This page lists all known Clash gigs from 1985 with info. If you have any corrections please email blackmarketclash





The Clash were met with the news that they were No.4 among western bands banned in the USSR. The Clash were recording the final album.


Extensive archive of articles, magazines and other from early 1985

Video and audio from early 1985





In the studio

Early 85 New demos for CtC
January through April Studio - Weryton Studios
Tracks - Cut the Crap and associated b-sides
Line Up: Joe Strummer – vocals, Nick Sheppard – guitar, co-lead vocals, Vince White – guitar, Herman Young-Wagner – keyboards. Michael Fayne – drum machine programming, co-lead vocals on “Play To Win”, Norman Watt-Roy – bass on all tracks except “Do It Now” and “Sex Mad War”, Paul Simonon – bass on “Do It Now” and “Sex Mad War”, Pete Howard – drums on “Do It Now” and “Sex Mad War”, Producer Bernard Rhodes. Engineer – Ulli Rudolf, Simon Sullivan Source – “We Are The Clash” page 251, 258, “The Complete Clash. ”We are The Clash page 246
19 Jan Punk to Present Andy Kershaw BBCR1
Mar 20 Rennes - Salles Omnisports with 3 other bands
This date was cancelled. They played later in July Guehenno Festival where a fight happened between road crews of The Clash and Depeche Mode







BUSKING TOUR...

In 1985 The Clash mark II assembled in a London flat , left their wallets on the table and headed off on tour with a few acoustic guitars , they hit towns and cities across the country playing gigs and sleeping on the floors of some lucky fans ,punk rock eh, the tour ended in Glasgows Dukes Bar on old Dumbarton Road where theres a plaque on the wall outside that very pub today that reads 'The Clash played here May 16th 1985'

The impromptu busking tour - playing publicly and outside venues acoustically generated some excitement about the forthcoming album...

Nick Sheppard, The Clash guitarist from 1983-86

For the infamous busking tour in 1885 we [the second incarnation of The Clash minus Mick Jones] set off from the start of the M1 with an acoustic guitar and £10 in our pockets. We did deals with pubs, passed the hat round, slept on people’s floors, had a massive political row in Sunderland and pissed The Alarm off in Leeds.

The Last Days of the Clash - Vince White pg 226

Setting off Friday, 3rd May, they all hitched from London by the M1 and agreed to meet up in the pub near Nottingham Railway Station. >

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 Bed and Breakfasts. 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.’


Extensive archive of articles and magazines from the Busking Tour period

Audio and video from the Busking Tour period





Busking Tour - north of England, Scotland

May
Fri 3rd & Sat 4th
Nottingham - Under Canal Bridge
Nottingham - Outside Marks & Spencers, The Precinct
Nottingham - MacDonald’s on Clumber Street
Nottingham - Old Market Square
Nottingham - Garage Club
Nottingham - Station
May 4 Sat Nottingham - Selectadisc
May 5 S Leeds - Jamming on National Express coach
Leeds - Outside Pubs and Clubs
Leeds - Le Phonographic nightclub
Leeds - Outside Leeds Railway Station
May 6 M Leeds - Royal Park Road pub, Royal Park Road
Leeds - Merrion Centre?
Huddersfield - town centre (6th May?)
Huddersfield - they came to play a gig in Huddersfield many moons ago and just started busking in the street without anyone knowing, 1st rate band, 1st rate lads - David Shilton
May 7 T Leeds - University
Leeds - Faversham Pub
May 8 W York - St Sampson Square 12noon
York - Jam down Petersgate 9.00pm
York - Minster, York 9.30pm
May 9 T York - Kings Square/Market Square
York - Ripon & St Johns College
May 10 F Sunderland - The Bunker
Sunderland - The Carlton Bar inside Langham Tower
May 11 S Gateshead - The Station (6pm)
Newcastle - Greys Monument
Newcastle - Underpass on edge of the Town Centre
Newcastle - Exhibition Park Subway
Newcastle - St James Centre
May 11 S Sunderland - Gollums Bar, Mowbray Park Hotel
Sunderland - The Drum Club
Genevieves function room of The Mayfair
May 12 S Sunderland - Salem pub and Geoff’s Flat, Hendon
Unknown Scottish busking footage exists
May 13 M Edinburgh - Princess Street (afternoon)
Edinburgh - Rose Street
Edinburgh - La Sorbonne
May 14 T Edinburgh - Princess Street (afternoon)
Edinburgh - Gateway Exchange
Edinburgh - Music bar next to Sneaky Pete’s in Cowgate?
Edinburgh - Coasters
May 15 W No information
May 16 T Glasgow - The Rock Garden
May 16 T Glasgow - University evening - the cul de sac bar
May 16 T Glasgow - Mayfair Reggae Disco early evening
May 16 T Glasgow - Dukes Bar evening
May 16 T Glasgow - The Wind Jammer Bar
May 17 F Glasgow - Art College - Vics Cafe 12 noon
May 17 F Glasgow - The Fixx Pub on Miller Street
May 17 F? Glasgow - Woodlands Road
May 18 S Manchester - City Centre (set up but didn't play)


Unknown

? Portsmouth (the wrong date/ Did it take place?)
Certainly the wrong date but we have this info on good authority: Back of British Home Stores.

According to the fanzine 'Six Gun Sound' The Clash busked in Portsmouth on Monday 22 October just after the release in September of This is England (Released September 30, 1985).

The Clash played Career Opportunities, Police & Thieves, English Civil War, All the Young Punks, Brand New Cadilac and 'a scorching rendition of their new single This is England'.

Six Gun Sound was a BAD fanzine a couple of years later supporting the band of the same name who started out as Rebel Truce until they realised there were 2 Rebel Truces'.

A copy of the fanzine would be helpful.







The Clash embark on what will be there very last 3 gigs


Extensive archive of articles, magazines and other from summer 1985

Video and audio from summer 1985





Summer Festivals 1985

Jun 29 Copenhagen - Roskilde Festival
Jul 13 Guehenno, France - Rockscene Festival
Jul 27 Athens, Greece







A cancelled European Tour and rumours abound of the bands status. A period which saw the final album and solo single released.


Extensive archive of articles, magazines and other from Sept to the end of 1985

Audio and video from Sept to the end of 1985





European Tour

Sep 13 Paris - Le Zenith
Cancelled (according to Kosmo) due to injunctions by Mick Jones on the name The Clash.
Sep 30 This is England 7" single released
Sep 30 This is England 12" single released
Oct 4 Gothenburg - Scandinavium
We are The Clash page 324
Oct 4 Stockholm - Isstadion
Oct 5 Lund - Olympen
Oct 12 Utrecht - Vredenburg
Oct 19 Europen Tour cancelled
NME publish Clash press release. European and UK dates cancelled due to restrictions on the use of the name The Clash. The band hope to reshedule dates before the end of the year.
Nov 4 'Cut the Crap' album released
For full summary of reviews go to We are The Clash page 237 and page 319
Nov 4 Fingerpoppin 12" promo single released





The last days of The Clash


Extebsive archive of articles and magazines from 1986 and the last days of the Clash





The last days of The Clash

Early 86 Are You Red..y 7" single penciled in for release?
Jan 86 European Tour
Feb 86 Far East Tour
A Tour was being arranged for the Far East in early 1986 and Europe (late 85/86).
Early 86 Shouting Street 7" single penciled in for release
Jul 86 Love Kills
1986 Joe Strummer 001
Outtake from the Alex Cox film ‘Sid & Nancy
Recorded in Kentish Town. 1986 with The Sooth Sayers. Produced by Joe Strummer.
Crying on 23rd
Joe Strummer: Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Bass. Mick Jones: Guitar. Chris Musto: Drums, Percussion.
2 Bullets (with Pearl Harbour>
Produced by Joe Strummer. Outtake from ‘Sid & Nancy.’Pearl Harbour: Vocals. Joe Strummer: Rhythm Guitar, Bass. Mick Jones: Guitar. Chris Musto: Drums. B.J. Cole: Pedal Steel Guitar.
N.B. Both songs were recorded in Kentish Town and are the first recordings of Joe and Mick since ‘Combat Rock.’
1986 Joe Strummer 001
Joe Strummer/Mick Jones from Candy Mountain
Previously Unreleased. Recorded 1986. Produced by Mick Jones.
Track: US North
Unused song from the Robert Frank and Rudy Wurlitzer film ‘Candy Mountain’.
Joe Strummer: Vocals, Guitar. Mick Jones: Vocals, Guitars, Bass. Greg Roberts: Drums. Dan Donovan: Keyboards. Felippe Gonzales: Bongos. Xavier Solano: Agogo. Strings played by The Radio Futura Philharmonic Orchestra, Madrid
What the next Album could have looked like ...
1990 Return to Brixton
1991 Train Vain










Clash retrospectives

1986+ The Clash: Retrospective articles (1986 onwards)




Jun 76 - Black Swan , five piece ....

Sept 76 - 100 Club, London gigs ....

Dec 76 - Anarchy Tour ....

Jan / Mar - Early 77 Gigs ....

May 77 - White Riot UK Tour ....

Jul 77 - European Dates ....

Oct 77 - Out of Control UK Tour ....

Jan 78 - Sandy Pearlman UK Dates ....

Apr 78 - UK Festival Dates ....

Jul 78 - Out on Parole UK Tour ....

Oct 78 - Sort it Out UK Tour ....

Feb 79 - Pearl Harbour US Tour ....

Jul 79 - Finland + UK dates ....

Sep 79 - Take the Fifth US Tour ....

Dec 79 - Acklam Hall Secret Gigs ....

Jan 80 - 16 Tons UK Tour ....

Mar 80- 16 Tons US Tour ....

May 80 - 16 Tons UK/Europe ....

May 81 - Impossible Mission Tour ....

Jun 81 - Bonds Residency NY ....

Sep 81 - Mogador Paris Residency ....

Oct 81 - Radio Clash UK Tour ....

Oct 81 - London Lyceum Residency ....

Jan 82 - Japan Tour ....

Feb 82 - Australian Tour ....

Feb 82 - Hong Long & Thai gigs ....

May 82 - Lochem Festival ....

May 82 - Combat Rock US Tour ....

July 82 - Casbah Club UK Tour ....

Aug 82 - Combat Rock US Tour ....

Oct 82 - Supporting The Who ....

Nov 82 - Bob Marley Festival ....

May 83 - US Festival + gigs ....

Jan 84 - West Coast dates ....

Feb 84 - Out of Control Europe ....

Mar 84 - Out of Control UK ....

April 84 - Out of Control US Tour ....

Sep 84 - Italian Festival dates ....

Dec 84 - Miners Benefit Gigs ....

May 85 - Busking Tour ....

Jun- Aug 85 - Festival dates ....

Sept 85 - European Tour ....

Jan 86 - Far East Tour ....

1986 onwards - Retrospective

74-76 - Joe with the 101ers ....

Jul 88 - Green Wedge UK Tour

Aug 88 - Rock the Rich UK Tour ....

Oct 89 - Earthquake Weather UK ....

Oct 89 - Earthquake Weather Euro ....

Nov 89 - Earthquake Weather US ....

Jun 99 - Comeback Festival dates ....

July 99 - Short US Tour ....

July 99 - UK Tour ....

Aug 99 - Festival Dates ....

Oct 99 - UK Tour ....

Nov 99 - Full US Tour ....

Dec 99 - European Xmas dates ....

Jan 00 - Australasian Tour ....

May 00 - Mini UK Tour ....

Nov 00 - supporting The Who Tour ....

Jul 01 - UK & US Instore Tour ....

Oct 01 - Full US Tour ....

Nov 01 - Japanese Tour ....

Nov 01 - Full UK Tour ....

April 02 - Brooklyn NY Residency ....

Jun 02 - UK Festivals ....

Jul 02 - Hootenanny Tour ....

Aug 02 - UK Festival Dates ....

Sep 02 - Japanesse Dates ....

Nov 02 - Bringing it all Back Home ....

Audio exists and circulates
Audio exists but is not in circulation
No known Audio
Audio (radio) interview
Soundcheck
Video exists and circulates
Video exists but is not in circulation
No known Video
Gig cancelled
Never took place / bogus date
Unoffical release
Offical release
Clash pages only - Rated 0-5 for iTunes.
How real the sound feels re: the sound you'd hear in the concert hall.
to Rated 0.5 to 5 for sound (for iTunes)
Unknown generation
Master source
Low generation (better)
High generation (copied too much)
Soundboard
FM