Clash Melee Points Up Danger of Overselling
by Robert Palmer
New York Times June 3, 1981

The Clash concerts at the Bond's International Casino, West 45th Street and Broadway, have been causing quite a stir, and not because of the British rock band's political lyrics and incendiary performing style. Bond's was closed by the city Department of Buildings on Saturday after the Clash played to a crowd estimated at 3,640 people; the club's legal capacity is 1800.

But after the club complied with building inspectors by installing fire-exit signs and making other minor alterations, it was allowed to reopen - on the condition that audiences not exceed the legal limit.

The Clash agreed to play six extra performances to accomodate ticket-holders who were turned away from this week's performances.

The reason ticket-holders are being asked to attend the added performances is that the Clash's engagement was dramatically oversold. Anyone who has attended rock shows in large clubs like Bond's and the Ritz knows that overselling is nothing new.

Other Incidents

One downtown club that is closed oversold an engagement by Chuck Berry so heavily last year that the entire block in front of it was packed by angry ticket-holders who were unable to gain admission.

The Fire Department arrived and demanded that the crowd from the first show be cleared out. The second show finally got under way at around 3 A.M.

More recently, a show by Adam and the Ants at the Ritz found the club jammed and a large number of people pressed together outside, hoping to get in. In a related incident, a full house at the Ritz began throwing bottles at the club's video screen two weeks ago when the British band Public Image Ltd. performed behind the screen, refused to come out from behind it and taunted the audience.

Several fans then stormed the stage, ripping down the equipment. There was a moment of near-panic on the crowded dance floor, though apparently no one was hurt.

As more and more rock groups ...[unreadable]... Bond's and the Ritz, which have open dance floors rather than the reserved seats found in theaters and sports arenas, incidents like these can only mutiply. All nightclubs are limited in capacity by the Fire Department, but in the past, these limits have been widely ignored. They should not be.

Possibility of Legislation

If rock shows at large clubs result in more trouble, and especially if there are injuries, legislation governing ticketing, security and other rock club procedures might well result. Such legislation would undoubtedly make it more duifficult for rock clubs and independent promoters to hold their own in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

The ...[unreadable]... clear. If the club owners can't do job of regulating themselves, someone else is going to step in.

New York Times 6/3/81

...play on music: “6 Seconds To Watch” by Ennio Morricone, from For A Few Dollars More...Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five are among the opening acts...after the first gig of the original seven-show run, the NYC fire marshall orders the club closed for safety reasons; eventually, the shows are rescheduled to accomodate all ticket-holders...

A strike in Britain had left 5 British bands in the UK and only 3 managed to make it with the Clash. Only the Slits, Funkapolitan and The Equators, who were slated for the matinee shows, made it. Left behind were the remains of Selector, The B-People , The Bell Stars, Aswad and most of all Theatre of Hate whom Mick had produced their debut album.

There were two opening acts each night: one British or Jamaican and one American. Hopefully the correct artists are listed by the correct dates. Support Acts included Grandmaster Flash and the Treacherous Three, The Sirens, The Sugerhill Gang, Funkapolitan, Lee Perry, Texan bard Joe Ely, and a forgotten horn-section-and-skinny-tie band called the Nitecaps. And, plucked fresh off the stage of CBGB's, Miller Miller Miller & Sloane and a KRAUT who had formed 3 weeks earlier with only 3 demo songs and who never played live. Plus bands that showed The Clash’s continuing identification and admiration for punk; The Dead Kennedys, Bad Brains, The Fall, The Slits, and The Bloods (not to mention The Brattles!). ESG a womans funk band from New York. The Rockets and the Equators were scheduled for the first matinee show which got cancelled.
May 28 Bonds Times Square, New York
Support The Sirens and Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five

Thanks to Laura for the following info on the Sirens...

From: "Laura DJ" <dejesuslauraann-at-gmail.com>
Date: 22 October 2008

i noticed you have the sirens on the tour date list from 81 as playing with treacherous three, that's not true, I was one of the Sirens, the guitarist, and we played after Grand Master Flash, and before the Clash.

It was my idea to support the Clash. My manager charlie martin who built the sound system at CB's and Bonds was getting directions from the owners/managers who were in jail (studio 54 fame) and i had read an article in the nme or soho news or one of the music papers of the day and joe strummer said in the article they like all girl bands opening up for their shows. So i ran over to charlie showed him the article and suggested he get on the phone and reach out to his contacts and get the clash. The rest is history. He did it and we opened their first show at bonds. Grand Master Flash opened for us!
May 29 Bonds Times Square, New York

May 30

 Bonds Times Square, New York

Matinee show cancelled by NYC Building Dept - Riots

May 30

 Bonds Times Square, New York

Evening show cancelled by NYC Building Dept

May 31 Bonds Times Square, New York
Jun 1 Bonds Times Square, New York
Jun 2 Bonds Times Square, New York
Bad Brains and the Slits opened
Jun 3 Bonds Times Square, New York
The Treacherous Three
Jun 4 Bonds Times Square, New York
The Bloods opened the show f/b The Bush Tetras.
Jun 5 Bonds Times Square, New York
Four female singers singing accapella and Lee Perry opened
Jun 6a Bonds Times Square, New York
(afternoon) I was at the June 6th matinee show in 1981 in Bond's. The Dead Kennedys did NOT perform then. It was the Hi-School band The Brattles who opened the matinee show, followed by Funkopolitin. The "We love you clash" that is heard mid-show is caused by a mic that fell into the audience. Joe just watched kind of amused while these guys in the first rows yelled into the mic. After a while, the roadies got it back and set it up again.
Jun 6e Bonds Times Square, New York
(evening) The Dead Kennedys?
Jun 8 Bonds Times Square, New York
Jun 9 Bonds Times Square, New York
The Fall were the support act. This is the pro-recorded concert.
Jun 10 Bonds Times Square, New York
Allen Ginsberg makes an appearance
Jun 11 Bonds Times Square, New York
Jun 12 Bonds Times Square, New York
Jun 13a Bonds Times Square, New York
(afternoon) Hi-School band The Brattles opened the matinee show, plus The Rock-cats? who they had a slap bass and played Stray Cats-type music.
Jun 13e Bonds Times Square, New York
(evening) The Dead Kennedys