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The Bunker, Sunderland

Carlton Bar, Sunderland

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the 'shows' generated some excitement

BUSKING TOUR...Joe and Paul took the boys 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

From Passion Is a Fashion

The Real Story of The Clash by Pat Gilbert (2004), p 352-3:

In May 1985, [Clash manager] Bernie Rhodes, [manager] Kosmo [Vinyl] and Joe [Strummer] devised the Clash’s last hurrah—a busking tour of Britain. The idea was that the group would assemble at [guitarist] Vince’s flat, leave their wallets on the table and hitch to Nottingham with a few acoustic guitars. They’d then see where the wind would take them. Over the next two-and-a-half weeks, Britain’s provincial towns and cities were thus treated to the extraordinary sight of The Clash popping up under railway bridges and in subways to entertain them with Monkees, Chuck Berry, Eddie Cochran and Cramps songs.

The group kipped on fans’ floors and in cheap B&Bs. They survived on the money thrown into their hats. It was a genuinely exiting and unpredictable experience. Joe described it as ‘the best tour we ever did.’

Paul [Simonon] agrees. ‘It was like starting out fresh again,’ he says. ‘It was great. “We’ll meet you in Glasgow in a week’s time,” and the idea was to leave everything behind other than the guitars. You couldn’t take any money with you. We survived by our wits. It was as exciting as the Anarchy tour, you never knew where you were going next. I remember we were in Leeds, it was 2 a.m., and it was outside this black club, and people were coming out and really digging us. There were two white guys and they were shocked it was us. They said, “Where you staying?” And we said, “We’re not staying anywhere,” so they invited us to stay at their mum’s. The money we made from busking meant we could go further, we didn’t have a plan of where to go next. There was no rules. You didn’t have to be on the so-and-so plane at twelve o’clock.’

The Clash landed in Sunderland one weekend in 1985

The Clash’s busking tour (in ’85) c/o Russ
(who was a member of Sunderland band Fifth Column):

’…I wish I had seen The Clash at Newcastle Uni and the Poly in 1977. I didn’t get to see them until 1980 when they played The Mayfair and I later attended the two nights they played at the City Hall in 1982.

The later version of The Clash landed in Sunderland one weekend in 1985. One of the new members had a brother who was studying at Sunderland Poly. They set up camp in his student house in Ashbrooke and ended up in the Carlton Bar on the Friday night and played an acoustic gig which went down a storm. Ian and Pat, who ran the bar, were very strict about the licensing laws and all punters had to leave by 11.00.

So, The Clash and half the bar ended up standing on the street wondering where to go next. Sean had a set of keys for (local Punk venue) The Bunker which was literally round the corner from The Carlton. Sean suggested that everyone proceed to The Bunker where another performance could be held. The Bunker’s entertainment license had expired and there was some doubt whether it would be renewed. The police had put in an objection about groups of punks hanging about outside.

The Bunker committee were trying their best to convince the council that the venue was well run and they would sort out any issues with people hanging about outside. When Alan (who was on the committee) heard through the grapevine that a gig was being held very late at night, outside the normal permitted hours, without a license and whilst they were under close scrutiny by the police, he panicked. He went barging in and stopped the gig, ordering everyone out and had a heated row with Joe Strummer. The Clash were not too pleased and everyone left and headed their separate ways. 

Considering The Clash were, and still are, Alan’s favourite band makes the story even more laughable! (Alan later said that if Mick Jones had been there he would have done nothing as it would be worth losing the license for!) The following morning, Alan spotted Strummer walking past his flat heading to the local shop. He managed to catch him and apologised for stopping the gig. When he explained the reasons, Strummer was understanding and they buried the hatchet. 

That afternoon The Clash did some busking in Newcastle and then played at The Station in Gateshead. I bumped into a mate who told me of the gigs the night before and said The Clash would be playing in Gollums, a small cellar bar below the Mowbray Park Hotel in Sunderland, that evening. I didn’t believe him at first and I thought it was a wind-up. However, I thought it best to go just in case.  

I arrived at the Mowbray Park Hotel early and went to use the toilet in the hotel bar before I headed down to Gollums. When Paul Simonon walked in I then knew that the gig was happening. Afterwards I ended up having a beer with the band at the bar. A few of us then invited them to The Drum Club, a Punk / alternative night held every Saturday in Genevieves (a smaller bar within the huge Locarno in Roker. 

I walked through town with the band and across the Wear bridge. I clearly remember thinking to myself,  ‘I can’t believe I’m walking through Sunderland on a Saturday night with Joe Strummer and Paul Simonon!’ The Clash played another short set at the Drum Club. The next day they spent Sunday early afternoon drinking in The Salem pub in Hendon. When the pub closed at 3.00 they were invited back to a fan's house and played another gig there…’

Blackmarketclash | Facebook

Photos The Bunker Sunerland

The Bunker, Sunderland

No known audio or video

The Last Days of the Clash - Vince White pg 232.
Sat in a pub in Sunderland and in coms the Communist Party and Socialist Workers Party attaching themselvs to us and handing out leaflets. Joe has a quiet word according to White. Other accounts talk of an argument with the SWP.

It had to be closed as too many people showed up and The Bunker

Tyne and Weird - 12 October 2017 - City of Sunderland
The Clash - Sunderland, 1985.

In 1985 The Clash set out on a busking tour of Britain beginning in Nottinginham and making it's way up north. The Clash were one of biggest punk bands in the world at the time though frontman Joe Strummer disliked the idea of celebrity and the band never played on Top of the Pops.

On Saturday 11th of May The Clash played a gig in Gollums Bar in the Mowbray Park Hotel and the Drum Club in Genevivies.

The group also played at The Bunker on Stockton Road however once it became known they were playing it had to be closed as too many people showed up and The Bunker did not hold a licence for live concerts.

Armed only with acoustic guitars The Clash successfully stormed Sunderland leaving many with fond memories of their interactions with the group.

Pictured: The Clash at Gollums Bar, Sunderland.

When the Clash played the Bunker ...

The Bunker Group 35 / The Bunker Group 35 | Facebook

[Back in May] 1985, the Clash played Stockton Road Bunker. The Clash came to Sunderland because one of the band had a sister who was studying at Sunderland Poly.

They played the Langham, The Bunker and the Drum Club on the night

[The following day], 11 05 1985, they turned up busking around Newcastle and ending up playing the Station. They returned to Sunderland and played Gollems night club that night.

I know the Clash played the Salem on the Sunday, and been told there is a tape of the performance and an interview with them, we would love to hear it. Photos by Gerry McCulloch, supplied by Robert Sunday. Colour photos by the late Alf Dryden

It may be the tape refered to could be Geoff's flat tape? Theer is no evidence they played outside in Salem but were drinking in the pub before going to Geoff's place.

Carlton Bar, Sunderland

No known audio or video

standing on the tables

content #stayhomesavelovedones - @contentcontig - 27/01/2018, 22:13
The Clash at Sunderland Polytechnic students union Carlton bar. Acoustic, standing on the tables - later we marched on the Bunker rehearsal rooms for an awesome hour of songs ”we’re on the bum” Joe told us “busking, we need the money”

great memories

Kevin Sole saw them in Sunderland, Carlton Bar, The Bunker and Gollums, great memories

The place was packed out and she wasn't letting any more in

Phil Smith - philip.smith4[at]virgin.net

I saw The Clash play in the Carlton Bar at Sunderland Poly. At the time, I was a student living nearby, and I'd walked up to have a pint. Normally, you'd just stroll in. This night, it was chaos, with people milling about outside and the door shut.

I managed to ask Hazel (possibly Heather) who ran the bar what was going on by shouting through the glass. She yelled back: "The Clash are playing."

The place was packed out and she wasn't letting any more in.

Not wanting to miss it, a few of us managed to sneak in round the back through a fire door and sure enough, there was Joe, standing on a table singing. No amplification, obviously, and the drummer was playing on the back of a chair.

Can't remember what they played - although Janie Jones rings a bell - but it was certainly a memorable night.

Either later that night or the next night I also saw them at The Bunker, where Strummer wasn't impressed when a lad climbed on stage and tried to join in. I think he was pretty promptly shoved back where he came from.

As a footnote, the same kid, a student, was killed a while later when he fell out of an upstairs window of a house on Tunstall Road, round the back of Ashbrooke cricket ground. Phil Smith

I remember walking into Carlton bar on a Friday night and seeing the Clash there

Karen Revell - 12 October 2017
I was there at all of em! I remember walking into Carlton bar on a Friday night and seeing the Clash there. Talked very earnestly with Joe Strummer, trying to come across as very political. Great memories!

Gary Alikivi
Karen Revell yes i saw them play a couple of songs one was White Man in Hammersmith'..

Kevin Sole
saw them in Sunderland, Carlton Bar, The Bunker and Gollums, great memories

Suzie Tea
I was there at Carlton Bar, was a great night!!

Anth Wilson - @athwilson - 12/02/2014, 00:52
The clash Shea stadium '82. Two years later busking in fawcett St. Sunderland!

Unknown Busking Photos

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