Joe is in incendiary form

This is the first UK gig of the new line up and Joe is in incendiary form. Above the stage hung 8 TV sets which showed a montage of news articles, wars, riots, clips from Mad Max and other films, live clips and footage from US TV.

This was a new concept in live music and it was one of the many facets of the Clash that was blatantly plagiarised a few years later by U2. This exhibition of politicised and powerful ideas added to the excitement that was the Clash on this massively sold out Tour. The Clash were getting back to what the Clash do best, an incendiary mix of leftist ideas wrapped in a coherent explosion of rock n roll music.

"the curtains opened and the onslaught began!" is how one Clash fan described it.

Advert

UK dates early February 'Sold Out', 3x dates at Brixton Academy

"how many of you think this light rain of saliva is strictly necessary"

London Calling is stopped for Joe to ask "how many of you think this light rain of saliva is strictly necessary", suggesting the person next to him should punch him in the mush.

Blackburn later in the tour was similar affected, so bad in fact, the bloke next to him was probably spitting as well.

The restarted London Calling is blistering. Before introducing the new band members after Safe European Home Joe launches into an amazing tirade about being an activist, who is the Clash, get rid of drugs, and to loud cheers "get rid of Thatcher before she gets rid of us".

Literature recomendations with Che Guevara, artistic licensing with the suggestion of painting furnture bright pink and sticking it to the side of buses's and to fucking turn off the telly.

Five of the next seven songs are all new and terrific performances especially Ammunition (maybe the best version available). By Three Card Trick Joe realises some are not there for the new songs and tells someone to go and get a job digging holes and working on the roads, forgetting his lines about what Three Card Trick is dedicated to.

Following with another new song, the unreleased Glue Zombie, causes some to start chanting Mick Jones, Joe clearly pissed off, suggests a fight between the pro and anti Mick factions.

English Civil War, Spanish Bombs and and very musical Clash City Rockers gets things back on track. The gig keeps the upbeat tempo as Joe is clearly angered.

During Complete Control he changes the words to what sounds like "Go fuck off guitar hero". His head of steam carries him into White Riot and as the song ends he shouts "Hippies too".

The encore contains a primitive unreleased In the Pouring Rain.

The encore start sees Joe attacking fancy dress new romantics and before Are you Ready for War, a swipe at Smash Hits (teeny bop UK music mag).

By now the whole place is buzzing. Are you Ready is a more basic version than the later more heavy guitar performances. A familairity of end with Janie Jones and I'm so Bored with the USA had the crowd up singing in the aisles.

Courtesy of Clash on Parole facebook page

"I was 14 trying to blag my way into a licensed venue"

THE CLASH ON PAROLE | Facebook
Graham Watson

Feb 1984 at the Glasgow Barrowlands, i was 14 trying to blag my way into a licensed venue , we had tickets but there was a queue of older punks that didnt, as the bouncers shouted, everyone who has tickets make your way to the front we were jeered at and spat on, bloody great. When The Clash took to the stage they had to stop playing during the intro to London Calling cos the same crowd of punks were spitting on Strummer, not so good, but what a night, anybody fancy an anti Mick Jones fight?

The Clash Official | Facebook

the clash Glasgow 1984 - search results | Facebook

Photos

Blackmarketclash | Facebook