Bonds Residency
Supported by Brattles, followed by Funkopolitin.
last updated 2 Nov 2005
cdr - clear - aud. master - Sound 4+ - time 93.07 min - mast - tracks 24
The Clash admirably played two Saturday no alcohol matinees at Bonds for their younger fans who would otherwise have been prevented by the nightclub’s age restrictions from seeing them perform.
Playing a matinee concert and then a later evening concert for a band who always performed with such intensity and energy was as The Clash later testified a particularly draining and exhausting experience. But as The Clash were semi-nocturnal creatures playing a rock’n’roll concert effectively at their breakfast time was doubly hard! Indeed when the band started their second matinee show late, Joe apologised saying he could not get out of bed in time!
In keeping with the event the high school band The Brattles opened the show. Former New York Dolls frontman David Johanson has recalled being impressed by The Clash after watching his son perform in The Brattles. The Dead Kennedys provided the main support slot and again in the evening.
Illustrating again the unusualness of these matinees the concert ends with an announcement from Joe on behalf of a presumably lost young fan to meet his friend by the mixing desk!
The matinee shows were well recorded; the first by one of the best Bond’s audience recordings, the second on the 13th by the CBS/Epic professional mobile equipment tracks from which appear on From Here To Eternity.
(legal paper, couldn't get it all in my scanner)
The Brattles
Dagin, Branch, Vern, Emerson, and Jason in front
All but Vern were 8 and he was 12 years old.
We were at Tony Machine's wedding on the Roof of the Grammercy Park Hotel...the Clash were staying on the floor below..I remember as I arrived, Mick was just coming out the door..I was so excited that I got an approving once over, before he got in a waiting car!!
The kids were there with their parents. Branch Emerson, keyboards, is the son of Elda of Elda and the Stilleto's, the band Debbie Harry was in before Blondie..his father was Eric Emerson, who was one of Andy Warhol's actors and a Max's fixture, until he was hit by a truck, if I remember correctly, and killed...Emerson Emerson, bass, is the son of Jane Forth, made famous by Lou Reed's song Sweet Jane..also a Warhol star, and again...Eric Emerson was his dad too..the drummer was Dagin, and when he was a toddler, he got carried out on stage at the Palladium in a trash can which they tipped over, he crawled out and said Ladies and Gentlemen, The NEW YORK DOLLS...My nepehw Jason, singer, songwriter....in the plaid cap, and my shirt..his Dad, John Collins, my husband's brother, was a Max's guy, and had a pretty good Ska band called the Terrorists back in the 80's..(#23 in the list of 130 Fabulous Faces, photos by Leee Black Childers..from the book called HIGH ON REBELLION INSIDE THE UNDERGROUND AT MAX'S KANSAS CITY), and Vern was just a kid they knew.
So, they were at the wedding, and they knew the Clash were staying there...Branch wrote a note to Joe, telling him about the band and said he'd like to open for the Clash and wrote down his phone number..he left it at the front desk for Joe...who, being our Joe, was intrigued, called and Voila!!!!
Venue
See 28th May review for details
The master audience recording in circulation is the best recording so far of the Bonds residency. It is less distant and has greater width, clarity and detail than the previous recordings.
There is some big hall echo and the sound is largely to the top end but bass though low in the mix is clear and reasonably focussed. This together with some decent stereo separation makes for an enjoyable sound and as the performance is a typically strong Bonds one, means that this is a bootleg well worth seeking out.
One or two of the track points seem strange and Ivan spreads over two tracks, though perfectly unedited.
The recording starts with the end of the Morricone intro, then Joe says, “Good evening” followed quickly by a more appropriate “good afternoon and welcome”!
As London Calling begins the good stereo separation for an audience recording is revealed with Joe’s guitar coming in and filling out the right channel. Clarity and detail in the guitars is very good and Mick’s solo is powerful whilst Joe adds plenty of Strummer trademark whoops and cries.
The band then blast into an intense Safe European Home, the band forcing the sleep from their eyes! The Leader almost segues into Train in Vain, which again drops right down after Mick sings “…spoke to me” then builds back up. Mick’s playing over this final section is lighter and more rhythmic than his heavier 16 Tons performances.
“OK here’s a bit of British bluebeat” is Joe’s intro to White Man in Hammersmith Palais. The instrumental break after “…wealth distribution” is not so effective in the 1981 performances but otherwise it is a very strong performance with Joe adlibbing over the extended final section and Topper adds a new drum flourish right at the close.
On This Is Radio Clash the band demonstrate their ability to improvise around the rhythm with ease. Mick’s guitar playing on Corner Soul is understated and subtle and he plays some great fills on Guns Of Brixton; the recording revealing lots of enjoyable detail in the sound. The Call Up is a definite highlight; the band super tight and together and as the music drops down Joe sings, appearing to offer his advice to the young audience. A fine Bankrobber next with Mick and Joe trading lead vocals. An edit at the end of the song restarts with the intro to
Complete Control. The sound has dipped a little maybe because the taper has moved position; certainly there is talking near the taper now unlike before. The sound is a little more distant and Mick’s guitar is too far back in the sound to be effective.
Lightning Strikes has a similar sound although Mick’s guitar is higher in the mix. Ivan Meets GI Joe is split into two tracks on the CDR and on the second half of the song the sound improves again back to the same quality as before. “The chopper descends, this is Radio Saigon on AFM talking (tracers?) can be fun but lets talk about the waste, how do you do when you shoot your buddy and you want to tell him that he’s sorry” is Joe’s intro to an excellent Charlie Don’t Surf with Mick playing some great atmospheric guitar.
“Ring ring” repeats Joe over the intro to Magnificent Seven; another highlight showcasing in particular Topper’s powerhouse drumming. Mick’s “You lot” calls come through powerfully and Joe adlibs “now the sun is going down its getting to evening”. Joe sings Broadway in a soft plaintive voice over Mick’s delicate playing. Somebody Got Murdered literally builds the set through to an intense finale followed by at Joe’s request Career Opportunities with Mick and Joe trading then sharing vocals. Then its straight into Clampdown with the recording providing plenty of enjoyable detail in the twin guitar attack. Joe adlibs about college, Geiger counters and Three Mile Island and the powerful performance just lacks an inspired stream of consciousness rant from Joe.
The encore fades in seamlessly with One More Time. Joe counts the band in after a long Topper intro and Mick’s guitar rings out as the band launch into a fine performance. Mid song Mick’s backwards guitar effects swirl around Bonds effectively before the ‘fireworks’ effects come in less so. There are then loud cheers followed by a male and female voice. Their words are unclear but they do repeat, “We love you Clash”. Curiously the male voice sounds not a little like the El Salvadorian speaker from the previous concerts. It does not appear to be a stage invasion and Joe comes back in unfazed.
Mick’s intro to Brand New Cadillac hangs in the air awhile before Joe comes in and the band blast into an all signals peaking into the red performance. Next its straight into a further highlight; Police and Thieves. The audience roar at the recognition of the song’s intro and the band do not disappoint. As the song drops down to drum and bass Joe moans and woahs softly then Mick plays some great guitar lines over the top as Joe gets louder and the band build to a crescendo. There is no Joe inspired rant though before Topper brings the song to a close. The audience roar their applause and the band charge through Janie Jones to complete a very fine concert, albeit a shorter one than the evening shows.
As the band leave the stage Mick is amused that a concert has ended when as he says “…its still light outside”. The recording ends with Joe saying to the young faithful and newly converted and with concern for one lost fan, “See you again, alright. Before I go I’ve got one announcement. Will David Lobanstock meet him at the mixing desk, alright”
I was the 12 year old guitarist that played with a punk/pop band called the "Brattles" (ages 8 to 12). We opened for the clash twice, June 6 & 13. You had a question mark, meaning that your not sure if we played or the Dead Kennedys. We both played, Joe saw us at the Chelsea Hotel(actually we met in the elevator and then "hung out" in his room, thereafter doing a show on the roof, the story is a riot,) He asked us to play a Bonds due to the extentions. Needless to say it was an amazing time.
I was at the June 6th matinee show in 1981 in Bond's. The Dead Kennedys did NOT perform then. It was Brattles, 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. Haim Barr
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London Calling |
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Any further info / reviews
appreciated
2. Newspaper & Magazine Articles
Band Arrives at JFK
3 newspaper photos
Private Super8mm film footage of the rucus outside Bonds
30 April New York Post
On the Town
New York Calling The Clash
..tickets go on sale tomorrow...
2 May - New York Post
10,000 Clash fans queue for tickets for only US appearance
6 mounted police and 12 squad cars to control the crowd
NME - Win a week in New York with The Clash!
Early May - New York Post
Bonds Sold Out - Christgua
Blister Fanzine
A weeks at Bonds (main piece)
Cover Only
BMC desperately wants the inside pages!!
NYC Advert for Magnificent 7 & Bonds dates
24 May - New York News
Passport Impasses Crimps Clash's style
5 British Groups left at Heathrow
Clint Roswell
New York Times 24 May
scan or text
26 May - New York Daily News
Clash Promise 'Something Special'
Clint Roswell
29 May - New York News
For Bonds Disco it was double capacity or nothing. Police and Fire Dept shut down Bonds. Vincent Lee
30 May - New York News?
city and Disco Clash, and Clash cools it
Disco forced to close - extra dates
Larry Sutton
30 May New York Post?
City calls a truce in Clash wars and the band plays on. Building Dept Inspectors have lifted a vacate order...
31 - May New York Times?
scan or text
Stephen Holden
31 May - New York Times Gig review
The Clash rocks with raw energy
Ira Mayer
New York Times June 3, 1981
Clash Melee Points Up Danger of Overselling
by Robert Palmer
Bondage at Bonds (full text version)
Creem - Sept 81
Clash face unrully mobs - Bondage at Bonds
Michael Barnard
First page only
Under Fire in New York - NME
Clash forced to lplay 16 date season after ticket fiasco - When the Clash landed at Kenney Airport last Tuesday, it was nore than clear that America wanted the band... Mick Farren
How The Clash Fed The Wonderbread Generation, Made The Mountain Come to Mohammed - And Other Miracles
Mick Farren, NME, 20 June 1981
The winner of NME's Flatter The Clash competition checks out the ramifications when an English band's world is at Bonds. KOSMO VINYL shoots both fists heavenward, for all the world like a man who had just scored for West Ham at Wembley. "I got the news on every channel! I got the news on every channel!....
Boston Rock Summer 81 No 19
1.. 2.. 3.. 4..
Face NO 16 August 1981
1.. 2..
MOJO Clash Special No79
pages 1.. 2.. 3..
Fanzine piece by: J Blocher
can some1 transcribe this it is very poor
Clash Contre Mafia - French Mag
1.. 2.. 3.. 4..
translation required
Anne Toone from The Bloods remembers opening for the Clash
The Clash on Broadway Part 1
Chris Salewicz, Mojo, August 1994
IF THERE WAS ONE PIVOTAL EVENT IN THE HISTORY OF THE Clash's assault on the USA it was the season of 17 shows they played at Bond's, a tacky former disco on Broadway and Times Square, New York, New York in May and June 1981.
The Clash on Broadway Part 2
Chris Salewicz, Mojo, August 1994
Joe Strummer talks to Chris Salewicz. When was the first time you toured America? I think it was in 1978. We went to finish off Give 'Em Enough Rope in San Francisco. So it would have been to tour that.
Best Magazine [French]
6 page review with photos form Bonds
...page1&2 ...page3&4 ... page5&6
3. Posters, video, photos
The Clash @ Bonds NYC 1981
joe streno's blog
Photos, comments
Posters and Radio / TV Commentary
Radio interview with Mick/Kosmo backstage after the opening night
Bonds Photos 1
1.. 2.. 3.. 4.. 5.. 6..
Bonds Photos 2
1.. 2.. 3.. 4.. 5.. 6.. 7..
Clash & Slits at Bonds 1981 photos
{ joe streno } seattle wa
www.go2jo.com
Radio Commentary on ticket fiasco - 20mins
NBC TV on ticket fiasco 3mins video
CBS Live tapes
Quote, "Eventually, via Jeff Jones at Legacy in New York, I contacted Bruce Dickinson who'd worked at CBS in the 1970s and 80s and was a fan of the band. He knew of a company in the States who specialised in archiving live radio tapes. They had two nights of the Clash at Bonds on Broadway and two nights in Boston."
Bonds Photos
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...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.
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Bonds Times Square, New York |
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| 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> 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! |
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Bonds Times Square, New York | |
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May 30 |
Bonds Times Square, New York | |
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Matinee show cancelled by NYC Building Dept - Riots |
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May 30 |
Bonds Times Square, New York | |
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Evening show cancelled by NYC Building Dept |
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Bonds Times Square, New York | |
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Bonds Times Square, New York | |
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Bonds Times Square, New York | |
| Bad Brains and the Slits opened | ||
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Bonds Times Square, New York | |
| The Treacherous Three |
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Bonds Times Square, New York | |
| The Bloods opened the show f/b The Bush Tetras. |
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Bonds Times Square, New York | |
| Four female singers singing accapella and Lee Perry opened | ||
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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. | ||
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Bonds Times Square, New York | |
| (evening) The Dead Kennedys? | ||
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Bonds Times Square, New York | |
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Bonds Times Square, New York | |
| The Fall were the support act. This is the pro-recorded concert. | ||
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Bonds Times Square, New York | |
| Allen Ginsberg makes an appearance | ||
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Bonds Times Square, New York | |
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Bonds Times Square, New York | |
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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. | ||
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Bonds Times Square, New York | |
| (evening) The Dead Kennedys | ||
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