Out of Control Tour '84

updated June 2021 added pass
updated August 2022 added clipping 'date', adverts, reviews, tickets
Updated January 2024 - added lots

No known audio or video

If you know of any recording, please email blackmarketclash

Interview on the tour bus in Toronto

...on the ticket stub on the site it says the gig's presented by "Chum & Chum FM" -- they're both radio stations and are part of the company that owns the music channel here in Canada.

The TV station was known to tape gigs (or least parts of them) and also interviewed the band as they rolled into Toronto. It's entirely possible that the channel and/or the radio recorded the show and have it stored somewhere in their archives. I've tried asking before, but they say they can't release that information...

Adverts

Band is back after strife, inactivity

The Orlando Sentinel -
Thu Mar 29 1984

Clash to play at the Gardens

Unknown source

Cartman68 - 12 Apr 2020, 16:49  User
Great show, though not as good as the CNE show in '82. onlyRNRilikeit

The Clash Official | Facebook

The Clash Toronto 1984 - search results | Facebook
The Clash Maple 1984 - search results | Facebook

Went to soundcheck

Keith Smout | Facebook

This was the first day I met Joe and then knew him until he died....went to soundcheck and then myself and 5 of my friends were brought back stage after, we did the same in Ottawa, Detroit and Kitchener over next week or so

I'll never forget

Bendale Secondary School | Facebook

On April 30th 1984 My best Friends Wayne and Alan and Me saw the Clash at Maple Leaf Gardens. It was my first concert and it lives in my heart and dreams. 

The most powerful live show I have seen

Angus Macgillivray | Facebook

Probably the most powerful live show I have seen .TORONTO maple leaf gardens 1984

Celebration of the Clash visiting Toronto

Clash City Collectors | Facebook

There was a nice gathering yesterday in celebration of the Clash visiting Toronto 4 times between  1979 and 1984. Nick Smash put together  a great booklet of pictures and text, #/100, some guest radio station personalities from back in the day were in stage and a long unheard Joe Strummer radio interview from 1987 was played. There was a good turnout and I got to meet Steve Pecar in the flesh. My book is 23/100.

Backstage interview with Joe and Paul

The Clash - Concert/backstage -
4/30/84 Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto Canada

ilevene, Sep 6, 2015
Archived PDF

The Clash - Concert/backstage - 4/30/84 Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto Canada

This was one of my first "legit" photo shoots, and my first at Maple Leaf Gardens.  I had just landed the role of Photo Editor at my college newspaper and this earned me the right to start soliciting photo passes for just about any and every concert that rolled through Toronto.  In no time I was hooked up via B.A.S.S. and the people at MLG Inc.  I guess they must have been desperate for press.... 

So after acquainting myself with the "will call" and some protocols, here I was in the pit.  I wasn't a big fan of The Clash, they didn't hold the historical significance that they do today, but I liked a few of their songs and went because my photography buddy was a huge Clash fan.  He was somewhere back in the seats.  What follows is half transcribed/half from memory recollections of the conversation that took place backstage with Joe Strummer and Paul Simonon after the show. 

IL: Hi guys, how are you doing tonight? 

JS: Yeah, fine.  You? 

IL:Great.  Awesome show.  The backstage area seems a bit sparse.   

JS:Yeah, well, they expect us to act crazy and tear things up you know? 

IL:Yeah, I kind of thought you would too.  I guess that’s just the image that punk has given itself. 

JS:It’s unfortunate, yes. 

IL:I must say though, I think your band kind of defies the label of being punk.  You actually defy description.  You have a bit of everything in your music. 

JS:Thanks for noticing, yes.  We have many influences and it’s reflected in our music. 

IL:Would you care to tell me about them? 

JS:Well, Paul over there might have something to tell you.  I need a cuppa tea. 

IL:Alright then, I’ll talk to him.  We’re both bass players so maybe he can give me some tips. 

JS:Yeah, brilliant. 

IL:Hello Paul, great show tonight.  I must tell you, I came to this show really to photograph it but I think I’ll leave as fan. 

PS:Well, we always love to hear that.  I think you really have to come to the shows to appreciate the band. 

IL:How so?   

PS:It’s just a completely different ambience, you know?  We feed off the reaction we get from the audience, then we send it right back out, and the whole thing just spirals out of control in a good way. 

IL:Ah, cute.  The tour is called “Out Of Control”. 

PS:That’s kind of why.  It’s really a bit of a wind up of the press.  We’re portrayed as this band that goes about smashing shit up, and for us it’s just about the music.  The music is the only thing that’s out of control.  We like it to be.  What good would it be if we just stood there like dead men on stage? 

IL:That’s for sure.  I don’t think I’ve seen so much energy at a concert.  Joe’s banging on the stage with hammers, you’re jumping all over...   

PS:Exactly, yes. 

IL:Actually, I expected this concert to be some sort of punk riot but it was nothing like that.  It’s almost…..intellectual?  The songs seem to hold a lot of meaning to your fans. 

PS:We want people to think, not just listen.  Unfortunately, our image precedes us.  I don’t know if we’ll ever escape that. 

IL:We’re both bass players, can you give me any tips? 

PS:Keep playing.  As much as you can (tosses me a pick). 

IL:Thanks Paul.  Take care. 

Then Paul Simonon abrubtly got up and went to play on the video game placed there.  I was expecting blood-letting and punk-crazed room-destroying antics and instead Paul and Joe played video games and sipped tea.  Before leaving, I asked both of them to give me an autograph, something I rarely did. 

No known audio or video
If you know of any recording, please email blackmarketclash