This page lists all known Clash gigs from 1983 with info. If you have any corrections please email blackmarketclash




Us Festival Mini-Tour

The Clash came to Texas in May 1983 $500,000 offer from Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak to headline New Wave Day of the US Festival at the end of the month.

The group had every reason to be on the top of the world by this point: their previous LP, Combat Rock, was an enormous hit and their singles “Rock the Casbah” and “Should I Stay or Should I Go” were all over radio and MTV. Topper Headon had been kicked out of the group for drug abuse in 1982, and Mick Jones and Joe Strummer were barely speaking.

They took a six-month break after the Combat Rock tour ended in November 1982. To warm up for the huge festival, the group went on a multi--date tour of Texas and Arizona.

Though the Clash continued to tour, tension continued to increase. In early 1983, Chimes left the band after the Combat Rock Tour because of in-fighting and turmoil.

Founding drummer Terry Chimes (who rejoined the band in 1982 after Headon got the boot) was once again out of the group by this point, so they took out an ad in Melody Maker and recruited 23-year-old Pete Howard.

The Clash’s ongoing, behind-the-scenes dysfunction was not going to make his job an easy one. Pete: “After the auditions, they basically just said, ‘Go away and learn everything.’ Not ‘these songs’ - everything. We had some rehearsals in Notting Hill, and basically Mick wouldn’t turn up. If he turned up at all, he would turn up three hours after everyone else had. The tension between Mick and Joe was palpable.”

By the time they got to San Bernardino, California for the festival, they were in complete disarray. Things got worse when they learned fans were paying $25 to attend the show threatening to pull out unless unless Apple gave $100,000 to charity. They had been told previously that prices would be set at $17, and shortly before they went onstage, they held a press conference. The band announced they wouldn’t go on . It was chaos.

Some later claimed the real cause of their rage was the knowledge that Van Halen were getting a million dollars for their set.

The group ultimately performed on 28 May, the festival's New Music Day, which drew a crowd of 140,000.

After the show, members of the band brawled with security staff.[78] This was Jones' last appearance with the group: in September 1983, he was fired. Shortly thereafter, he became a founding member of General Public, but left that band as they were recording their first album.

Following their return form the US realtions detiorated with the exception of the bizare making of a short black and white home made movide 'Hell West 10'.

After the Us Festival, the band did very little. Pete Howard; “I didn’t get a phone call for four months,” says Pete Howard. “And then all of a sudden I got this incredibly fucking vitriolic phone call from Joe, saying ‘I fuckin’ sacked the stoned cunt! Whose side are you on, mine or his?’ And I was like, ‘Uh-uh-uh… yours, Joe, yours!’”

JANUARY
End of January - Strummer/Clash produce Hell W10

FEBRUARY
Strummer/Clash produce Hell W10
Mick creates soundtrack for Hell W10 but it's rejected by Joe
Paul's father and step-mother in car accident. Paul spends next few months visiting father.

MARCH
Joe pays off Topper's drug dealer approx $30,000.
Joe produces Tymon Dogg's solo album which remains unreleased.
March 17: Joe appears in the Sun to promote his marathon team's charity cause (Leukemia research)
The Clash move back to building that housed Rehearsal Rehearsals and rename it Lucky 8 Studios. The intent to begin
practicing for new album. By the time the studio is ready they receive the April offer to go to US Festival.

APRIL
Early April: The Clash offered headlining spot for US Festival
April 17: Joe runs London marathon
April 23: Clash place ad in Melody Maker for drummer

MAY
Early May: The Clash practice with Pete Howard for the tour?
May 16/17: Paul marries Pearl Harbour in NYC stop-over en route to warm up tour
May 18-28: US mini-tour and US Festival
May 29/30: Clash in Las Vegas (post tour vacation)


Extensive archive of articles, magazines and other from January to June 1983

Video and audio from January to June 1983





Us Festival and warm up dates

Mar 14 Casablanca TV Show? Interview with Joe
May 18 Amarillo TX - Civic Center Auditorium
May 19 Wichita Falls TX - Memorial Auditorium
May ? Juarez TX -
May 22 San Antonio TX - Majestic Theatre
May 23 Laredo TX - Civic Centre
May 25 El Paso, Texas - El Paso Civic Center Theatre
May 26 Tucson AZ - Tuscon Activity Center
May 28 San Bernadino CA - Us Festival






Mick sacked

Extensive archive of known articles from June to December 1983

These largely cover Mick's sacking and the band moving towards a new five piece.




Mick sacked, in the studio

1983 Hell West 10 film
Joe Strummer, Film Director: The Making and Meaning of Hell W10 - contains remixes from Combat Rock
Offical release on SoundSystem box set
Aug Recording Out of Control demos
August Studio – Unknown
Czechoslovak Song/Where Is England?
Pouring Rain
Before We Go Forward

Line Up: Joe Strummer – Vocals, guitar, Paul Simonon – Bass, Pete Howard – Drums Source – Strummer 001 box set credits + speculation
Sep 23 Hollywood Paladium - probably bogus
18 Nov House of the Ju Ju Queen single
Janie Jones and Lash single released the last oficial recording with Mick in the band
Nov Recording Out of Control demos released
Nick Sheppard demos November 1983
Recorded at the Lucky 8 Studios, London, November 1983.This is a Clash recording of immence historical importance and interest. These are the only, so far discovered, Clash demos from the period after Mick Jones left the band. Amongst the tracks are a number that have never beenpreviously released.Track listing;
Studio – Lucky 8 Studios
Are You Ready For War?
Jericho (Ammunition)
Glue Zombie
Sex Mad War
Out of Control
Galleani
This Is England
We Are the Clash
Rock N Roll City
National Powder
In the Pouring Rain
Before We Go Forward
Dictator
Three Card Trick
Backwoods Drive,


Line Up: Joe Strummer – Vocals, guitar, Nick Sheppard – Guitar, Paul Simonon – Bass, Pete Howard - Drums. Source - Nick Sheppard?
Nov Top Risk Action Company TRAC or The Clash II
Mick and Topper's band when teh bands name The Clash was subject to legal proceedings. Later to be called Top Risk Action Company recorded but did not release.The Prolific
Winning
Gone To The Dogs
Ringmaster
Astro Turf
Interaction
Nation
Apprentice
Du Cane Road
Fare Dodgers
The Bottom Line
Euroshima (Edit)
Euroshima (Unedited)


Timeline:

JUNE
The Baker recalls telephoning Bernie, Kosmo, Joe and Mick periodically through June and July to check in about preparing the rehearsal space but "Nobody knew anything. Would be surprised if they got in a full rehearsal in August." Pete Howard says he hadn't heard from anyone in the band for 4 months after the US Festival. Mid June: Clash reconvenes to practice at rehearsal space on Freston Rd.
Joe slips lyrics into mail slot for Mick to add music. Mick would bring them to rehearsal?

JULY
Bernie presents contract to Joe, Paul and Mick. Mick says he'll have his lawyer look it over.
Joe slips lyrics into mail slot for Mick to add music. Mick would bring them to rehearsal?

AUGUST
Early-to-Mid August: Recording Czechoslovak Song/Where Is England?, Pouring Rain, Before We Go Forward (Strummer, Simonon, Howard)
Mid August: In a pub near the rehearsal room, Nick Sheppard overhears Kosmo say to Bernie and Joe that "He's gotta go, he's gotta go."
Last week of August: Topper shows up to rehearsal room to check in on the guys, finds Mick there and jams with Mick. August 29: Mick Jones fired from band

SEPTEMBER
September 10: Clash release "a terse statement to the press: “It is felt that Jones had drifted away from the original idea of the Clash"
September 10: Jones issues a statement denying as much and asserting: "In the future I’ll be carrying on in the same way as in the beginning. By the time of the announcement, he has already formed Big Audio Dynamite"
Mick forms Top Risk Action Company (TRAC)?
Mick freezes Clash assets?
Mick records with General Public?
Mick does live mixing for Sigue Sigue Sputnik (at a gig opening for New Model Army) and Spear of Destiny shows?



OCTOBER
October 1: Clash place ad looking for new guitarists
End of October: Nick Sheppard chosen as guitarist.

NOVEMBER
Demos for Top Risk Action Company (TRAC)
Demos for The Clash at Lucky 8 Studio
November 18: Gaby Salter gives birth to Jazz Domino Holly Mellor
Rehearsals for January 1984 California tour?

DECEMBER
Recorded in December 1982, Janie Jones & The Lash 7" released a year later (promo insert claims November 18 as scheduled release date -http://www.45cat.com/imageview/1373F92D9FAB03718A4)
December 10: Vince White added as lead guitarist
Rehearsals for January 1984 California tour?
December 25: Vince goes to Joe's house for Xmas




Jun 76 - Black Swan , five piece ....

Sept 76 - 100 Club, London gigs ....

Dec 76 - Anarchy Tour ....

Jan / Mar - Early 77 Gigs ....

May 77 - White Riot UK Tour ....

Jul 77 - European Dates ....

Oct 77 - Out of Control UK Tour ....

Jan 78 - Sandy Pearlman UK Dates ....

Apr 78 - UK Festival Dates ....

Jul 78 - Out on Parole UK Tour ....

Oct 78 - Sort it Out UK Tour ....

Feb 79 - Pearl Harbour US Tour ....

Jul 79 - Finland + UK dates ....

Sep 79 - Take the Fifth US Tour ....

Dec 79 - Acklam Hall Secret Gigs ....

Jan 80 - 16 Tons UK Tour ....

Mar 80- 16 Tons US Tour ....

May 80 - 16 Tons UK/Europe ....

May 81 - Impossible Mission Tour ....

Jun 81 - Bonds Residency NY ....

Sep 81 - Mogador Paris Residency ....

Oct 81 - Radio Clash UK Tour ....

Oct 81 - London Lyceum Residency ....

Jan 82 - Japan Tour ....

Feb 82 - Australian Tour ....

Feb 82 - Hong Long & Thai gigs ....

May 82 - Lochem Festival ....

May 82 - Combat Rock US Tour ....

July 82 - Casbah Club UK Tour ....

Aug 82 - Combat Rock US Tour ....

Oct 82 - Supporting The Who ....

Nov 82 - Bob Marley Festival ....

May 83 - US Festival + gigs ....

Jan 84 - West Coast dates ....

Feb 84 - Out of Control Europe ....

Mar 84 - Out of Control UK ....

April 84 - Out of Control US Tour ....

Sep 84 - Italian Festival dates ....

Dec 84 - Miners Benefit Gigs ....

May 85 - Busking Tour ....

Jun- Aug 85 - Festival dates ....

Sept 85 - European Tour ....

Jan 86 - Far East Tour ....

1986 onwards - Retrospective

74-76 - Joe with the 101ers ....

Jul 88 - Green Wedge UK Tour

Aug 88 - Rock the Rich UK Tour ....

Oct 89 - Earthquake Weather UK ....

Oct 89 - Earthquake Weather Euro ....

Nov 89 - Earthquake Weather US ....

Jun 99 - Comeback Festival dates ....

July 99 - Short US Tour ....

July 99 - UK Tour ....

Aug 99 - Festival Dates ....

Oct 99 - UK Tour ....

Nov 99 - Full US Tour ....

Dec 99 - European Xmas dates ....

Jan 00 - Australasian Tour ....

May 00 - Mini UK Tour ....

Nov 00 - supporting The Who Tour ....

Jul 01 - UK & US Instore Tour ....

Oct 01 - Full US Tour ....

Nov 01 - Japanese Tour ....

Nov 01 - Full UK Tour ....

April 02 - Brooklyn NY Residency ....

Jun 02 - UK Festivals ....

Jul 02 - Hootenanny Tour ....

Aug 02 - UK Festival Dates ....

Sep 02 - Japanesse Dates ....

Nov 02 - Bringing it all Back Home ....



Audio exists and circulates
Audio exists but is not in circulation
No known Audio
Audio (radio) interview
Soundcheck
Video exists and circulates
Video exists but is not in circulation
No known Video
Gig cancelled
Never took place / bogus date
Unoffical release
Offical release
Clash pages only - Rated 0-5 for iTunes.
How real the sound feels re: the sound you'd hear in the concert hall.
to Rated 0.5 to 5 for sound (for iTunes)
Unknown generation
Master source
Low generation (better)
High generation (copied too much)
Soundboard
FM