Support; The Beat

Last updated 7 July 2008 - added punters view (Scott Crabtree)
updated 9 Jan 2010 - identified unknown newspaper
updated 9 Feb 2022 added new artilce Discoveries
update August 2022 added comments

Audio 1 - excellent from master

Sound 4 - 86min - DATm1 - 24 tracks - last updated 28 Dec 01

Audio to follow

Sound quality

This is a very good recording. Good copies circulate as do lesser ones. However this is a copy from the master. It lasts a couple of minutes longer than the previous excellent copy but is barely a sound upgrade.

An even older recording was very flat and a fairly distant recording. There was some clarity but this was poor overall especially compared with the best. On this copy Janie Jones suffers some shite 'synth guitar' bleeding into it for the most part.

From the Taper

The Clash, October 17, 1982 - Memorial Gym, Kent State University, Ohio

2 x nak300 mics cardiod caps > sony d-5. nak1000 > hhb850 > sound forge 6 > cdwin > flac

I taped this myself back when I was in college. Several analog cassette copies have floated around since then. About 5 years ago I released a dat copy to someone. The version I "remastered". I think this is the best possible quality. I taped this up close 3rd row(?) center. Between songs and at times the mics were below head level. You will hear muffled highs at this point. But when I got the mics up, the sound is phenomenal.

The 2nd part is more hissy because I put it on a circa 1982 radio shack chrome tape. Most of my old radio shack and basf and Memorex tapes did not hold up like the maxells and tdks. Keep this in mind for the future. Crank it up and enjoy!!!!

Mike Proctor taped the show on his Sony Walkman Pro

I went with four other friends to the show and got autographed posters afterward. Mike Proctor taped the show on his Sony Walkman Pro, and I do have a 1st gen copy of that on cassette.

“Sandinista:
We did what we thought was right. If they didn’t like it they could piss-off.”

Since August 16th and October 17th 1982 I have seen the Clash in concert in three different cities. I have seen some great performers and concerts over the last six years. The list includes Elvis Costello, Iggy Pop, the Ramons, Blonde, the Jam, Squezze, David Johansen, and DEVO to name a few, however, these three Clash shows were the most intense and memorable concerts I ever saw.

On October 17th I saw the Clash for the third time, this time at the Kent State Memorial Gym. I took my camera but for this show I did not take it in, I left it in the trunk of the car. I wanted to get closer and not worry about taking pictures. I went to the show with David Walland and a friend of his. David kept saying we are going back stage after the show. I never believed him. I said, “How?” He said, “After the show we are just going to hang out by the backstage entrance and they will let us in.”

After the show ended we did just as David said…we went backstage. There were only a handful of people. At the door was a big black bouncer. He looked at us and said, “What are you here for?” David spoke up and said, “We are here to hang out with the Clash.” The bouncer said, “Wait here” and walked inside for a few minutes. He came out and said, “Alright you can go back.” Holy Shit! I couldn’t believe it was that easy! David just smiled and said “I told you.”

We walked in. All the members of the band were there. The room was not big and not many people. At this point I realized I left my camera in the car. I went back to the bouncer and told him of my problem. He told me to hurry and get it. I ran as fast as I could the whole time thinking I didn’t have much time and I didn’t want to waste it.

Backstage photos by Chris Downey

The temperature was in the low forties and when I got back I saw Joe Strummer sitting quietly by himself at a folding table that had a bouquet of fresh flowers on it. He was wearing dark sunglasses and a black shirt with a button on the label. I went over and asked to photograph him. He smiled and nodded. I raised my camera to take a picture.

At that point a panic look ran across my face. Coming from the cold temperature to the warm caused the camera lens to fog up. Joe looked at me and said, “What’s the matter mate?” I told him about the situation and he said, “sit down, give it a minute.” Un-fucking believable! I am sitting next to Joe Strummer about to engage in one of the most memorable conversations in my life.

It began with me telling him how much I loved the Clash music. I told him “you have changed the direction of music around the world. I went on to say how the Clash stands for social and political reform and delivers the message with passion and idealism like no other band. He thanked me and asked if I liked the show. I told him it was intense, “It was the third time I had seen the band on this tour and each time you played in a way that blended power and excitement with garage, thrash, funk, rap, and rhythm & blues with reggae. All types of musical styles in one.”

I went on to tell him that they played one of my favorite songs at this show, “Spanish Bombs.” I said Joe “you are the Ernst Hemmingway of punk music. Spanish Bombs is a three minute version of his book “For Whom the Bell Tolls.” Think about it, Something about England, The Call Up, Rebel Waltz and Tommy Gun are written like a Hemmingway short novel. He looked at me with a smile and said “let’s hope I don’t end up like him!”

I asked why they survived while other bands like the Sex Pistols or the Damned didn’t. He said. “We have used negative situations and tried to stirrup the people listening. The Clash has a clear relevant political message. Basically, redirect your frustration and anger and try to change the status quo. Those other bands were confused, mixing various political ideologies and some just concerned about the money.” I looked at him and said “you mean…looking for a real good space under the lighting.” He just smirked. I wasn’t sure if it was because he thought it was funny or he believed I understood his point.

I then asked him what he listens to. He responded “I like English Beat, Bo Diddley, MC5, reggae and funk music. He then asked me what I listened to. I talked about all my favorite bands and the great concerts I have seen. He listened very politely and didn’t say much. He appeared drained from the show.

For the next few minutes we made small talk about America, Ohio and where the next concert was and the tour in general. When I got up to leave I shook his hand again and thanked him for his time. I told him that as long as I live I will always remember this night. He nodded and said, “Come back stage next time we come to this area or at another gig.” As I walked away he began talking to another person. I turned and raised my camera to take one more picture of him and said “Joe, the Clash the only band that matters.” He looked up and stuck his tongue out and made a face. At that moment I snapped the picture. I waved and smiled he just nodded.

I walked over to Paul Simonon and Terry Chimes and introduced myself. I said to Paul, “I have seen the Clash three times on this tour and I don’t know if you would remember but when we were driving from Detroit to Akron back in August we drove by you on the highway.” Paul smiled. He looked at me with an expression that said you got to be kidding. I continued. “You were in the front seat in a Lincoln town car and Joe was in the backseat in the middle. I was hanging out of the window yelling.” He became very animated and said he remembered. “We did not know what was going on we were driving along and all of a sudden this car pulls up and you are yelling at us out the window. We realized that you knew who we were and were Clash Fans.” He went on to say it was an eventful road trip to Akron because they were pulled over by the police for speeding.

I also asked him it was true that they released Sandinista as a triple album to say Fuck you to Bruce Springsteen’s double album “The River?” Paul said, “We did what we thought was right. If they didn’t like it they could piss-off.” At that point two girls asked him to have there picture taken with him. I also took a picture and walked over to Mick Jones.

Mick Jones was very entertaining. He was over by the food having something to eat. I went up and introduced myself to him. I said, “Great show.” He said, “Thanks,” and asked if I was hungry. There were trays of deli food. I thanked him but declined. He acted comical. I asked to take a photo he agreed and smiled. I took the photo and said “let me take one more.” He then made a face where one eye was half closed.

I asked Mick “can you accomplish anything through rock & roll with a political theme?” He said “We try to be realistic; there is a difference between optimism and realism. Who knows, maybe it won’t change anything, but I still believe in it and still believe its something worth the effort.”

It was about that time when the bouncer began to herd everyone out of the room. I said good bye to Mick and headed for the door. As I got to the door I turned and looked around one more time. I new this would be something that may never happen again.

Chris Downey

Is still the standard by which all other live music performances are measured

I was Pretty blown away by Chris Downey's story and photos of the  Clash show, Oct 17 1982

I was good friends with David Walland and Matt Dudas, who Chris  refers to as David's friend in the text and you have labeled "fan" in the photos.

I was also at the show, though not with Chris, David, and Matt.  It was my first concert ever -- I was only 16 -- and it is still the standard by which all other live music performances are measured.

Please forward my comments to Chris.  I would enjoy reminiscing about these guys.  I think Matt is still around in Cleveland, but David died of AIDS sometime in the early 90's.

Remember the good times, though.  Like when we got busted by the cops for skinny dipping in a public pool at 3:00 am after the Black Flag show at the Cleveland Public Theatre.

- Scott Crabtree - now living in Portland, OR

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Photos

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	London Calling Car Jamming One More Time The Guns Of Brixton Somebody Got Murdered Spanish Bombs The Magnificent Seven Junco Partner Rock the Casbah Train In Vain Straight to Hell Janie Jones This Is Radio Clash Brand New Cadillac Police On My Back English Civil War Tommy Gun Charlie Don’t Surf Should I Stay or Should I Go? I Fought the Law Police and Thieves London’s Burning Clampdown White Riot