true!) came ironically from the Building Commissioner’s own daughters who were Clash fans and badgered their father into submission!

WNEW FM

Sunday’s events are well documented on the circulating audio dubs from WNEW FM (who had a reporter at Bonds to provide updates on developments) and from TV news reports. The WNEW FM reports begin with confirmation that the Saturday shows were cancelled because the Building Department said there had been “previous infractions of safety rules”. The Clash though had “no plans to leave town” and every effort was being made to get the shows back on. Everyone agreed the problems came from “rock club rivalry”.

On Sunday 31st May at 2pm The Clash called a press conference and Building Commissioner Irwin Fruckman confirmed all inspections had been completed (improved security and reworked fire exit systems now in place) and shows could go ahead safely provided no more than 1725 people were let in.

Bernie statement

At 3pm the press conference was over and the reporter spoke to Bernard Rhodes. Bernie in a rare recorded interview explained that agreement had been reached after talks with the Fire and Building Departments and the Mayors Office. The dates had now been rescheduled with 8 new shows added so that everyone who bought original tickets would get to see The Clash. Refunds or exchanges would be available to those who could not make the rescheduled dates. As on the Friday night it was Ticketron ticket holders who would be serviced first, they are the “people that the did most travelling, New Yorkers will a get special show as they have been so patient”.

Bernie then made this statement; “Bearing in mind we’ve been up for the last 3 days and nights trying to sort this out we feel that the policy of The Clash has been upheld - that is giving you the news behind the news to music, and if we can present a show no matter how tired we are that you people out there enjoy then we hope that it has been worthwhile …we think you are more informed than any other audience.”

WNEW FM announcer then said Sunday night’s concert is going ahead with a 10pm start, The Clash on at 12 who have been “doing an amazing job of straightening out this whole thing - WNEW FM in New York - Clash on tonight!”

Channel 2 TV news report (audio only circulating) has Mick saying, “we’re playing tonight”, and Paul “We like it here” and Building Commissioner, Irwin Fruckman interviewed confirming it was now safe for the concerts to continue.

Boston Rock Summer 81 No 19 > PDF 14mb

This excellent article states there had been a rumour circulating the week before in Boston that this was going to happen. The fact that Bernie negotiated the Bonds shows not using a local agent, as was the norm could well have been a factor. The Sunday press conference is described in detail in the article. When asked why The Clash chose Bonds Joe responded, “We wanted a place with no seats. There is a big rule - when people get out of their seats, monkeys shove em back in!”

The article states that Joe felt the Sunday night concert was the best yet and the reviewer says the band were “Kicking and dancing and playing and singing with an unmatched intensity”. The sound problems were gone, the slide show perfected, the audience and band in a frenzy. Again an El Salvador “freedom fighter” dressed in full combat regalia played on stage near the end of Washington Bullets as leaflets were dropped demanding ‘US out of El Salvador’

A note of caution about the correct date of this recording; the Boston Rock article has Joe saying during the Sunday 31st May concert “how many people are in here tonight?” He points “1725, 26, 27, 28 .29 ,30 ssssh!”. But this comment is made on the recording credited to the 1st June recording.

The article ends with a description of the healing effect of The Clash which most people who ever saw the band would probably agree with; “…When people come to see The Clash they come with a lot of anger, frustration and negative feelings. When The Clash get on stage they are in pain, but like emphatic healing, all the anger and frustration goes through them and then …disappears. And people go home happy”

Clash Melee Points Up Danger of Overselling

by Robert Palmer - New York Times June 3, 1981

Poster

Tickets

Those of you who’ve had to wait on line for hours

The recording fades into the intro music then Joe announces “Good evening. Those of you who’ve had to wait on line for hours or days we’re here now so lets get on with it” but there’s a further short frustration so he adds “You might have to wait a little bit longer!” London Calling then kicks in and not surprisingly after all the frustrations the band are fired up to be back on stage and Joe adds screams and cries on a very enjoyable performance.

Safe European Home drives along powerfully with Mick adding some great guitar fills, the band in top form. Joe is clearly fired up and enjoying himself on The Leader. “And now centre of the microphone Mr Mick Jones ..Murder!” intros a powerful Somebody Got Murdered with Mick’s guitar playing a particular pleasure. A good indicator of a special Clash concert is when Joe adlibs and free verses and there’s plenty of evidence of that tonight. On White Man in Hammersmith Palais his adlibs over the ending include “Believe me people I would not enter to create misery, believe me people …I’ve not eaten for 3 months, bully boy come in looking” The recording is not good enough for his words to be all clear, but the effect is certainly impressive.

Paul’s Guns of Brixton follows and despite the deficiencies of the recording the quality of the performance comes through.” This is what we’re working on entitled This is Radio Clash, let it rip!” The song has again an extended improvised ending and some adlibs from Joe. “Turn on the drum machine” shouts Joe as Topper beats out a steady rhythm, which goes into The Call Up. The band had played this in the sound check and these semi-improvisatory songs are the most interesting to hear on the audience recordings when the sound is not first rate. A strong performance of The Call Up but not a patch on the best of the European tour versions.

A gentle intro from Mick builds into a pumped up Complete Control. An edit at the end restarts on the 2nd CD with an enjoyable Junco Partner and is followed by an improvisatory Lightning Strikes, which loses a few seconds near the end to a tape drop out. Joe’s intro’s Ivan Meets GI Joe with, "Well, with your help, we'd like to lift the iron curtain".

Charlie Don't Surf gets an extended excellent treatment tonight with Joe adding at the start “Cambodia, Saigon 14 years, don’t look now” and then “Jimi Hendrix is in there somewhere”. Bankrobber gets the audience singing and with no gap a fired up Joe wants to get straight into Magnificent Seven. This song is now a regular highpoint in Clash shows and tonight is no exception; extended again into 7 magnificent minutes. Joe adlibs a plenty (but sadly most are unclear) and there is a new improvised ending, before the very lively audience roar their appreciation.

Mick again teases out the intro to a fine Wrong Em' Boyo. Mick’s Train In Vain also get an extended treatment as Clash shows now through to the end of 81 regularly extend past the 2 hour mark. Joe says “Everyone still conscious over there?” before Mick screams “1-2-3-4” and the band slam into a charged Career Opportunities. “Warming up!?” jokes Joe before a very powerful Clampdown on which Joe screams and rants unintelligibly but magnificently! The song drops down to drum and bass with Joe adlibbing “Is it a UFO or is it St. John the Baptist!” Topper builds it back up and Joe continues to rant over top.

The taper unfortunately did not presumably record the encores but certainly what he did manage to preserve is more than well worth having.

Did you go? Comments, info welcome...

Info, articles, reviews, comments or photos welcome.
Please email blackmarketclash

Boston Globe Review

Sun 31 May Bonds
Steve Morse

REVIEW / MUSIC\ CLASH WORTH THE WAIT\ THE CLASH - IN CONCERT SUNDAY NIGHT AT BOND'S IN MANHATTAN. Author(s) Steve Morse Globe Staff Date: June 2, 1981 Page: ????? Section: ARTS/ FILMS Wanting desperately to put the sordid events of the past few days behind them, the Clash rushed on stage Sunday and just let their pent-up fury do the rest. To say they were magnificent is an understatement. They performed like men possessed, churning out two hours of music that rocked the mind with its working-class, anti-oppressor-at-all-costs tone. ....more...

We went in, waited in line, and instead of a show, got a riot

i was supposed to be at the first matinee. we went in, waited in line, and instead of a show, got a riot. the rumor going down the line at the time was that one of the competing nyc clubs were jealous that bonds got the gig and they didn't, so they called the police and let them know that the gig was oversold. basically, the venue sold tickets at their box office for capacity, and then ticketron (precursor to ticketmaster) sold the exact same amount at tm locations. which is how the band ended up doing all those weeks of shows, god bless 'em.

i went in and exchanged my ticket for the last matinee show, june 13. i went to that show instead of going to my senior prom (big high school dance), my mother still moans about that. i can tell you that the dead kennedys definitely did NOT open, i knew them and had seen them once at that point. the brattles did open, but i also remember another band, and recall that they were a rockabilly act, as i remember a pink stand-up bass. i want to say that it was the rockats, who were a pretty hot rockabilly band in nyc around that time, but cannot be sure.

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 25 26

London Calling Safe European Home The Leader Somebody Got Murdered White Man In Ham Palais The Guns Of Brixton This Is Radio Clash The Call Up Complete Control Junco Partner Lightning Strikes Ivan Meets GI Joe Charlie Don't Surf Bankrobber The Magnificent Seven Wrong 'Em Boyo Train In Vain Career Opportunities Clampdown missing encore tracks One More Time Brand New Cadillac Janie Jones Armagideon Time Washington Bullets I'm So Bored with the USA

The drama of the Bonds residency

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12	Background Bonds Residency The Clash arriving in New York and the build up News Reports video and audio The Ticket Fiasco The remainder of the residency History of Bonds Longer history of Bonds Posters and adverts Badges, FSLN handouts, flyers, Clash press release ... Clash on Broadway Reels List of Support Acts

1. Background: The Clash at Bond's

Italy to New York
When The Clash landed at JFK airport in New York on the night of the 25th May 1981 they had no idea that their residency at a Broadway nightclub would create such a furore and nationwide media coverage that it became a pivotal event in their assault on America, helping to propel them into the major league Stateside. As Kosmo Vinyl has succinctly put it, “People who didn’t have straight trousers and short hair suddenly knew who we were. It got out - it was big!”. The Bonds concerts became one of the most enduring aspects of the Clash legend. ... more ...

2. Residency

The remainder of the press coverage once the bad had agreed to ensure all ticket holders got in by adding 8 more dates.

3. Arrival

A collection of articles covering the bands arrival into New York including previews of the week. Also includes the WNEW preview broacast with Meg Griffin.

4. Bonds News Reports
Audio and video reports covering the ticket fiasco. Fascinating watching / listening that captures those three days well. Includes notes.

5. Ticket Fiasco
Numerous articles and audio and video reports covering the ticket fiasco.

6. The remainder of the residency

7. History of Bonds

8. Longer history of Bonds plus old photos

9. Posters and adverts
Bits and pieces inclduying all adverts and posters.

10. Badges, FSLN handouts, flyers, Clash press releases ...

11. Clash on Broadway Reels
What was filmed and what happened to it?

12. List of Support Acts

13. Photos
Random phonts bundled here.

14. Comments
Comments for those who attended one of the gigs