Support The Damned

Short European Tour of Holland, France, Switzerland,
Germany and Sweden

Last update 7 March 2007

possible two sources

cdr - upgraded alt source - sound 3 - 34min -
low gen? - tracks 14 [minus 2]

cdr - previous full source - Sound 2 - 40min -
unknown gen? - tracks16

Venue

Always thought to be the Rote Fabrik, we are informed that this gig took at the Kaufleuten Saal. There is a flyer from the gig and Joe was interviewed in a Swiss Punk Fanzine No Fun.

As a footnote: The Rote Fabrik wasn't a culture place at that time. It became one after the so called "Opernhaus Krawalle" (opera house riots 30. Mai 1980 ) It opened the doors for youth and culture at 25 October 1980. The Rote Fabrik squat has now been legalised and is a centre for the avant-garde arts, music and theatre. Its graffiti clad exterior has hosted a variety of bands large and small up to the present day.

The recording

When you’re sitting in your rocking chair and you’re asked “Grandpa what was that thing called Punk Rock” stick this one on... Zurich 77...

This is a terrific recording capturing really well the manically fast and furious 77 vintage Clash. The band start off playing at a frantic pace and just get even faster.

The Clash generate a wild audience reaction throughout this recording capturing the passion of the city.

Better shorter source

The better shorter one is is an upgrade on the previously circulating tape but excludes Bored with the USA and Janie Jones. However there is one with two tracks have been edited in seamlessly, making it complete.

Presumably its from a radio broadcast as there’s stereo separation on the guitars, Joe name checks Radio Zurich in Capital Radio and most convincingly a German voice cuts in before the start of Police & Thieves. The guitars come over brilliantly in the mix with Joe’s scratchy rhythm unusually clear. Drums are good but vocals are a bit low and bass all but buried. The mix does well though to capture the sheer noise, speed and power of the performance. A highly enjoyable listen.

When you’re sitting in your rocking chair and you’re asked “Grandpa what was that thing called Punk Rock” stick this one on... Zurich 77 ...

This is a terrific recording capturing really well the manically fast and furious 77 vintage Clash. The band start off playing at a frantic pace and just get even faster.

“Bonjour, Allo” says Joe by way of introduction and continues to try to speak a little French throughout, not realising Zurich is a German-speaking city. The band race through a 16 song set in 38 minutes getting even faster by the encores.

The first 1977 clocks in at a fast 1 minute 35 seconds but the encore version is down to just 1 minute 23 seconds. Joe suggests tha band are trying to finish quickly to stay alive, “Listen the microphone is live and I’m going to get a shock!” Zurich’s Burning already by the sound of the wildly enthusiastic audience.

Volume rises at the start of London’s Burning which has a right channel drop out for 10 seconds. This is a great Clash performance full of highlights: a rare Remote Control, excellent Jail Guitar Doors, truly manic Capital Radio, running through to 2 encores of White Riot “where’s my bank account!” and What’s My Name/1977. Punk rock...

Interview with The Clash at their visit in Zurich in 1977

No Fun Punk Fanzine:
Where did you play before you came to Zurich ?

Joe Strummer:
In Paris. I was surprised how many Punks they have. Before that we were in Bruxelles. That was fucked. The crowd threw everything they had on the stage - even beer cans, full cans in fact - those wankers - I would have at least drink em down before. The spirit was very aggressiv in Belgium. I was surprised from Amsterdam. I expected only stoned hippies - but there really were some guys shouting "Brush up !" and "Fuck you !"

NF:
And tomorrow you head for Vienna. Do you know Vienna ?

JS:
No but I have heard its and old totally conservative city of wankers. Do you think they have Punks there ?

NF:
Maybe about 5 ...

JS:
I hope that at least they come. So we are 9 then !

NF:
What did you expect from Zurich ?

JS:
Nothing, I didn't had any idea whats going on here. But I think the people had their fun - or not ?

NF:
Sure. Only there have been some guys who didn't understand the pogo ...

JS:
Yeh, I saw it. But I was not quit sure if they realy did slam hard, or if it only looked like. I hate this you know! This way pogo makes no fun anymore.

Mick:
I was nerved because there have been so many Teds. They are frightfully they want to kill you. If you see a horde of Teds as a Punk, then run and run fast. The worst is at the weekends, then they hang around everywhere. The crowd here was probably the most strange we ever had... [ M.G thanks ...]

NF:
I mean this was the first bigger Punk Concert here, since Punk exist in Switzerland. The thing with the brawl was maybe because some magazines spread a completely wrong picture from the London scene here. Punks only are eager for fights and at each concert there is a brawl and injureds and stuff like this. Well those, who never have been to London, cannot see what kind of shit they are served.
Do you really have been on Tour in Germany with Bravo ?
[ M.G. Youth magazine ]

JS:
I really didn't know whats going on. There were only 10 to 15 aged Bay City Roller Fans in the hall. There were guys at the show, we never have heard about them before - we were convulsed with laugher. They played playback only making their futzing moves and the kids were already screaming. We did play some titles
live - we were completely misplaced and fucked off. It was similar in this TV-Show ...

NF:
... at "Musikladen" ?

JS:
Yes, we had to play playback. But we have never made that before and we will never do it. We are musicians not comedians. Then they let us waiting in a room for 2 hours, it was not to abide. Ok, we smashed a lamp and some cans were lieing around. Afterwards it was said we smashed the studio. But beside that we had a lot of fun in Germany. The people are shocked so fast. You only have to scribble a fylfot and the people go mad. Once I dressed me like a Ted and went to a Ted-Concert. There were about 400 guys hanging around. All bored and seesawing singing "Be-bop-a-lulas" and "Sho-waddy-waddys". That made me so sick, that I went dressed like I was, to the Roxy. You should have seen the Punks like they starred at me. It was going quit fast around that a Ted is in the Roxys. The otherway round you can't imagine that a Punk is going to a Ted-local. As it looked like that some guys wanted to kick me out, I asked very politely "What's the matter? I'm a Clash-One!"

NF:
How is it to be in the London-Punk-Scene as a foreigner, does that give some problems?

Mick:
No, that don't gives you a problem. There is a solidarity around the Punks and as soon as they see, that you are a Punk in conviction, they accept you.

NF:
What do you think about other bands like the Sex Pistols ?

JS:
Only the best, absolutely! But there are many covers as well in the meantime. I don't like many bands.

NF:
But I have seen quit a lot of good bands in London.

JS:
(looks at my badges) Ok, Sham 69 are realy good, they bring something new. Also the X-Ray Spex I like. But bands like Gen X who are incredible pushed are shit.

Mick
The best thing in our life are the gigs. The whole stuff around I am so fed off. Always sleep in Hotel rooms, where you can't squeeze out your fags on the carpet, traveling from City to City, driving in Cars or Taxis from the airport to the hotel and afterwards to the concert hall etc all crap.
Therefore we are compensated with the two hours we stand on the stage. On stage I am relaxed and feel free.

JS:
The whole effort we only make because it is better that people think you are foolish than to be foolish.
Before the Clash area I was cleaning toilets, Mick was working in a department store and Paul was
a factory worker.

Interview made after the Kaufleuten Concert in Switzerland 1977 by No Fun ( Peter Preisle / Thomas Frueh / Urs (Stooge) Steiger ) Translated (back) from German to English out of the No Fun magazine ( No 1 - by the way ) from Maeck Greil