Sort it Out Tour Supported by The Slits

THE SLITS are one of thse groups who've achieved their small portion of notoriety through not making it. A name from the past. While others move on and develop, they remain the same, frozen in time, a relic of how things were.

The Slits are a girl group - which is fine. But the Slits, it seems to me, are trading on the fact that they're a girl group. Which is definitely not fine. Being female is not a justification of your existence. The Slits' playing, most of the time, is merely competent. Some of the time, it's not even that. Their songs are mediocre. They quickly become tedious. If they were an all-male group, I doubt if they'd get a second glance.

It's a shame - I'd love to support girls who are breaking the barriers, who are doing something more than satisf in the business's insatiable appetite for sex symboIs. There are girls who're doing it, slowly but surely, but the Slits, I'm afraid, are not amongst them. If you're attempting to compete with men, the simple fact is, you have to be as good as they are, if not better. If you fail in that aim, not only is your own cause lost, but you damage other women's too. Oh and by the way girls, I don't think a song called `She's A Silly Tart' is terribly helpful to the cause, either. Or maybe I heard the lyrics wrong?

The Clash - ah now, that's a different matter. By the time they came on, the Lyceum audience was transformed from being bored, restless and shifting to a bubbling cauldron of over-excited bodies jostling and jarring in shared anticipation under the Christmas decorations, the lights and the mirror ball (very posh).

They couldn't fail really. It was going to be magic tonight, you could just feel it. The energy was really pouring out of the audience, lifting the group and carrying them along. A glorious shared experience between band and fans, as they tore through one great song after another - I don't have to list them, you all know them by now, don't you? (Y6u don't? Shame on you). Suffice to say, they were all great - and so were the band.

They finished, as always with `White Riot', the song they'll never be able to leave behind - and nor should they want to. As the spotlights hurtled across the expanses above the audience's heads, and the kids collectively roared their lungs out - `White riot, we warina riot' - the night ended on note of total exhilaration

Possibly the best gig I've ever seen Clash do. I can't think of a nicer way of ending `78.

SHEILA PROPHET

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20	Safe European Home I fought the Law Jail Guitar Doors Drug Stabbing Time Cheapskates The City of the dead Clash City Rockers Tommy Gun White Man in Hammersmith English Civil War Stay Free Guns on the Roof Police and Thieves Julies been working.. Drug Squad Capital Radio Janie Jones Garageland Complete Control Londons Burning** White Riot ** ** from the 28th

Tour Notes & Clippings

Record Mirror review

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