Last updated 7 July 2008 - added punters view (Guy)

cdr - clear but distant - Sound 4 - 102min - low? - tracks 24


Another audience recording similar to a few others on this tour.

Good clear sound, but recorded from the back suffers some big hall echo and the sound is concentrated at the top end. Enjoyable none the less.


grand circus theater detroit michigan aug 12, 1982. my friends and i were at that show. i actually was on stage for the song clampdown. i was trying to sing with joe so i'm thinking that i should be heard on the recording. my friend was near mick during the caotic scene on stage. anon

Since August 16th and October 17th 1982 I have seen the Clash in concert in three different cities. I have seen some great performers and concerts over the last six years. The list includes Elvis Costello, Iggy Pop, the Ramons, Blonde, the Jam, Squezze, David Johansen, and DEVO to name a few, however, these three Clash shows were the most intense and memorable concerts I ever saw.

The first show was in Detroit at the Grand Theater on August 16th. I went to the Show with Hale and Hunter Driggs. We got there early and I took pictures of the crowd outside of the show. We crashed at Hales Uncle Fred’s house after the show. The next morning we drove to Toledo to drop Hunter off (he was not going to Akron to see the show that night).

Photos (of fans) hanging outside the Grand Theatre
taken by Chris Downey

Hale and I left Toledo for Akron in his car. He drove on a sunny summer day. It was a great day for the three hour drive, not many clouds in the sky with very little traffic. We were on I-80 listening to a tape of Give’em enough rope, about eighty miles from Akron when a maroon Lincoln Town Car passed us. I was not paying attention when Hale said “look at that car…the guy sitting in the middle seat in the back.” I looked and saw the guy sitting in the middle had a mohawk hair cut. I responded, “They are probably going to the show too.” Hale looked at me and said, “Of course they are going to show, that is fucking Joe Strummer in the back!” “Are you sure?” “Yea, why do you think he is sitting in the middle?” “We are in rural Ohio some of these country folks might not appreciate The Clash.” At this point they began to speed up. I told Hale to catch them; they were driving about 90 mph. I found a piece of paper and a marker and wrote “The Clash” on the paper. We were in the left lane and pulled up next to them. Paul Simonen was in the front passenger seat, Joe Strummer was in the back but I don’t know who the other three people were.

As we pulled up next to them they were driving way over the speed limit, Hale was honking the horn and I rolled down my window and leaned out with the paper with the Clash written on it. I began yelling “The Clash, the only band that matters!” Paul Simonen was laughing and pointing at us and then waved. As they speeded up we pulled up behind them and were still trying to get their attention. Joe Strummer turned around and waved to us. I had no film for my camera, luckily Hale had his and we took a picture of the car. We followed them as far as we could, however we were low on gas and had to stop. They continued on to Akron.

The show in Akron was great. I took a lot of pictures.

Chris Downey

The photo of the Grand Circus Theater marquee was taken by my friend Mark Brendel. I'm pictured standing slightly right of center in a white T shirt with dark hair behind a fellow in a red vest. To my right is Mark's brother Kevin Brendel. Mark also sent you the newspaper review and the ticket from the show.

FYI the theater was called "Grand Circus Theater" (not Grand Theater). It was located in the Grand Circus Park in downtown Detroit. It is no longer open.

The short line that you've posted by anon. about being onstage during the song Clampdown was written by me.

Thanks so much for sharing the recording of the show. During the song Clampdown you can't actually hear me sing (Joe must have had an omnidirectional mic) even though I was standing to his right with my left arm around his shoulders. However, you can hear Joe telling the bouncers & roadies to back off and leave me alone as I jumped onstage. I still have a Tshirt from the show & I also still have Joe's sherriff badge that I grabbed off his shirt just before I jumped back into the audience at the end of the song. There were 2 other guys, besides me, huddled around Joe's mic singing the song with him. We were all taking turns strumming Joe's guitar while he played the chords. This story is so crazy that most people, that I tell it to, think I must have made it up, but it's all true! I sure wish we could find a video of the show!!!

Mark, Kevin & myself also saw Joe with the Mescaleroes at the St Andrews Hall in Detroit, just before he passed. I got a picture with Joe and he signed a concert poster and some cd's for me. What a great guy!!!
Guy Caylor Detroit Michigan

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24

London Calling
The Leader
Radio Clash
Clash City Rockers
Know Your Rights
Guns of Brixton
Train in Vain
Call Up
Rock the Casbah
Police and Thieves
Police on My back
Magnificent 7
Wrong Em boyo
Career Opportunities
Somebody Got Murdered
Brand New Cadilac
I fought the Law
Armagideon Time
Should I Stay or Should I Go
Clampdown
Straight to Hell
Janie Jones
Pressure Drop
Garageland

Career Opportunities

Detroit News Review

Photos (of fans) hanging outside
the Grand Theatre
taken by Chris Downey

Any further info / reviews
appreciated

Tour Notes

Ebet Roberts
9 excellent photos from New York
musicpictures.com

Aug 9 Red Rock Amphitheatre, Morrison, Colorado, USA

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

Aug 11 Civic Center, Saint Paul MN, USA
Aug 12 Aragon Ballroom, Chicago IL, USA
Aug 13 Aragon Ballroom, Chicago IL, USA
Aug 14 Civic Center, Grand Rapids MI, USA
Aug 16 Grand Theatre, Detroit MI, USA
Aug 17 Civic Theatre, Akron OH, USA
Aug 18 Stanley Theatre, Pittsburgh PA, USA
Aug 19 Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh PA, USA
Aug 21 Seattle Centre Arena (hoax)

see poster -

Subject: Seattle Center Arena, August 21, 1982
Hey there, Fantastic site. I just wanted to let you know that the Seattle '82 date (August 21) was a hoax perpetuated by me and two friends who selfishly hoped it might bring the Clash to town since they were skipping Seattle. We knew the US tour was on and we knew the Beat was opening, so we added local Seattle punks The Fartz and printed up the signs ourselves and put them up all over town late one night. The poster was reprinted in Art Chantry's book on Seattle poster art called Instant Litter. I'm sure the scan you have came from that. So there was never a show, never a Seattle date booked to cancel. Just three kids in nearby Tacoma who hoped to see their heroes. We finally did when they came to town to open for the Who later that year. Erik Flannigan

Aug 22 Boston Orpheum Theatre (cancelled)
see poster
Aug 23 Boston Orpheum Theatre (cancelled)
Aug 24 Boston Orpheum Theatre (cancelled)
Aug 20 South Yarmouth, MA, Cape Cod Coliseum, Hyannis
It was a general admission show and a lot crammed in. 007 were the support band.
Aug 21 South Yarmouth, MA, Cape Cod Coliseum, Hyannis
There was definitely a day or two off after the 21st (Joe's 30th b-day party, Kosmo somehow talked the hotel into letting us at the closed bar, some yarn about important people from the record label being there. I remember Joe being behind the bar pouring drinks. In between the Clash gigs Elvis Costello played in the same venue. And The Baker somehow talked me into bringing my mom to the last night, the one and only. Pulsallama supported this night.
Aug 23 South Yarmouth, MA, Cape Cod Coliseum, Hyannis
I was looking, recently, at the summer 1982 listings for Cape Cod Coliseum (Aug 20th, etal)... I attended all the shows. I was working a summer college job, and it was just about the end of the summer, as Labor Day was closing in fast. There were 3 Clash shows in all, but recollection is they only took one night off (shows were Friday, Saturday, Monday - 20th, 21st, 23rd). In between, Elvis Costello brought his Imperial Bedroom tour through.... I seem to recall being at the venue 4 straight nights - no breaks.
I seem to recall, but may not be 100% sure on this, the opening act(s) on some of the nights were Gang Green and/or Jerry's Kids - both Boston hardcore bands at the time. 007 also supported one of the gigs, as your site mentions. I remember the shows being on fire! Loud, fast, and everyone was dancing!

Elvis Costello did indeed play with the Attractions at South Yarmouth, MA, Cape Cod Coliseum on the 22nd. Link

Aug 26 Penn Rink, Philadelphia PA, USA
Aug 27 Penn Rink, Philadelphia PA, USA
Aug 28 Providence Civic Centre, Providence, USA
Aug 29 Agora Ballroom in Hartford (West Hartford), Connecticut
I am sure that I saw them in late August at the Agora Ballroom in Hartford (West Hartford), Connecticut, but that doesn't show up on the 1982 tour dates.  At one time the venue was called Stage West.  They were in the area at that time (Hyannis, Providence and NYC are all close by).   Is it possible that this was a last-minute schedule change or something?  MTownsend(at)adcole.com

I saw your website and just wanted to give you the date of the Clash show at the Agora Ballroom in West Hartford, CT.
It was on Sunday August 29th, 1982. I think Black Uhuru was the opener. Admission was $10.50 and well worth it. I still have my ticket. Great website. Thanks, Tom
Aug 31 Pier 84, New York NY, USA
Sep 1 Pier 84, New York NY, USA
Sep 2 Pier 84, New York NY, USA
Sep 4 Verdun Auditorium, Montreal, Canada
Sep 5 CNE Grandstand at the old Exhibition (Grounds) Stadium, Toronto, Canada
Sep 7 Orpheum Theater, Boston MA, USA
Sep 8 Orpheum Theater, Boston MA, USA
Sep 25 JFK Stadium, Philadelphia PA, USA
...supporting The Who
Sep 26 Rich Stadium, Buffalo NY, USA
...supporting The Who
Sep 30 Pontiac Silverdome, Detroit, USA
...supporting The Who
Oct 2 State University of New York (SUNY), Binghampton NY, USA
Oct 3 R.P.I. Fieldhouse, Troy NY, USA
Oct 4 University of Vermont in Burlington Vermont
Opening band was a local act called Pinhead.  About 2,000 tickets sold.  I don't know if a boot exists, but would give my arm for one if it did.  (I was 15, and I was the first one in line - waited 9 and a half hours). 
Oct 6 SMU, North Dartmouth MA, USA
Oct 9 “Saturday Night Live”
NBC-TV appearance, New York NY, USA
Oct 12 Shea Stadium, New York
...supporting The Who
Oct 13 Shea Stadium, New York
...supporting The Who
Oct 15 William and Mary Hall, Williamsburg, Va.
I was at the Oct 15th 1982 show at William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA.  My friends and I had driven there from the podunk towns of Concord and Kannapolis, NC.  In the pre-internet days it wasn't always easy to find out about bands going on tour unless it was some shit band like Boston.  I found out about this show by listening to a Sunday night alternative radio show that I could pick up even though the station was 100-plus miles from where I lived.  I told my friends about it and the following Friday we set out for Williamsburg.  I remember getting out of our car once we arrived and noticing how every car had a different Clash song playing on their respective tape decks.  I felt like I was on another planet.  The show had General Admission seating and we wanted to be down front, but where we were at things got pretty wild.  I remember some guy pulling out a knife right next to me.  I can't remember why now.  The Clash were great, of course.  I never thought I'd be getting the chance to see them and I was stoked that they were playing first album material too and not just the more recent "hits".  They were a turing point in my life and I was never the same because of them. www.Chris Peigler
Oct 16 Carnegie-Mellon University, Pittsburgh PA, USA
Oct 17 Memorial Gym, Kent State University OH, USA
Oct 18? Louisville, Kentucky
Oct 19? Folsum Field, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado
Supporting the Who. Uncertain date. It is not the 17th which is Kent State. Possibly the 19th? According to the Who concert guide, The Who played Folsom field on Oct. 17.
Oct 20 Seattle Kingdom
The Clash supported the Who at the Seattle Kingdom on the 21st of Oct 82. They played about 40 minutes. T-Bone Burnett came on before and was booed. Sadly I have misplaced the tape of this gig but the set was pretty standard.
Oct 22 Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, USA
Poster Ticket The Memorial Auditorium only seats about 3500 people. The Clash were getting ready to play with The Who at the two Oakland shows on the 23rd & 25th. They decided to play a solo show by themselves in Sacramento on the 22nd.
Oct 23 Colisseum Stadium, Oakland CA, USA
...supporting The Who
Oct 25 Colisseum Arena, Oakland CA, USA
The Clash DID NOT support The Who at the Oakland Coliseum ARENA (the smaller enclosed venue next to the larger Coliseum STADIUM used on Oct. 23 1982) on Oct. 25 1982. I attended both shows and have circulated my recordings of both. It may be my master recording of the Oct. 23 performance that you have heard and reviewed. I hope that helps to refine the info on your site. I'm absolutely certain. We were very disappointed the Clash only played at the larger outside show. Ned Hoey
Oct 29 Colisseum, Los Angeles CA, USA
...supporting The Who
31-10-82 Any recording labelled Ozone Park New Jersey is Bonds 9 June 81
Nov 27 Bob Marley Centre, Montego Bay, Kingston, Jamaica
...Jamaican World Music Festival

Jun 76 - Black Swan & five piece »

Aug 76 - 100 Club & London Gigs »

Dec 76 - Anarchy Tour »

Jan / Mar - Early 77 Gigs »

May 77 - White Riot UK Tour »

Jul 77 - European Dates »

Oct 77 - Out of Control UK Tour »

Jan 78 - Sandy Pearlman UK Dates »

Apr 78 - UK Festival Dates »

Jul 78 - Out on Parole UK Tour »

Oct 78 - Sort it Out UK Tour »

Feb 79 - Pearl Harbour US Tour »

Jul 79 - Finland + UK dates »

Sep 79 - Take the Fifth US Tour »

Dec 79 - Acklam Hall Secret Gigs
& Benefit gig for Kampuchea »

Jan 80 - 16 Tons UK Tour »

Mar 80- 16 Tons US Tour »

May 80 - 16 Tons UK/Europe »

May 81 - Impossible Mission Tour »

Jun 81 - Bonds Residency NY »

Sep 81 - Mogador Paris Residency »

Oct 81 - Radio Clash UK Tour »

Oct 81 - London Lyceum Residency »

Jan 82 - Japan Tour »

Feb 82 - Australian Tour »

Feb 82 - Hong Long & Thai gigs »

May 82 - Lochem Festival »

Jun 82 - Combat Coast to Coast »

July 82 - Casbah Club UK Tour »

Aug 82 - Combat Rock US Tour »

Oct 82 - Supporting the Who »

Nov 82 - Bob Marley Festival »

May 83 - US Festival + gigs »

Jan 84 - West Coast dates »

Feb 84 - Out of Control Europe »

Mar 84 - Out of Control UK »

April 84 - Out of Control US Tour »

Sep 84 - Italian Festival dates »

Dec 84 - Miners Benefit Gigs »

May 85 - Busking Tour »

Jun- Aug 85 - Festival dates »