The Clash 23 May Top Of The World, Stafford White Riot Tour

VIOLENT PUNK GROUPS BANNED

PUNK rock groups who "advertise violence" have been banned from playing at Stafford's Top of the World ballroom.

Mecca area manager Tony Marshall, who has already called off scheduled appearances by two of the new cult bands in two weeks, has said he is not prepared to run the risk of having the near riots there were at a concert in London recently.

Mr Marshall said that Mecca did not have a strict policy over punk rock groups, and he had taken the decision to ban the groups Damned two weeks ago and Clash, who should have appeared on Monday night, because of the bad publicity they had received.

A spokesman for the promoters of the Clash said that people had no reason to be afraid of "new wave" bands. "It's just ridiculous," he said. "The Clash played to 1,500 people in Wolverhampton on Sunday and there was no trouble at all."

One acclaimed "new wave" group. The Stranglers, who have managed to avoid any bad publicity, have been booked to play at the Top of the World next month.

NEW WAVE CONCERT
Top of the World, Stafford Monday May 23rd at 8 pm
CLASH THEY WILL DEFINITELY BE APPEARING
PLUS JAM, BUZZCOCKS, SUBWAY SECT.
TICKETS FROM TERRY BLOOD RECORDS THE RECORD SHOP WELLINGTON AND BOX OFFICE

The Top of the World venue in Stafford is a versatile location that has been used for various events. It has a banquet capacity of 400, a smart dress code, and serves food .

The venue has also been a night club and has hosted concerts, boxing events, and club events 3 4 . It is located at 139 Newport Road, Stafford

MORE than 1000 punk rock fans packed into Staf-ford's Top of the World ballroom on Monday to see New Wave band The Stranglers.

The gig was one of the most successful the Top of the World has seen but the message from manager Dave Edwards is still very clear, no violent punk rock bands for Stafford.

The crowd, some spor-ting safety pins stuck through their cheeks, cars and nose, and wearing drainpipe jeans and leathers enjoyed two hours of entertainment provided by The Strangers and sup-port band London.

The only sign of discon tent came when the Stranglers walked off stage. apparently disgusted with the sound reproduction The trouble was soon put right and the conce.t went ahead.

Manager Dave Edwards said after the gig: "I was very pleased with the way the whole thing went off The crowd was very well behaved and it was a greal success.

"It is possibly the biggest crowd we have seen here since Climax Blues when 2000 attended.

"But this still does not change my view on Punk bands. We are willing to have more concerts like this but we are not into the scene of bands like The Clash and The Damned who advertise violence The Stranglers came here to play good rock music and that's the way we want

it to stay." Both The Damned and The Clash were banned from playing at Top of the Wor'd.