Sort it Out Tour

NME 7 October 1978 - GIG PREVIEW

I’D CALLED Mick Jones last Friday night The parsimonious Bernie Rhodes – who, though a repIacement manager has yet to be found (and it is most likely neither Billy Gaff nor Brian Lane), appears to be regarded most firmly as the band’s ex - wouldn’t give me tickets for last Saturday’s Clash Roxy date, said CBS.

Could Mick put me down on his own guest list?

“Sure thing,” he replied. “Only I’ve just got in from playing in Dublin an hour go and I’ve lust been told there’s an advert on Capital Radio saying we’re not playing.

“Whatever happens, though, I can tell you we’re going lo be turning up.”

At seven last Saturday night The Clash turned . up all right. To talk with and consoIe fans unable to enjoy yet another Clash gig stymied by officialdom. See also Belfast and Birmingham, where the group made personal appearances outside venue to explain their lack of appearance onstage.

“I can’t think of any other group that turns up to a gig, spends a couple of hours talking to the fans in front of a fish and chip shop and then goes home,” said Mick Jones in an lndian restaurant in Westbourne Grove about half an hour after the band had departed the North West London industrial wasteland in which the Harlesden Roxy is set.

This was the third time that effort. have been made to bring The Clash and the Roxy together.

`Unbeknown to The Clash themselves, Bernie Rhodes had originally booked the band in to play the Roxy last September 9, to celebrate the return of Jones and Joe Strummer from their Stateside studio sojourn.

As the band knew nothing whatsoever about the gig, and as Mick and Joe were still in the States continuing their termperementaI studio relationship with producer Sandy Pearlman (“He’s spent six months trying to turn us into Fleetwood Mac but he hasn’t succeeded,” says Jones), the gig was resheduIed for September 25.

The temperamental / tempestuous studio relationship continued. September 25 came and went. The gig was resheduled for October 14 - East Saturday. Between September 25 and last Saturday, however, part of the downstairs section of the Roxy was turned into a dance floor This entailed the removal of 500 seats. On the eve of the October 14 gig the Greater London Council, who appear to have been operating something close to psychological warfare with The Clash ever since fans trashed a sizable number of seats at the Rainbow during the spring `77 White Riot Tour, checked out the Roxy and informed Terry Collins, the manager, that due to the new seating facilIties only 900 of the 1,600 ticket holders could be allowed in to the theatre. At a meeting of the Roxy’s Board of Directors, late last Friday afternoon, it was decided that chaos was likely to ensue if the first 990 fans who arrived were granted entry to the theatre and the remaining 790 were turned away. It was after this meeting that ads were placed on Capital Radio telling ticket - holders to stay at home. Even so, however, the band and the theatre management continued to attempt to find a solution that would permit them to play to all 1,600 ticket holders that day.

“Up until three o’clock this afternoon,” grumbled Joe Strummer through a mouthful of vegetable biryani, “I though we’d manage it. I thought we could play two sets, one for all the kids who turned up early and then another one for the rest.

“But the police objected to that. They said they didn’t want that type of person wandering about harlesden all evening.

“I wouldn’t mind betting that Sid Vicious business hadn’t got something to do with it.” An ominous note for the future

The Clash stuck around outside the Roxy until about nine o’clock. There were close to four hundred kids outside; the band figured they spoke to ‘Most of them’.

Most of them were very pissed off.

`Wouldn’t you be?” demanded Joe wearily. “There were kids from all over the country: Cardiff, Liverpool. Belfast, Newcastle, Glasgow . . .What am I supposed to say when someone says to me that they’ve spent twenty quid to get to the Roxy and that they’re broke now?

Ah, but listen, you know - I can understand it if they’re pissed off with us but I wish they wouldn’t be. Because if they are then they’re just buying it. They’re not seeing through it all and realising that they’re being just as stitched up by the GLC as we are.

“Still, it’s understandable. There was this guy there who’s in some remand home in the North-East. I told him we were going to be playing two gigs - on October 25 and 26 - so everyone can get in to see “I can only get out at weekends’ ”.

So The Clash will return to the Roxy on Wednesday October 25 and Thursday, October 26. Ticket holders 1-900 will be let in on the first day, ticket holders 900 onwards on the 26th.

Jah willing, Harlesden should once again shake to and delight in the sound of the Clash City Rockers in a week’s time.

CHRIS SALEWICZ .

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19	Complete Control Tommy Gun I Fought the Law Jail Guitar Doors Clash City Rockers White Man Drug Stabbing time Protex Blue Guns on the Roof Stay Free Police and Thieves Blitzkreig Bop Capital Radio Janie Jones Garageland Whats My Name English Civil War Londons Burning White Riot

I Fought the Law

Tour Notes & Clippings

NME 7 Oct gig preview
Chris Salewicz

Sounds Review
Eric Fuller

Any further info / reviews appreciated

These dates have changed and reflect A Riot of Our Own, the NME and tape details. Belfast was the first night, Dublin the day after, a day off in London before Paris. The remaining dates fit around the Belgium tape and A Riot of Our Own. Several French dates are missing after Paris
Oct 13		Belfast, University SU, Queens Hall
		Johnny Green (A Riot of Our Own p106) states this was the opening of the tour. Date from NME gig review.
Oct 14		Top Hat, Dun Laoghaire, Dublin
		with Berlin
Oct 16		Le Stadium, Paris
		Johnny Greens book states this was Le Palace (Le Palace is the promotion company for many French gigs). As the poster says, its the 16th October at Le Stadium.
Oct 20		The Stokvishal, Arnhem, Holland
		I went a concert of The Clash at the Stokvishal in Arnhem (Holland) on friday, October 20 1978. I don't know for sure if my agenda is completely right, but it seems right. The Stokvishal was a great place at this time, it was an old factory hall based on the, during the Arnhem battle of 1945, completely distroyed  area close to the Arhem bridge. Other concerts I visited at that time at the Stokvishal: Iggy Pop, Cure, Only Ones, Undertones, Stiff Little Fingers, Specials, Madness, Theatre of Hate...
Oct 21		"Le Home" Cinema, Lewen, Nr Liege, Belgium
		Johnny Greens book A Riot of Our Own (p109) suggests a Belgium gig at Leuven just outside Brussels, following a drive up from Paris. Some suggestion that this gig followed the Brussels gig. 400 people there.
Oct 22		Ancienne Belgique, Brussels
		some tapes have this labeled the 30th. The recording (Joe) I.D.'s the venue as Brussels but Johnny Greens book A Riot of Our Own (p109) suggests the Begium date of the 22nd was Leuven just outside Brussels. Around 1500 people at the gig.
Oct 23		The Paradiso, Amsterdam, Holland.
		both these last two gig are noted on p110 of A Riot of Our Own.
Oct 25		Roxy Theatre, Harlesden, London
		Postponed on the 9th September, resheduled date of September 25th postponed and also further resheduled date of 14th October postponed. New GLC restrictions limited tickets to 900, so a second night scheduled for the other 700. Whirlwind supported. I do not know about the 26.10.78. Free t-shirts (Tommy Gun) given to audience for being messed around previously. I have two. Colin
Oct 26		Roxy Theatre, Harlesden, London
Nov 9		Village Bowl, Bournemouth
		cancelled? (NME 7 Oct 78)
Nov 10		Winter Gardens, Malvern
		cancelled?
Nov 12?		Canterbury Odeon
		A Riot of Our Own pg124
Nov 14		Locarno, Coventry
		cancelled?
Nov 15		Belle Vue, Manchester
Nov 16		Odeon, Edinburgh, Scotland
Nov 17		Town Hall, Middlesborough
Nov 18		Leeds University
		supported by the Innocents as well as by the Slits.
Nov 19		Top Rank, Sheffield
		supported by the Innocents as well as by the Slits.
Nov 20		De Montfort, Leicester
		supported by the Innocents as well as by the Slits.
Nov 21		Locarno, Bristol
		supported by the Innocents as well as by the Slits.
Nov 22		Birmingham Odeon
		cancelled?
Nov 22		Village Bowl, Bournemouth
Nov 23		Ipswich Gaumont
		cancelled?
Nov 23		Apollo, Manchester
Nov 24		Kings Hall, Derby
		supported by the Innocents as well as by the Slits.
Nov 26		Top Rank, Cardiff, Wales
Nov 27		University, Exeter
Nov 28		Tiffany’s, Coventry
		Melody Maker lists this as the Locarno at Coventry? On the Road with the Clash Traxmarx - includes Tiffany's Gig
Nov 29		Victoria Hall, Hanley, Stoke
		the 29th November '78 wasn't the Stoke Mandeville concert. '78 was with the Slits, was more rock, less anarchic, better musically, but I was a bit disappointed all the same (that isn't to say it was a bad concert, but compared to the first..). We weren't allowed backstage after the concert. Joe insisted that everyone got in for £2,25 whether they were advance sales or not, threatening not to play otherwise. (1) the gig line up was the clash slits and the innocents, viv and the rest of the slits came into the crowd to watch the clash autographs were given, when the clash arrived for the sound check, they also signed loads of stuff for the group of fans at the back door, which included me 14 years old and a clash fan then (2 nacro_killer) "During the drum intro for Tommy Gun, Topper hit himself in the eye with a drumstick, so joe shouted "tommy gun!, with one eye!" (Tim) I was at the same gig, had an amazing night, fist of all Topper was playing so maically his drum stick snapped in half and I managed to get the top half that flew off...and then after the gig me and my mates managed to get in the dressing room, sitting on the floor with the band talking, they all signed my Sort It Out Tour poster, unbelievable! (Shaun)
Nov 30		Wirrina Stadium, Peterborough
Dec 2		Polytechnic, Newcastle
		last night of the tour according to A Riot of Our Own pg 125 and it definately took place. It is listed on adverts in the music press as a late date for the Tour.
Dec 4		University Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland
		cancelled due to student only policy which Joe found out about and objected too. A Riot of Our Own pg123
Dec 5		University Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland
		cancelled due to student only policy which Joe found out about and objected too
Dec 6		University, Liverpool
??????		Brighton Top Rank
		I saw the Clash at the Brighton top Rank in '78 or possibly the first half of '79, can't see it listed anywhere, anyone else remember it? It was well before London Calling, they opened with English Civil War, I remember it cos Topper let me and some other kids in the side door as you were sposed to be 21 to get in and the bouncers weren't having any of it! I was 16 at the time I'm pretty sure, still at school anyway and i left in '79. I'd love to know the date of the gig.
Dec 12		Pavillion Bath
		This gig definately took place. Thx for info.
Dec 17		Portsmouth Locarno
Dec 18		Tiffany’s, Purley
		[originally anounced as Purley Locarno] supported by the Slits - snowed heavily. A large cheesy nightclub in South London. Supported by the Innocents as well as by the Slits.
Dec 19		Music Machine, London
		...Sid Vicious Defence Fund benefit. Also supported by Phil Rambow and Friends.
Dec 20		Civic Hall Wolverhampton?
Dec 21		Hastings Pier Pavillion
Dec 22		Friars, Aylesbury
		On the Road with the Clash Traxmarx - includes Friars Xmas Party featuring The Clash
Dec 28		Lyceum, London
Dec 29		Lyceum, London
Jan 3		Lyceum, London
		This gig may have been the 31 December? On the Road with the Clash Traxmarx - includes this Lyceum gig