Bonds Residency
Supported by The Brattles, Funkopolitin.

List of support acts

last updated 2 Nov 2005
updated 5 Jan 2010 - added Emerton from Brattles comments
updated Sept 2020 -

Audio 1

Sound 3.5 - time 1hr 33mins - DAT master - tracks 23
clear - aud. master -

Lightning Strikes

Sound Quality

The master audience recording in circulation is the best recording so far of the Bonds residency. It is less distant and has greater width, clarity and detail than the previous recordings.

There is some big hall echo and the sound is largely to the top end but bass though low in the mix is clear and reasonably focussed. This together with some decent stereo separation makes for an enjoyable sound and as the performance is a typically strong Bonds one, means that this is a bootleg well worth seeking out.

One or two of the track points seem strange and Ivan spreads over two tracks, though perfectly unedited.

no alcohol matinees

The Clash admirably played two Saturday no alcohol matinees at Bonds for their younger fans who would otherwise have been prevented by the nightclub’s age restrictions from seeing them perform.

Playing a matinee concert and then a later evening concert for a band who always performed with such intensity and energy was as The Clash later testified a particularly draining and exhausting experience. But as The Clash were semi-nocturnal creatures playing a rock’n’roll concert effectively at their breakfast time was doubly hard! Indeed when the band started their second matinee show late, Joe apologised saying he could not get out of bed in time!

In keeping with the event the high school band The Brattles opened the show. Former New York Dolls frontman David Johanson has recalled being impressed by The Clash after watching his son perform in The Brattles. The Dead Kennedys provided the main support slot and again in the evening.

Illustrating again the unusualness of these matinees the concert ends with an announcement from Joe on behalf of a presumably lost young fan to meet his friend by the mixing desk!

The matinee shows were well recorded; the first by one of the best Bond’s audience recordings, the second on the 13th by the CBS/Epic professional mobile equipment tracks from which appear on From Here To Eternity.

(legal paper, couldn't get it all in my scanner)

The Brattles - Branch

I just came across your site. It’s absolutely amazing. My name is Branch Emerson and I was in the Brattles. I was the 12 year old guitarist that played with a punk/pop band called the  "Brattles" (ages 8 to 12). We opened for the clash twice, June 6 & 13.

You had a question mark, meaning that your not sure if we played or the Dead Kennedys? We both played, Joe saw us at the Chelsea Hotel (actually we met in the elevator and then "hung out" in his room, thereafter doing a show on the roof, the story is a riot,) He asked us to play a Bonds due to the extentions. Needless to say it was an amazing time.

[We were a] Hi-School band, followed by Funkopolitin. The "We love you clash" that is heard mid-show is caused by a mic that fell into the audience. Joe just watched kind of amused while these guys in the first rows yelled into the mic. After a while, the roadies got it back and set it up again.

I remember sitting on the side of the stage watching that show after we opened up for them and to be able to hear that show again would be amazing.

(Below) Dagin, Branch, Vern, Emerson, and Jason in front
All but Vern were 8 and he was 12 years old.

 Thank you, Branch W. Emerson - bemerson@rhfunding.com

"We love you clash"

I was at the June 6th matinee show in 1981 in Bond's. The Dead Kennedys did NOT perform then. It was Brattles, followed by Funkopolitin.

The "We love you clash" that is heard mid-show is caused by a mic that fell into the audience. Joe just watched kind of amused while these guys in the first rows yelled into the mic. After a while, the roadies got it back and set it up again. Haim Barr

The Brattles - Werner

“I was the 12 year old guitarist that played with a punk/pop band called the "Brattles" (ages 8 to 12). We opened for the clash twice, June 6 & 13. You had a question mark, meaning that your not sure if we played or the Dead Kennedys. We both played, Joe saw us at the Chelsea Hotel (actually we met in the elevator and then "hung out" in his room, thereafter doing a show on the roof, the story is a riot,) He asked us to play at Bonds due to the extensions. Needless to say it was an amazing time”. Werner

The Brattles - Elda

We were at Tony Machine's wedding on the Roof of the Grammercy Park Hotel...the Clash were staying on the floor below..I remember as I arrived, Mick was just coming out the door..I was so excited that I got an approving once over, before he got in a waiting car!!

The kids were there with their parents. Branch Emerson, keyboards, is the son of Elda of Elda and the Stilleto's, the band Debbie Harry was in before Blondie..his father was Eric Emerson, who was one of Andy Warhol's actors and a Max's fixture, until he was hit by a truck, if I remember correctly, and killed...Emerson Emerson, bass, is the son of Jane Forth, made famous by Lou Reed's song Sweet Jane..also a Warhol star, and again...Eric Emerson was his dad too..the drummer was Dagin, and when he was a toddler, he got carried out on stage at the Palladium in a trash can which they tipped over, he crawled out and said Ladies and Gentlemen, The NEW YORK DOLLS...My nepehw Jason, singer, songwriter....in the plaid cap, and my shirt..his Dad, John Collins, my husband's brother, was a Max's guy, and had a pretty good Ska band called the Terrorists back in the 80's..(#23 in the list of 130 Fabulous Faces, photos by Leee Black Childers..from the book called HIGH ON REBELLION INSIDE THE UNDERGROUND AT MAX'S KANSAS CITY), and Vern was just a kid they knew.

So, they were at the wedding, and they knew the Clash were staying there...Branch wrote a note to Joe, telling him about the band and said he'd like to open for the Clash and wrote down his phone number..he left it at the front desk for Joe...who, being our Joe, was intrigued, called and Voila!!!!

elda gentile" <eldasez@earthlink.net>

“OK here’s a bit of British bluebeat”

The recording starts with the end of the Morricone intro, then Joe says, “Good evening” followed quickly by a more appropriate “good afternoon and welcome”!

As London Calling begins the good stereo separation for an audience recording is revealed with Joe’s guitar coming in and filling out the right channel. Clarity and detail in the guitars is very good and Mick’s solo is powerful whilst Joe adds plenty of Strummer trademark whoops and cries.

The band then blast into an intense Safe European Home, the band forcing the sleep from their eyes! The Leader almost segues into Train in Vain, which again drops right down after Mick sings “…spoke to me” then builds back up. Mick’s playing over this final section is lighter and more rhythmic than his heavier 16 Tons performances.

“OK here’s a bit of British bluebeat” is Joe’s intro to White Man in Hammersmith Palais. The instrumental break after “…wealth distribution” is not so effective in the 1981 performances but otherwise it is a very strong performance with Joe adlibbing over the extended final section and Topper adds a new drum flourish right at the close.

On This Is Radio Clash the band demonstrate their ability to improvise around the rhythm with ease. Mick’s guitar playing on Corner Soul is understated and subtle and he plays some great fills on Guns Of Brixton; the recording revealing lots of enjoyable detail in the sound. The Call Up is a definite highlight; the band super tight and together and as the music drops down Joe sings, appearing to offer his advice to the young audience. A fine Bankrobber next with Mick and Joe trading lead vocals. An edit at the end of the song restarts with the intro to

Complete Control. The sound has dipped a little maybe because the taper has moved position; certainly there is talking near the taper now unlike before. The sound is a little more distant and Mick’s guitar is too far back in the sound to be effective.

Lightning Strikes has a similar sound although Mick’s guitar is higher in the mix. Ivan Meets GI Joe is split into two tracks on the CDR and on the second half of the song the sound improves again back to the same quality as before. “The chopper descends, this is Radio Saigon on AFM talking (tracers?) can be fun but lets talk about the waste, how do you do when you shoot your buddy and you want to tell him that he’s sorry” is Joe’s intro to an excellent Charlie Don’t Surf with Mick playing some great atmospheric guitar.

“Ring ring” repeats Joe over the intro to Magnificent Seven; another highlight showcasing in particular Topper’s powerhouse drumming. Mick’s “You lot” calls come through powerfully and Joe adlibs “now the sun is going down its getting to evening”. Joe sings Broadway in a soft plaintive voice over Mick’s delicate playing. Somebody Got Murdered literally builds the set through to an intense finale followed by at Joe’s request Career Opportunities with Mick and Joe trading then sharing vocals. Then its straight into Clampdown with the recording providing plenty of enjoyable detail in the twin guitar attack. Joe adlibs about college, Geiger counters and Three Mile Island and the powerful performance just lacks an inspired stream of consciousness rant from Joe.

The encore fades in seamlessly with One More Time. Joe counts the band in after a long Topper intro and Mick’s guitar rings out as the band launch into a fine performance. Mid song Mick’s backwards guitar effects swirl around Bonds effectively before the ‘fireworks’ effects come in less so. There are then loud cheers followed by a male and female voice. Their words are unclear but they do repeat, “We love you Clash”. Curiously the male voice sounds not a little like the El Salvadorian speaker from the previous concerts. It does not appear to be a stage invasion and Joe comes back in unfazed.

Mick’s intro to Brand New Cadillac hangs in the air awhile before Joe comes in and the band blast into an all signals peaking into the red performance. Next its straight into a further highlight; Police and Thieves. The audience roar at the recognition of the song’s intro and the band do not disappoint. As the song drops down to drum and bass Joe moans and woahs softly then Mick plays some great guitar lines over the top as Joe gets louder and the band build to a crescendo. There is no Joe inspired rant though before Topper brings the song to a close. The audience roar their applause and the band charge through Janie Jones to complete a very fine concert, albeit a shorter one than the evening shows.

As the band leave the stage Mick is amused that a concert has ended when as he says “…its still light outside”. The recording ends with Joe saying to the young faithful and newly converted and with concern for one lost fan, “See you again, alright. Before I go I’ve got one announcement. Will David Lobanstock meet him at the mixing desk, alright”

Did you go? Comments, info welcome...

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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	London Calling Safe European Home The Leader Train In Vain White Man In Ham Palais This Is Radio Clash Corner Soul The Guns Of Brixton The Call Up Bankrobber Complete Control Lightning Strikes Ivan Meets GI Joe Charlie Don't Surf The Magnificent Seven Broadway Somebody Got Murdered Career Opportunities Clampdown One More Time Brand New Cadillac Police and Thieves Janie Jones

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