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Edmonton Airtight

August 1982
4 pages

CJSR volunteers contributing to the station’s fanzine, Airtight, were there to cover the show.

'The only rock band' unleashes furious set

82 06 30 Edmonton Journal Wed (Edmon Review)

June 29, 1982: The Clash unleashes furious set at Kinsmen

June 29, 1982: The Clash unleashes furious set at Kinsmen “For a few minutes in the smoke-filled Fuehrerbunker known as the Kinsmen Fieldhouse, it seemed The Clash might not have the chance to live up to its legend as ‘The Only Band That Matters,’ ” began a Journal concert review. “After kicking off with a rousing London Calling, followed by Spanish Bombs, the British quartet had to halt a crunching rendition of Know Your Rights when the press at stage front became so oppressive it seemed some of the audience might fall on a thicket of nail-filled boards.”

English punk band The Clash, with lead singer Joe Strummer, left, performed at the Kinsmen Fieldhouse in 1982

“For a few minutes in the smoke-filled Fuehrerbunker known as the Kinsmen Fieldhouse, it seemed The Clash might not have the chance to live up to its legend as ‘The Only Band That Matters,’ ” began a Journal concert review.

“After kicking off with a rousing London Calling, followed by Spanish Bombs, the British quartet had to halt a crunching rendition of Know Your Rights when the press at stage front became so oppressive it seemed some of the audience might fall on a thicket of nail-filled boards.”

Guitarist-lead vocalist Joe Strummer (born John Graham Mellor) exhorted everyone to “try not to be an animal out there,” as police officers (one with cotton balls in his ears) mounted the stage. The boards were removed, the crowd stepped back and “The Clash proceeded to unleash the most powerful and uncompromising rock rave-up since Elvis Costello and Bob Marley visited here in 1978 and 1979, respectively,” the review said.

“True, somebody spat on Strummer during Bankrobber (prompting him to say he would ‘brain’ the offending individual should he continue). True, you had to be in an arc 60 metres from the stage to really appreciate the band, the Kinsmen being an acoustic nowhere land. True, the heat near the stage was almost suffocating. Yet The Clash — not to mention a good number of its 7,000 devotees — persevered.

“In a sense, the show was almost too much to take. Wearing ‘designer’ fatigues (Strummer had a Special Forces-Mohican cut à la DeNiro in Taxi Driver), playing through a brutally loud sound system, the band drove through tune after tune like possessed rock shock troops, as a rear-screen projector splayed pictures of want ads, handguns, Margaret Thatcher, Lech Walesa, the Ayatollah, brick walls and Lord knows what else behind the net-covered stage.”

The highlights of the show were Somebody Got Murdered, The Magnificent Seven, Career Opportunities and Police and Thieves.

The punk bank, formed in 1976, disbanded in early 1986. Strummer died suddenly at age 50 from a congenital heart defect on Dec. 22, 2002.

The Clash was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003, and the next year was ranked No. 28 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of 100 greatest artists of all time.

Did you go? Comments, info welcome...

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

My brother Don Arychuk was in the band that opened for them

LArychuk - My brother Don Arychuk was in the band that opened for them, most likely Modern Talk. I got in for free as I helped bring in their gear.

The band stopped and threatened to quit playing unless the fighting stopped

Ottosbro: First Concert I ever saw, which always sounds cool to youngsters. However, I was 15 and really missed a lot of prior concerts and gigs (punk and otherwise) that I should have attended.

Also, I was a little intimidated with the festival seating (there was some dangerous overcrowding up front), and I hung in the back for more than the first half of the Clash performance. After-all, it was only a few years after the Who tragedy in Cincinnati.

The Clash paused the show and moved some people over the stage a couple times early on. The sound was much better when I went down on the floor.

However, I did snap this long-shot when I was in the balcony. The largest original punk concert that occurred in Edmonton in the "old days". There was a big rush on tickets when they were released, but the show never did quite sell-out which I thought was pretty lame on Edmonton's part.

I remember hearing a few hardcore people were trying to act up all punk - I don't give a f*ck - and got tossed by security before the Clash started. Now that is truly lame. I guessing attendance was less than 5,000.

My brother was in a band that opened

Lynn: I was at this concert and 16, my brother was in a band at the time that also opened for The Clash, not sure which band he was in at the time, maybe The Shock. Anyone else remember the "other" band that opened that night?

I was BLOWN away!!

Bee Dee: I was there as well , 16 yrs old at the time . Some great photos of the show still circulate around town at record fairs etc . there is a photo of security removing the wood barricade from the front of the stage , while joe strummmer gives the crowd instructions , making sure everything is ok. i recall the crowd buzz , as you could see the clash walking to the stage via a upper tier jogging track .siggyI was there too !

I slept all the way from Jasper - waitressing at Jasper Park Lodge for the summer. We arrived just in time for the show so I was completely sober and the show was still awesome...

I remember those "pauses" when the wood at front of the stage collapsed and all the splinters / nails ended up in front of the crowd who were pushing ahead. I was glad to be sober in the end because I don't think anyone would have noticed me had I stumbled....cethlynI was at this show. 17 trs old at the time. I was BLOWN away!!

They refused to play until people stopped pushing.

Mike Tandy - I was at this show and think I have a few instamatic pics (see below), myself..no Topper and Joe stopped the show in the middle of a song because kids were pushing up against the barriers at the front and he was worried someone was going to get hurt. They refused to play until people stopped pushing.

Calgary Music Collectors Show - I understand the barriers were poorly constructed causing safety concerns for Joe.

Photos

© Trevor Stenson