The Clash Live - Monday 9 June 1977 - Coventry Tiffanys

Punk rock group show banned

PUNK rock group the Clash have been banned from playing at Tiffany's in Coventry, next month.

The group's fans caused £2,000 worth of damage when they rioted at a recent concert at the Rainbow Theatre in London.

As a result of that incident, Mecca, who own Tiffany's, have put a ban on the group appearing at any of their halls. Other punk groups, like the Sex Pistols Damned are also banned. the

Local promoter Scott Mac--kenzie had booked the group, who are climbing the album charts with their first release, The Clash, to appear at Tif-fany's on June 9 three days after a concert by another punk group, the Stranglers.

Mr Aubrey Marsden, the manager of Tiffany's, said that one of the music papers had reported a side bet between the Clash and the Sex Pistols, over whose fans could cause the most damage at concerts.

following." he said. the We are doing Stranglers, but they have no silly side bets involving their

"I think that the police have enough problems without us causing them any more trouble, and we have a responsibility to the city."

Mr Mackenzie said that the Mecca cancellation had come at too short notice for him to be able to arrange another venue.

"I had the group booked about four or five weeks ago, before the incidents in Lon-don, and I said that I would provide the security."

A spokesman for the Clash's record company, CBS, said that the story of the side bet between the group and the Sex Pistols was "drivel."

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.

Tiffany's lift ban on punk

groups

TIFFANY'S in Coven-try have lifted their ban on punk rock groups.

in During the next few months some of the top punk groups the country. including The Damned. The Clash, The Jam and The Stranglers will be appearing.

In June The Clash were banned from giving a con-cert at Tiffany's following a riot by their fans at Lon-don's Rainbow Theatre when damage put at £2,000 was caused.

The group will appear as a top-of-the-bill attraction at a concert on November 8.

Why the change of heart by Mecca-who own Tiffany's -over the "new bands? wave"

Mr Aubrey Marsden, manager of Tiffany's, said: "We have had difficulties with this kind of band in the past but now they have realised that they can't get bookings if they cause trouble."

Success

success He said that a performance by The Stranglers in June had been a although eggs and a glass were thrown at the group.

The series of punk rock dates had been arranged by an outside agency. Endale Association, and the new generation rock stars had not been booked by Mecca, said Mr Marsden.

This means I canno; stop them appearing." said Mr Marsden, who is not a followering of punk.

"The only thing the company draws the line at are strip-tease dancers," he added.