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Edinburgh Princess Street (afternoon)
- and 13th or 14th unknown -
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.’
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Edinburgh Princess Street (afternoon)
No known audio or video
The Last Days of the Clash - Vince White pg 234.
People just walk past.
"The clash played in princes street edinburgh in the afternoon and then played at la sorbonne at night where they announced the gig at coasters the next night."
"Sadly I only found out about this the day after the coasters gig I read an interview with simonon once where he said that the busking tour was the best time he ever had with the clash."
"It must have been great, just turn up and play, you dont know where your going to sleep or where your going to go tomorrow and I believe gateshead station was actually a pub or a venue called the Station rather than an actual subway or train station."
Rumours ripped around Edinburgh that day
Rae Stewart - @MrRaeStewart - 01/03/2018, 22:36
@74frankfurt I was there. The rumours ripped around Edinburgh that day - that they’d been seen busking on Princes St, then that they’d play Coasters. Hundreds crammed in, all acoustic, and everyone sang along. So I saw the #Clash play - but I couldn’t hear them.
Gordon Bruce
Saw them in princes street.
Outside the St James Centre, Edinburgh
Lost Edinburgh - · 27 May 2016 · - Edited
[Photo] (The late) Joe Strummer of The Clash busking outside the St James Centre in 1985
Back in May '85 the remaining members of The Clash were in the middle of their rather ingenious ‘Busking Tour of Britain’, devised as the group’s last hurrah before disbanding for good. Joe simply claimed he was doing it "for beer money", and why should we doubt him? This was a man whose preparation for the 1982 Paris Marathon involved the consumption of 10 pints of lager before bedtime - if there was a bedtime.
Following a well-received, cover-laden St James Centre performance, Joe and the band played La Sorbonne, Cowgate and Coasters, Tollcross on 13th and 14th May 1985 respectively
©Gary D Dempsey
Source: Edinburgh Gig Archive — with Mark Waddell
Noreen Mcneil
I was there that day/night :) Gary D Dempsey
Lost Edinburgh - · 4 May 2014 - Michael Canning Paul Paul Byrne Martin McCann
Joe Strummer of The Clash busking outside the St James Centre 1985. The band were due to play La Sorbonne, Cowgate on May 13 1985 (almost 30 years ago!). Strummer claimed he was busking "for beer money". ©Gary D Dempsey
La Sorbonne was a notorious pub/club throughout the eighties, deep in the belly of the Cowgate. It played host to various gigs as well as being one of the most infamous places in Edinburgh.
The Clash played here the night before they "busked" at Coasters, announcing the following nights gig to a handfull of amazed patrons! Joe Strummer was spotted busking by Hazel, a friend of your author, in Princess Street that day, she asked him what they were busking for? Strummer said "beer money" and promptly offered her a drink from his beer can, he then asked her where La Sorbonne was!
Scottish Post-Punk - @ScotsPostPunk - @GCPunkNewWave - @avalanche_edin
Joe Strummer/The Clash busking HMV, St James' Centre, Edinburgh - May 1985
Lost Edinburgh | Facebook
Theer are two similar posts with more comments here and here
The Clash in Wester Hailes (mag), Edinburgh in 1985 on the busking tour
Gregor Gall - @leftacademic - 01/12/2019, 14:03
https://hailesmatters.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/star-scoops-clash.pdf
Rose Street
No known audio or video
Colin Anderson - @ColinAnderson65 - @holyroodmandy @brucerisk - 07/08/2018, 10:27
Saw The Clash 3 times in Edinburgh on this busking tour. Once in Rose Street and [once] in a music bar [La Sorbonne?] next to Sneaky Pete’s in Cowgate when they walked in and asked if they could play some songs on the stage. Also at Coasters in Tollcross. Fantastic times.
Alan Wood
Had a pint in the white cockade in Rose St with them.
Ronald F.Smith
I recall being asked by the owner suzy to take photographs and arranging entry for Campbell and his pals.To be honest I had no idea who The Clash were.
Cab Mackab
Hi Campbell. Dad hope your keeping well. Cab [photo with friends outside
Outside HMV
No known audio or video
Not sure from this coment whether they played or not?
Gordon Scott
I remember him doing this at the center that day in HMV.
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La Sorbonne, Edinburgh
No known audio or video
The Last Days of the Clash - Vince White pg 235.
The place was jam-packed.
Holly, When they busked at Edinburgh, they also played at a place called the La Serbonne which was down the Cowgate. If my memory serves me, it was the night before Coasters and it was free. The place was jam-packed. I remember it well cause the flat I was staying at got busted by the police the same night. happy days.
They asked me where was a good place to busk
Stuart Austen
A day I'll never forget. I met them as they arrived early in the morning at St Andrews Square bus station as I was out getting breakfast. They asked me where was a good place to busk and then set up in Princes St. I gave Joe 50p. They later played a free gig at Coasters at Tollcross which was heaving. Thanks for the photo and the memory.
Roy Clark Isserlis
Joe Strummer wrote graffiti on a financial building on St Andrews Sq
David Nelson
the security guard was a guy called Brian i worked with him around this time.
Played support to them
Karen Downie
Saw them! Tim Keppie My band was booked to play La Sorbonne that night and we arrived to a packed La Sorbonne. Obviously not here to see us we thought.
Then the barman came and got me and told me Joe wanted to speak to me to discuss when and who would go on first. Cocky wee shit I was at 17 I suggested they go on first then I could forever say the Clash had supported us.
Joe was happy with that, borrowed our snare drum and entertained us all with acoustic versions of Clash classics.
We had a chat in the front bar and I asked him why he was doing this.He replied "Cause we want to get back to the kids".He bought me a pint and chatted and we did our set which thankfully a few punters hung around to see. We couldn't believe the night we had had. I will never forget it.
Acoustic White Riot was brilliant
Steven Small
La sorbonne, The Clash played there impromptu. Great venue, however, always lots of police outside determined for an easy charge.
George Hobb
Was at the la Sorbonne gig acoustic White Riot was brilliant, the coasters thing was mobbed didn't get in but met joe outside on his way in.
Steven Gray - · 24 November 2012 · -
Photos taken backstage and frontside at busking gig tour.
Crawford Smith
I was at both gigs Claire and met Joe at La Sorbonne it was surreal
bouncers at coasters were taking money off the fans
Kenny Taylor - @bluejambo1874 - 2 Mar 2018
Replying to @74frankfurt - and @HistoryofSMC - Saw them in la sorbonne the night before ... bouncers at coasters were taking money off the fans to let them in !!! Twats
The Clash went to visit Jimmy Boyle's Gateway Exchange
Tim Keppie
They went to Jimmy Boyles place at Abbeyhill too.
mandy rhodes - @holyroodmandy - 7 Aug 2018
It was. The Clash had come up to go to Jimmy’s Gateway project. (Edinburgh)
via Lost Edinburgh FB page - edinburghgigarchive.com/page13.htm - 26/10/2019, 21:47 -
Jimmy Boyle photo backstage below
John Arbuckle - @JDArbuckle65 - 1 Mar 2018
Replying to @74frankfurt - Remember seeing them kicking about at Potterrow and telling my mates I'd just seen the Clash..."naaah!"
Merienda Restaurant - @MeriendaEdin - 3 May 2019
Replying to @74frankfurt - and @iainpope73 - My pal was a 16 year old Edinburgh lad and his garage band were the support
Did you go? Comments, info welcome...
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Unknown Busking Photos
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No known audio or video
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Busking Tour1985
ARTICLES, POSTERS, CLIPPINGS ... A collection of and other items the Busking Tour
VIDEO AND AUDIO Video and audio footage
BOOKS
Reagan, Thatcher, and the Last Stand of a Band That Mattered By Mark Andersen, Ralph Heibutzki
by Jacopo Ghilardotti Chapter: Il Ritorono
Features archival footage and new interviews to tell the story of the band's final days. The four primary members of the band - Jones, Joe Strummer, Paul Simonen and Topper Headon tell their sides of the story as do Nick Sheppard and Vince White, both of whom replaced Jones, and original drummer Terry Chimes, who returned to replace Headon in 1982.
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