Out of Control Tour
The Clash go Back to Basics - European Tour
BRIXTON ACADEMY
Robin Denselow
The Clash
SEVEN years on from the punk revolution, is there still a place for the Clash? When I last saw them in the autumn of `72, they were supporting the Who at New York’s vast Shea Stadium two magnificent bands from different generations split by personality conflicts and the loss of their original ideals. Since then, of course, the Who have collapsed and the Clash have split in two, with Joe Strummer and Paul Simonon actually sacking Mick Jones, who was always more of a flash rocker than a punk.
Now, at last, the Clash are back, pledged to sweep away the more recent musical changes in style and fashion with their now old fashioned brand of “rebel rock.” There are three new members, two toughly efficient guitarists and a strong drummer, and Simonon is still there on bass, or adding harmonica and drawled vocals on The Guns of Brixton. But this is now Joe Strummer’s personal band, and he has taken up the challenge by emerging as a wonderfully English angry rock eccentric.
The packed enthusiastic hall, proved that the Clash are still missed, and Strum mer hurled himself into the songs like a demented preacher, hopping around the stage in his Mohican haircut with the microphone stand slung over Ills shouider. He never could sing too well, so the balancing vocal skills of Jones were missed, but this was still an exhilarting show.
Oldies like Janie Jones, and Garageland were spat out as if they were brand new (in stark contrast to Johnny Rotten’s recent attempts at Punk revivalism) while the new material like the bitter ballad Is England or the the anthem We Are The Clash, showed they can still write stirring, gutsy songs with an almost folksy punk appeal. For a bunch of survivors, lost in the age of Boy George, this was a gallant performance.
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LondonCalling |
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| SFX, Dublin, Ireland cancelled | ||
| SFX, Dublin, Ireland cancelled | ||
| Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland cancelled | ||
| Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland cancelled | ||
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Barrowlands, Glasgow, Scotland | |
| Vince White describes this gig extensively in his Clash biog, The Last Days of the Clash, page 86 | ||
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Apollo, Manchester | |
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De Montfort Hall, Leicester | |
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Colston Hall, Bristol | |
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Drammenshallen, Drammen Norway | |
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Johanneshov Isstadium, Stockholm, Sweden | |
| Vince White describes this gig extensively in his Clash biog, The Last Days of the Clash, page 89. This is where Vince first knocks up Bernie's girlfriend! | ||
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Philipshalle, Dusseldorf, West Germany | |
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Deinze Belgium | |
| Zenith, Paris, France | ||
| this gig never took place. the band were scheduled to play Espace Ballad on the 23rd Feb. but this had to be re-sheduled to March 1st as a national lorry drivers strike blocked the trucks carrying the gear at Calais. Tickets stubs however stiff carry the 23rd date for a price of 80F which would have been about £6 at the time. | ||
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Festhalle, Bern, Switzerland | |
| Vince White describes this gig in his Clash biog, The Last Days of the Clash, page 95 | ||
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Palasport, Milan, Italy | |
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Palasport, Milan, Italy | |
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Espace Ballard, Paris, France | |
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Playhouse, Edinburgh, Scotland | |
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King Georges, Blackburn | |
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Royal Court, Liverpool | |
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Guildhall, Portsmouth | |
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Academy, Brixton, London | |
| Vince White describes these gigs in his Clash biog, The Last Days of the Clash, page 95 | ||
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Academy, Brixton, London | |
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Academy, Brixton, London | |
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Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland | |
| Supported by the Defects. Vince White describes these gigs in his Clash biog, The Last Days of the Clash, page 98 | ||
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SFX, Dublin, Ireland | |
| Vince White describes these gigs in his Clash biog, The Last Days of the Clash, page 99 | ||
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SFX, Dublin, Ireland | |
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Academy, Brixton, London | |
| Vince White describes these gigs in his Clash biog, The Last Days of the Clash, page 101 | ||
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Academy, Brixton, London | |
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