Leicester De Montfort Hall

We Are The Clash: Reagan, Thatcher, and the Last Stand of a Band That Mattered

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By Mark Andersen, Ralph Heibutzki

While Europe, appropriately enough, was soon to come on the itinerary, The Clash followed its Barrowlands concert with dates in Manchester, Leicester, and Bristol. The shows quickly sold out, and audience reaction was strong, if not universally positive. While devotees of Mick Jones or British pop were likely unsatisfied, this rough-and-ready Clash was proving to be blisteringly good.

Given that it had less than two months under its belt, the band was on top of its game, and Strummer was in good spirits. The vocalist's freshly cut Mohawk signaled confrontation, beginning with his own audience. In Leicester, he wrangled good-naturedly with some fans—including die-hard gobbers—and introduced himself as "Mick Jones" before "Are You Ready for War?"

Near the end of the set, shouting erupted in the crowd as Strummer announced "Tommy Gun." The singer waved off the band and stopped to listen. Hearing a litany of Jones-related complaints, Strummer spoke gently: "Can I ask you one question? Who understands why we had to change?" When only a few people raised hands, he responded, "Well, that means I have to tell the rest of you

With that, Strummer's voice shifted, rising from a conversational tone to a near scream: "The Clash was going nowhere—it was going to DIE! GOODBYE!" When this explanation failed to settle the matter, the singer challenged with biting humor: "What's your contribution to the scheme of things? What color are your underpants? This is the question that must be answered! I'll have the [tabloid scandal rag] News of the World on you . . ."

Satisfied with his repartee, Strummer then let the music talk. A twin-guitar crescendo ensued, heralding the long-delayed song, followed quickly by an equally fiery "I Fought the Law." This one-two punch was intended to leave anyone hard-pressed to deny that a genuine Clash was in the house.

Skepticism nonetheless was easy to find—and not simply due to the absence of Jones. In truth, the four big UK music weeklies —NME, Sounds, Melody Maker, followed by Record Mirror—had for years tended to savage anything The Clash did.

Sheppard laughs: "Somebody asked me once, 'Were you hurt by the bad reviews that The Clash got in England?' And I said, 'Well, they haven't had a good review since the first album—and that got panned by some people!'" I

t was not surprising when the first review—by Jim Reid of Record Mirror—found lots to criticize about the Leicester show. Decrying a "stultifying lack of imagination," Reid wrote, "The reconstituted Clash—three young blades, a Marlon Strummer, and a Mean Boy Paul—are five punky curators with a traveling `Museum of '77.' Muscular, energetic, and ultimately pointless."

Reid wrote that the powerful show put Leicester "under punk rule" for two hours, and allowed, "The issues The Clash deal with are important," before delivering the coup de grace: "It's just that the form they express them in has become meaningless . . . When Strummer screams 'White Riot' it doesn't mean anything."

Despite this, one gets the sense that—under his cynical pose—Reid liked the show, ranking new songs like "This Is England" and "Three Card Trick" alongside "the early—and best—Clash." Conceding that "a Clash show is nothing if not spirited," Reid concluded with a backhanded compliment: "As an exercise in nostalgia it sure dumps on the Alarm," a punk-inspired band then making waves alongside the likes of Big Country and U2, who were also summarily dismissed.

Hardened by past criticism in the weeklies, the band shrugged it off. Vinyl later made it clear the new Clash was "wasn't meant for them," as the unit was not interested in the pop-novelty merry-go-round ridden by these publications. "The Kleenex scene," scoffed Strummer. "Blow your nose on it and throw it away."

Listen to the gig

NME Leicester review

the Feb '84 shows in Manchester and Leicester are damn good

Clash City Collectors | Ticket

Robin Tate Chris Munday wrote…I know Clash MKll shows are not everybody's cup of tea, but personally I think the Feb '84 shows in Manchester and Leicester are damn good - even without Mick. Obviously it's not the classic line up but these shows are still well worth a listen, and fortunately decent recordings exist of both dates, along with other UK shows in March and December.

Jed Meekins I went to the Leicester gig as well. Remember there being a strange atmosphere at the time about how the band would go down. They smashed as far as I was concerned! Everyone was happy leaving the Hall after!

Dave Evans Loved this gig at the time but perhaps in hindsight I was in denial that it was over really. Mixed feelings all round when it comes the Clash MKII

Steve Hancock How is it 40 years since I saw them in Leicester? I reckon it was a great gig even without Mick, and a sign the band could have carried on I think, if they hadn't allowed Bernie to screw the album up. My only time seeing any version of the band. Support came from The Three Johns who I thought were great too.

John Tugby I was at the Leicester gig. Yes, they were very good. Going to have a listen to the YouTube of the gig. From memory: Joe introduced the band accurately except for Paul as himself and himself as Mick.

Derek Corton ‘Yes I was there tooooo’ The stage was a sea of Tv’s as I remember?? Can’t remember the support.

Julian Quail I saw them on this tour in Leicester. I thought they were very good.

Paul Lymn - I was there.... 

Simon Andrews -

Yeah saw them in Leicester in this line up. Missed Mick but still great gig. Reverted mainly to early stuff from 1st LP. Only downside was Joe repeating "the Clash is dead"

Clash City Showdown

1 Dec. 2003 - by Chris Knowles

On the Road with the Clash

Traxmarx - includes this gig

Live at Leicester review

84 02 25 Record Mirror – link or PDF link

The Clash | Facebook

The Clash Leicester 1984 - search results | Facebook

Photos

The Clash on Parole | Leicester de Monfort Out Of Control 1984 Photo

Haddon Smithers Smith

Leicester de Monfort Out Of Control 1984 . Nothing was quite the same for me after this night .