page updated - June 2000 - began
page updated - April 2020 - redesigned and added too

Under Canal Bridge

Outside Marks & Spencers, The Precinct

Old Market Square

Garage Club

MacDonald’s on Clumber Street

Selectadisc

Nottingham Station

General Comments

the 'shows' generated some excitement

BUSKING TOUR...Joe and Paul took the band go on an impromptu busking tour - playing publicly and outside venues acoustically... the 'shows' generated some excitement about the forthcoming album... They all hitched from London by the M1 and agreed to meet up in the pub near Nottingham Railway Station. The Last Days of the Clash - Vince White pg 226

The band stayed in Nottingham two days.

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Under Canal Bridge, Nottingham

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The Last Days of the Clash - Vince White pg 226.
Played Stepping Stone, Come on Everybody, Police & Thieves, Stepping Stone (2)

Vince White describes this as their first gig. A practice under the Canal bridge wheer no-one can see them. Stepping Stone, Police & Thieves, Come on Everybody The Last Days of the Clash - Vince White pg 227/228

Outside Marks & Spencers, The Precinct, Nottingham

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The Last Days of the Clash - Vince White pg 228.
Played Rivers of Babylon, Not Fade Away!,

Their second public gig. They play Rivers of Babylon & Not Fade Away (Bo Diddley). The Last Days of the Clash - Vince White pg 228

Martyn Cox - @martyncoxgarden - 26 Jan 2018
That's brilliant. But at least the reporter recognised the talent of Jiving Daleks. I would have loved to have seen The Clash on this tour. I only ever saw The Clash busking near the Broadmarsh Centre [Marks & Spencers] in Nottingham.

MacDonald’s on Clumber Street

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Derek Corton Yep I saw that too ... outside MacDonald’s on Clumber Street , my wife says they were at The Garage ( club in town) later that evening ? 2018

Rich Yellowman Button - 22 May 2016
My friend took this one of Joe busking in Nottingham in 1984-ish. He has a few more which i will ask him if i can post. Please keep this on here and not posted all over your own walls as i don't know if wants it sharing elswhere! ... knew they'd been on Clumber Street, but didn't realise they were in Selectadisc

Rich Yellowman Button
This was taken on Clumber Street Steve, he has some more but needs to develop from the negatives [photo]

Rich Yellowman Button added Richard Hales to the group he has about 24 [photos] from Clumber Street, so i'll leave it to him if he wishes to post them ;-)

Old Market Square, Nottingham

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Marcus Grays Last Gang in Town 1st Edition page 434

"Hi, Had to comment on what a fantastic site.

RE:May 3 Garage Club, Nottingham Nice to see that impromptu gig outside the Garage has been listed for posterity. I remember me and my mate dicky making our way to the Garage on that night.  

We were in both Nottingham's "No Tears " at the time and were out after a gig. We could hear the strains of someone busking "career opportunitys" floating down the street. I remember commenting that "Someone thinks they're the Clash".

We rounded the corner of the small street the Garage was on and there were the Clash playing out on the street. There were only 3 or 4 people watching. As we got up to them they had just finished the number. Joe asked what we wanted to hear. Someone said "White riot" and they just launched into it.They came into the club and held court in the first bar and were very friendly. I'm pretty sure they didn't play in the club. Cheers, Blue" - Stuart Nock

Nicky Gee
I used to live in Notts and through the fog of time sometimes wonder if seeing the Clash (even if a late version Clash) in Market Square was something I just imagined. Thanks for posting.

Ian Burton
We saw them in Market Square doing "Brand New Cadillac" using a bin for a drum. Unreal looking back. A policeman moved them on as I remember too. Great memories........

Garage Club, Nottingham

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Marcus Grays Last Gang in Town 1st Edition page 434

Selectadisc

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Played Wild Thing

The band stayed in Nottingham two days and that the busk at the Selectadisc was definately on the Saturday ...

----

There's a lot in this short piece that is factually wrong. The Clash played the Busking Tour in 1985, not 1991 and in December 1984 they had played two big benefit gigs for the Miners at Brixton.

The only paragraph worth reproducing is this one.

"By the end of the conversation Joe suggested that the band call into Jim’s shop the next day and do a gig. The following day, with Joe Strummer standing on the counter, the band rewarded Selectadisc punters with a magnificent performance." PDF

Richard Brinley
They did a set in Selectadisc .... Joe was stomping on the counter and broke my home made Swell Maps cup

dgw.23 - @davidgw_23 - 26 Jan 2018
Haha, they were the local opening band. Wonder if he knew them? I remember the were good. It was a total fluke I went, total lie to my parents after they said no. Ah that would have been a bit of a gem, was it when Joe playing in Selectadisc the next day I think, on the counter?

Martyn Cox - @martyncoxgarden - 26 Jan 2018
Lying to parents to do something they don't want you to do is a rite of passage - I'm on the receiving end of it now. I remember them playing 3 or 4 songs [at Selectadisc], including Wild Thing, and the drummer tapping on a wooden bench. Hardly anyone was watching.

dgw.23 - @davidgw_23 - 27 Jan 2018
The guy at Selectadisc saw Joe in the Garage and asked if he'd come to the shop next day. He did an acoustic set on the counter.

Nottingham Contemporary - @Nottm_Contemp - 7 Jan 2010
the Clash performed an impromptu gig at Selectadisc during their Busking Tour in 1985

Richard Brinley
They did a set in Selectadisc .... Joe was stomping on the counter and broke my home made Swell Maps cup

Martyn Cox - @martyncoxgarden - 26 Jan 2018
Lying to parents to do something they don't want you to do is a rite of passage - I'm on the receiving end of it now. I remember them playing 3 or 4 songs [at Selectadisc], including Wild Thing, and the drummer tapping on a wooden bench. Hardly anyone was watching.

dgw.23 - @davidgw_23 - 27 Jan 2018
The guy at Selectadisc saw Joe in the Garage and asked if he'd come to the shop next day. He did an acoustic set on the counter.

Nottingham Contemporary - @Nottm_Contemp - 7 Jan 2010
the Clash performed an impromptu gig at Selectadisc during their Busking Tour in 1985

Nottingham Station

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Benji Lanyado - @benjilanyado - 26 Mar 2010
RT @CafeBarContemp: The Clash played a gig at Nottingham station as part of their 'Back to Basics' busking tour in the mid-80s

Unknown Busking Photos

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If you know of any recording, email blackmarketclash