Bonds Residency
Three weeks & 17 gigs that shook up New York and America.
last updated 20 May 2006
cdr - cdr - clear - better - aud. master - Sound 4 - time 92.35min - d-mast - tracks 24
FHTE II – Bankrobber only – CBS/Epic Mobile – Pro Recording – Sound 5
Having enjoyed their only day’s break at Bonds from performing the day before, the show on the 8th might have been expected to have been one of the best. In fact the band sound at times tired and uninspired; perhaps they over indulged in their R & R as Mick especially sounds somewhat out of it at times! Joe unusually is not so fired up and at times Mick sounds stoned, getting lyrics mixed up and playing out of sync with the band.
It does though make for some fascinating performances for example Magnificent Seven gets an 8 plus minute meandering treatment with Mick and Joe both adlibbing at length! The concert in contrast is one of their shortest at Bonds; with only one encore, which ends with the band charging through a great, I’m So Bored With The USA.
We now know that CBS/Epic recorded two Bonds shows. One was the 9th June (3 tracks appear on FHTE and 1 on Clash On Broadway). Thanks to the circulation of audience recordings from all 17 Bonds shows and the performance of Bankrobber on FHTE II (the tracks short listed for FHTE but not used) we now know that the 8th June concert was also recorded. All the songs from the 8th were passed over for FHTE and you would have to agree with Mick and the compilers of FHTE that the 9th June performances are better, although the Bankrobber performance on the 8th is very good. Its possible of course that the band acknowledged that their performance tonight was below par and asked for the 9th June show to be recorded too, anyone know? We can only hope that all the official live recordings from The Clash circulate one day.
From audience DAT master.
From the audience DAT master from the guy who recorded almost all the Bonds shows! The sound quality is therefore very similar to the others although it is perhaps a little less distant; there is a lot more chat near taper this time so perhaps the taper was nearer the stage. The sound then is of a very decent audience recording let down somewhat by the usual distance and flatness that characterise this taper’s Bonds recordings.
The recording starts with a guy near the taper shouting, “Get that car outta that gear yeah” just before London Calling. Thanks to repeated airplay on New York radio Magnificent Seven was no doubt better known in New York than London!
Like most shows the band warm up on London Calling but its on Safe European Home that the gig takes off; Joe and Mick shouting out the words and Mick plays some great guitar over the ending. After The Leader, Joe asks the very lively and appreciative audience, “Have you people got enough room? You must feel like a sardine, this man here”. The set list is again unaltered with Train in Vain followed by White Man in Hammersmith Palais with Joe adlibbing over the extended ending.
Joe’s guitar is very clear on a fine Radio Clash, the vocals just too distant otherwise there is plenty of clarity; an enjoyable sound. Joe’s introduction to Corner Soul is surely a reference to the spliff bunker where Joe wrote the song’s lyrics; “Here we have a roach song written in the roach motel”. Not content to churn out the same performances every night The Clash are again improvising on many of the songs tonight, even on Guns of Brixton with Mick in particular coming up with a new approach to his guitar contribution.
Photo courtesy of Alyn Currie @ www.punkrockposters.net
Topper’s drums are very clear on The Call Up; it’s a ‘straight’ run through not as inspired as the previous night’s performance. Bankrobber is fine if unexceptional. There is an edit just before Lightning Strikes, which is now shorter and Mick’s solo does not complement the song; his contribution tonight is increasingly ‘out of it’.
“Play the guitar Senor” and Mick obliges hanging out the opening notes impressively to Complete Control then Topper comes in picking up the pace then Mick’s guitar slams in into surely one of The Clash’s top three best songs. The band sound inspired again, Mick’s solo is biting and Topper drives it along, then suddenly an edit loses the ending.
The second cdr begins with Ivan Meets GI Joe, the usual low point of the shows. Illustrating Mick’s contribution tonight he is brilliant at the start of Charlie Don’t Surf but by the end of the song his playing is increasingly out of sync with his band mates and the song! Mick is very agitated about something during the song presumably having a go at someone in the audience.
Joe acknowledges that tonight’s show is not yet firing he says “Alright then that’s just the overture” and the band kick into Magnificent Seven. It’s a long 8 and a half-minute version, which meanders at times but is nevertheless fascinating as the band improvise both musically and lyrically. Mick and Joe adlib at length somewhat bizarrely with Joe for example coming out with “in Italian arriverderci or gimme some of that fettuccine” and “call me Philippe, anything it’s gonna sell.now fuck me sideways, not me copper..this is Mighty Mouse…is Diana Ross in the house? We have free vodka martinis, yes, Frank Sinatra did not turn up” Ironically its Topper who holds it altogether as Joe and Mick sound increasingly stoned!
On Broadway Mick plays some nice guitar but the band are not quite gelling together tonight. The sound quality improves half a notch halfway through. Mick sounds like he has been listening to some Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock as his one off intro to Somebody Got Murdered has a long feedback Star Spangled Banner type intro which he hangs out before Joe’s rhythm cutter guitar comes in. Mick sounds stoned getting the lyrics mixed up and again its Topper’s excellent drumming that keeps it all together. Police and Thieves gets a fine ‘straight’ run through and again its not clear whether Mick’s playing is inspired or out of it!
Clampdown ends the main set in rousing style. Mick adding to the “take the best years of your life” line “they will if you let them”. Joe adlibs over the final section as Mick repeats, “I won’t work, I don’t wanna work”
The recording fades out then into the only encore, which begins with the first performance of Pressure Drop since the Mont De Marsan Festival in August 1977! Psychedelic Mick plays the intro then Topper picks it up then Mick plays the melody. Mick and Joe are really into it and it’s a fascinating to hear the song played 81 style. Then its back to the usual encore opener, One More Time with Mick again agitated about something at the start. The performance rather loses its way amongst Mick’s effects and Joe sounds tired and uninspired but still trying to push himself. The band though do pick it up through the charge through the final three songs, Brand New Cadillac, Career Opportunities and a particularly strong I'm so Bored with the USA.
Its possible the taper did not capture a second encore but only one was played at the Saturday matinee and on the 9th so the recording is very probably complete. This is one of the weaker Bonds gigs but fascinating and enjoyable nevertheless.
I am a long time fan of the clash - wanted to see the clash log before my first show in 81 - but could never get there or if i got there I could not get into the show.. And it seemed to be bad fate when i went to first see the clash at the BONDS, NY,NY and the show I had tickets to was called off by the fire marshals and we were told to come back a week later.. No ,money and no ride (I live in Boston) I had to hitch a ride on the side of the road... I DID make it and it was the best clash show I ever saw... 7X total after that ..
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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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