Bond’s – Times Square, New York
Bonds Residency
Three weeks & 17 gigs that shook up New York and America.
Supported by The Brattles & The Rock-cats?
last updated 18 May 2006
last updated 4 Jan 2007
cdr - distant - aud. master - Sound 4 - time 98.03min - d-mast - tracks 25
Seventeen days after The Clash first took to the stage at Bond’s they still had two more shows to do on their last day! The late afternoon start for the Matinee show proved again to be a problem for the by now nocturnal Clash! Mick moans/jokes about being still asleep during Train In Vain and at the end of the song Joe says “Yeah Good morning(!) Sorry we’re a bit late, it’s my fault I couldn’t get out of bed on time!”
Perhaps not surprisingly then this is not one of the best Bond’s performances (it’s also one of the poorer audience recordings) but the band again work hard to deliver and the show is never less than very enjoyable, and there is the added bonus of the only Bond’s stage invasion!
“I attended 2 of the Bond's gigs back in '81, the last two (June 13 Mat & Eve). Towards the end of the matinee gig (probably near the start of "Jimmy Jazz"), audience members started climbing up on stage from the right (Paul's side). Not just a few but many. I decided to get up there and did. There must've been at least a 100 or more on stage by the time they played "London's Burning". I found an uncongested spot in front of Topper. The stage lights were incredibly hot. I can't imagine being up there for 2 hours. If you listen to "London's Burning" from that gig you can hear other non-clash personnel singing into the mic. This is why it's also likely the reason this gig was cut short.” Anon
The Brattles again opened the show but two accounts differ as to whether the Dead Kennedy’s also provided support;
“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 at Bonds due to the extensions. Needless to say it was an amazing time”. Werner
“I was supposed to be at the first matinee. We went in, waited in line, and instead of a show, got a riot. The rumour going down the line at the time was that one of the competing NYC clubs were jealous that bonds got the gig and they didn't, so they called the police and let them know that the gig was oversold. Basically, the venue sold tickets at their box office for capacity, and then ticketron (precursor to ticketmaster) sold the exact same amount at tm locations. which is how the band ended up doing all those weeks of shows, god bless 'em.
I went in and exchanged my ticket for the last matinee show, June 13. I went to that show instead of going to my senior prom (big high school dance), my mother still moans about that. I can tell you that the dead kennedys definitely did NOT open, I knew them and had seen them once at that point. The brattles did open, but I also remember another band, and recall that they were a rockabilly act, as I remember a pink stand-up bass. I want to say that it was the rockets, who were a pretty hot rockabilly band in NYC around that time, but cannot be sure. Anon
The Venue
See 28th May review for details
From audience DAT master.
The only recording in circulation is from the same taper’s DAT master who apparently recorded almost all the Bond’s shows. The sound is thus similar to the others but is a little poorer than most; flatter, duller, more distant and with a level of hiss and lack of crispness. The sound does however improve halfway through Magnificent Seven but tails off again during Jimmy Jazz.
This recording is one of the few to have the play on Morricone intro in full. The performances here are fine but there is a not unsurprising lack of inspiration common to the later Bonds shows; there are few adlibs from Joe and the songs are played with few of the improvisations common to the earlier shows. The band had made it through to the last day and once they wipe the sleep out of their eyes they clearly increasingly enjoy playing in front of their young fans!
The set list is again largely unaltered until the encores. After London Calling, Joe starts to greet the under age audience but he’s stopped by his band mates slamming into a fine, charged Safe European Home. The Leader next is followed by Train in Vain during which Mick talks to the audience saying “You see this track…” it’s mostly unclear but he does say “still asleep” referring presumably to himself rather than the young audience who cheer along loudly albeit in a higher pitch than normal!
Taking up the theme and greeting the audience Joe says “Yeah, Good morning (actually late afternoon but morning to the band!), Sorry we’re a bit late, it’s my fault I couldn’t get out of bed on time!” Mick then screams “1-2-3-4” and the band slam into White Man In Hammersmith Palais. Mick’s solo is too far back in the mix and unusually there’s no adlib from Joe over the albeit fine instrumental ending; evidence of the lack of inspiration despite the obvious efforts of the band to deliver.
The new Radio Clash sounds fresh, the band enjoying themselves and Joe sounds in good spirits. A fine run through of one of Mick and Joe’s favourites, Spanish Bombs is next followed by Paul’s Guns of Brixton, complete with the now normal extended intro.
“We’re gonna Call It Up now but it probably won’t mean anything – but it will…so I’ll just give the drummer £10 dollars and we’ll continue!” is Joe’s intro to a fine if unexceptional The Call Up and adds “Take your time” as Mick starts the song slowly. A typically enjoyable at Bonds performance of Bankrobber is next and then Mick starts the intro after Joes call to Complete Control then stops letting Toppers bass drum alone herald the start of the Clash classic 77 anthem. The band are working hard to deliver a great show and the young audience roar their approval.
Mick’s great guitar playing dominates Lightning Strikes and then the spotlight literally moves to Topper singing Ivan Meets GI Joe.”Call in the helicopters, call in the Medivac,” shouts Joe as the band conjure up more great chopper and other sound effects for Charlie Don’t Surf. Mick then picks out gently the melody and the audience clap along to an enjoyable if not exceptional performance.
“Are we allready, alright now move your shoes, Hey Tops give me the beat on the hi-hat” is Joe’s intro to a storming Magnificent Seven, the band’s performances hitting a higher gear here on in. After an edit mid song the sound improves and is now brighter and less flat. The song ends after a longish instrumental break with no adlibs from Joe. “Yes for Leon Spinks” says Joe over the intro to a fine Broadway and then Joe enjoying himself and working hard to connect with the young audience shouts “Help, help, help!” semi comically over the intro to a powerful Somebody Got Murdered.
Mick plays a terrific repeated echoed riff at the start of an excellent Police and Thieves. Joe adlibs over Mick’s great guitar work “Hey put your hand up, stick it up Mister,..Oh no” unfortunately the rest is unclear but Joe’s now really up for it. He says “Too slow” at the start of Clampdown and then Mick does not come in leaving only Topper’s drums and Paul’s bass to play for some time before Joe says something unclear and then Mick shouts “ 1-2-3-4” and he and Joe come in; an unusual start! Mick adlibs on his usual lines and then later Joe adlibs “Let the teenagers there just stood around the front…. I ain’t a juvenile delinquent, Oh No! (Joe in a rare reference to the Frankie Lymon 50’s hit!) The rest is unclear and the 7 minute performance finally brought to an end by Topper.
After an edit the first encore begins (after a surprising shouted request for Capital Radio!) with Mick saying, “Who’s ready? Joe? This is a kid’s song!” He then screams out “1-2-3-4” and the band crash into Career Opportunities with Mick singing lead vocals to begin with. Then its into the usual encores opener, One More Time featuring some good guitar and effects from Mick. An edit at the end of the song restarts with the intro to a fine Brand New Cadillac. “Thank you Amigos” shouts Joe but Topper takes it into Janie Jones. A female voice screams, as things get livelier in the audience.
The band leave the stage perhaps to cool things down but after an edit which leads into presumably the second encore and Jimmy Jazz there is soon sign of the stage invasion evidenced earlier. The sound quality drops now with the sound moving to predominantly the right channel. Various voices shout along with Joe, as things get increasingly chaotic. “New York’s Burning” shouts Joe and he is joined by other voices shouting out the lyrics in what sounds like a good-natured stage invasion by a reported 100 plus fans. Whether this resulted in the band curtailing the show is doubtful as the band usually played two encores ending with London’s Burning.
i was supposed to be at the first matinee. we went in, waited in line, and instead of a show, got a riot. the rumor going down the line at the time was that one of the competing nyc clubs were jealous that bonds got the gig and they didn't, so they called the police and let them know that the gig was oversold. basically, the venue sold tickets at their box office for capacity, and then ticketron (precursor to ticketmaster) sold the exact same amount at tm locations. which is how the band ended up doing all those weeks of shows, god bless 'em.
i went in and exchanged my ticket for the last matinee show, june 13. i went to that show instead of going to my senior prom (big high school dance), my mother still moans about that. i can tell you that the dead kennedys definitely did NOT open, i knew them and had seen them once at that point. the brattles did open, but i also remember another band, and recall that they were a rockabilly act, as i remember a pink stand-up bass. i want to say that it was the rockats, who were a pretty hot rockabilly band in nyc around that time, but cannot be sure. Anon
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. Werner
Hey, Love the site. I was lucky enough to see the Clash half a dozen times in 1981 and 1982--three nights at Bond's including opening night and the last matinee when we all got up on stage (my brother reminded me the other night of seeing me on stage singing "Jimmy Jazz" into Mick's mike and deciding he too had to rush the stage), Asbury Park in 1982, one of the nights with The Who @ Shea and a night in August 1982 at Red Rocks, a natural amphitheater in the Rocky Mountains outside of Bolder, Colorado.
The Bond's shows were remarkable, but the Red Rocks show was great too. The band opened with "White Riot" Mick, Joe and Paul beginning with their backs to the audience and wheeling around at the mikes just in time to nail the opening vocals. Also, Allen Ginsburg came out to do his "Ghetto Defendant" rap (he was chairing a symposium at the Naropa Institute in Bolder on the 25th anniversary of the publication of On the Road which I was in town to attend). Amazing all around. Thanks for compiling this. Jason Chervokas
|
1 |
London Calling |
|
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
|
...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.
|
||
 |
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> 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! |
||
|
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 |
||
|
Bonds Times Square, New York | |
|
Bonds Times Square, New York | |
|
Bonds Times Square, New York | |
| Bad Brains and the Slits opened | ||
|
Bonds Times Square, New York | |
| The Treacherous Three |
||
|
Bonds Times Square, New York | |
| The Bloods opened the show f/b The Bush Tetras. |
||
|
Bonds Times Square, New York | |
| Four female singers singing accapella and Lee Perry opened | ||
|
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. | ||
|
Bonds Times Square, New York | |
| (evening) The Dead Kennedys? | ||
|
Bonds Times Square, New York | |
|
Bonds Times Square, New York | |
| The Fall were the support act. This is the pro-recorded concert. | ||
|
Bonds Times Square, New York | |
| Allen Ginsberg makes an appearance | ||
|
Bonds Times Square, New York | |
|
Bonds Times Square, New York | |
|
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. | ||
|
Bonds Times Square, New York | |
| (evening) The Dead Kennedys | ||
|
|
|
BLISTE.jpg){kind=link}
