The Clash, the return to Italy in 1984
THE CLASH - SIMONETTA LAMBERTI MUNICIPAL STADIUM, CAVA DEI TIRRENI
Monday 16 June 2014
Original website
In the 80s the small town of Cava Dei Tirreni (originally an ancient medieval village, located a few km from where I live), in the province of Salerno, was a small "mecca" of live music.
Many remember the legendary Pink Floyd live of 1989 (an event still praised and celebrated with tears by friends and acquaintances) but five years earlier a legendary English punk group had also passed by Cava, almost on the avenue of the sunset: let's talk about The Clash!
At the time, Antonio Pannullo, aka Black Mole , an artist we have already talked about in a recent post, is a young twenty year old fan of punk music and a fan of Joe Strummer and will not miss the opportunity, more unique than rare, to admire one of his youthful heroes.
This is his account ...
How had the city of Cava dei Tirreni prepared for the descent of the legendary The Clash? Was the concert properly advertised? What were your expectations?†
The city, as with all concerts in that period, seemed indifferent to events. The concert was not publicized at all. By chance, walking through the arcades, I came across one of the very few posters stuck around the city and I don't hide the fact that I tore one by taking it home as a relic. Expectations were high, it doesn't happen every day to have a musical legend at home!
What was the location of the concert? How many people attended the event? Were there Italian or foreign bands that played support?†
The concert was held at the Simonetta Lamberti Municipal Stadium. The people who participated were many, the field and the stands were full! No, in those days, at least here, the support group was not used; however, I arrived just before the concert because I had been in Naples hoping to find Strummer who was traveling around the city on a Vespa (obviously he was not driving it).
In the articles of the time (which you can admire in this post) The Clash are painted as a subversive and controversial group. Did this trouble the show? Were there any attempts by institutions to cancel the show?†
No, there were no major problems, only a tight order service and many police officers inside the stadium. At that time, it was 1984, you could not enter with cameras and cameras (the radios yes). However, I did it, the photos testify.
In the Clash that played in Cava dei Tirreni it was no longer the match Mick Jones. At the time there was talk of the second formation of The Clash. Did they live up to their name?†
The show was brilliant also because Strummer, not playing the guitar, could freely sing and jump on stage. The sound was not optimal at the beginning (my cousin recorded the concert with a walkman) the Clash started with London Calling and with it started a hellish pit.
Would I be curious to know the live lineup and which most famous songs were played? Cut The Crap, if I'm not mistaken, was about to be published ...†
They played all their classics White Riot, Tommy Gun, English Civil War, Bankrobber ... I can't remember them in order, however I remember that the new Cut The Crap played This Is England.
How was the Joe Strummer show on stage? Did he use any particular stage gimmick or was it a hard and pure Punk concert?†
Joe was possessed in a white suit with the top of the microphone stand as a radio antenna to spread the verb of Radio Clash. Paul Simonon is also great. Very comfortable the two new guitarists Sheppard and White (with a strange red plaid plaid dress)
I would like to know your personal impressions on this live and if after thirty years it can be considered as legendary?†
Honestly, I was too busy with the event to give you a real judgment on the evening. After so many years I can say I was there and I enjoyed the evening
In 1984 Punk was a slowly fading genre. What was the impact of The Clash on Italian soil and exactly in the south. Were there real punks in the audience?†
More than punk, the audience was the party party! Intellectuals, leftist militants, veterans of the years of lead: all people from Police In My Back
Is there any other curiosity or background that has not yet been revealed after years of this now legendary live?†
At that time in the order service there was an accountant friend of mine who many times made me enter for free at the great concerts of the period and had mentioned to me a possibility of being able to stay down in the changing rooms before the concert. But as said before, in doubt, I had gone to Naples to catch Strummer and I arrived late for the possible visit to the backstage. Shortly afterwards The Clash disbanded definitively.
Did you catch any sign of the end during the live?†
No, the group was in excellent shape, I think it was the aura that had gone out. I don't hide from you that I like the much mistreated Cut The Crap, in fact I have vinyl, tracks like Dictator, Movers & Shakers, Fingherpoppin ', Dirty Punk are good. You can dispute the sound or the production (in my opinion never excellent in any Clash record) but the attitude is that.