48 THRILLS. "CLASH." 48 THRILLS, no. 2, 1977, pp. 2 pages
CLASH AT THE ROXY
— Review of The Clash's explosive two-set performance at the Roxy club on January 1st, 1977, declares The Clash, not the Sex Pistols, as the most important and committed band on the scene
48 THRILLS | #2 1977
48 THRILLS No 2
CLASH
Wonderfully
danger stranger better paint your face!
No Elvis, Beatles or Rolling Stones in 1977
... oppurtunities. The ones that never knock. Every job they offer you is to keep you out the dock – Career Opportunities.
The Clash at the Roxy... Jan 1st
“You lot can’t have made the fourth form at school,” jeered Joe Strummer at the bunch of apathetic discos who just stood and stared at The Clash during their second set at the Roxy.
The Clash were great, despite sound problems and the size of the P.A. (they were too powerful for it with their new system). Over the last couple of months, and with their travels on the world’s most cancelled tour, they’ve been working hard on their set. There are changes and some great new songs, especially Hate and War and Remote Control. They’ve speeded up White Riot and it sounds even better. So do London’s Burning, 1977, Janie Jones and Career Opportunities, the most well-known songs.
Even on the small stage at the Roxy, they moved like maniacs in both sets. Joe Strummer’s got a flashy big new white guitar which looks great, though I still prefer the tinnier sound that he got from the rusty old one he used to have.
The Sex Pistols started the scene, but right now The Clash are more important to it… the most committed group, toughest, most frantic, most powerful… right?
It’s great that they are really moving forward, but I hope that some of the songs they’ve dropped haven’t gone for good – Deny, What’s My Name, and Protex Blue (the one that Mick Jones used to sing and which was fuckin’ great). Also the drumming wasn’t as powerful as when they had Terry Chimes (who didn’t fit), but Paul Simonon’s bass made up for that. Well... I dunno why I’m criticising them, ’cos they’re the best around and when they do make a record, they should make it an album, as their songs are so great.
London’s burning with boredom baby! London’s burning down, dial 999
Mick Joe Paul
48 THRILLS | #2 1977