Out of Control Tour
The Clash go Back to Basics - USA Spring Tour
cdr - over amplification! - Sound 1 - 90min - mast - 23 tracks
Another fan at the gig suggests Ready For War is missing and he said he's fairly sure that Dictator was also played this night.
One overloaded recorder!! You can easily sing along but there is a lot of distortion, the vocals can just be made out. The atmosphere seems absolutely charged like no other. The recorder must have been placed onto top of the amps!
Most of the reviews were written by Steve Morse, the long time rock critic for the Boston Globe and clearly a fan of the clash (he traveled to NY, NJ and Wash DC to review the band). As a native of Boston and a 25+ year fan of the Clash I have always enjoyed and agreed with his reviews. That can't be said for Jim Sullivan who wrote the Sept. 7, 1982 review. I was at that show and I have never had such a disagreement with a review and to this day, I can't hear (or write!) the words Jim Sullivan with out thinking about how far off the mark that review was (call me obsessed!), other's radio DJs at the time agreed. I thought it was a great show. I have included Sullivan's review just for the historical record. If you post it I may send my own memories of the show at a later date.
Boston Globe Review
REVIEWS / MUSIC\ THE PLUCKY CLASH PERSISTENT AS EVER\ THE CLASH - IN CONCERT AT THE WORCESTER CENTRUM ON FRIDAY.
Author(s): Steve Morse Globe Staff Date: April 16, 1984 Page: ????? Section: ARTS/ FILMS
As the Clash's music roared along and destroyed inhibitions, kids from all sides started jumping on stage. Up to a dozen were up there at one time, trying to hug the musicians or raise a fist, blurt a lyric into a mike or beam triumphantly at their friends in the crowd. It was all just euphoric madness until a member of the Clash's road crew blew his cool by using excessive force to shove a youth off stage.
That's all it took to ignite singer Joe Strummer, who spotted the incident and screamed, "Human beings are going to be treated like human beings, even in this fascist country
The road crew culprit was later "reprimanded severely," according to a source backstage. But the point of the incident was clear: The Clash have never felt superior to their fans, and they won't tolerate any of them being harmed.
Although they have three new members, the Clash conclusively proved they are as plucky and persistent as ever. As the noblest remnants of the British punk movement, they have a lot to live up to, but they lived up to all of it with a scorching show in front of 9400 revved-up fans on Friday.
They played at nearly earbleeding level, but most ears were willingly sacrificed to the band's supersonic thrust. Though now minus charter guitarist Mick Jones, who was kicked out of the Clash because of "laziness" according to Strummer, the band has rebounded beautifully with two eager, hungry 24-year- old axmen, Vince White and Nick Sheppard. Where Jones favored a looser, fatter sound, White and Sheppard play through Marshall amps for a steely, knife-edged sound that has given the Clash a more jarring rock feel than ever before.
The night's adrenaline-charged rush began quickly with "London Calling," as the recommitted Strummer, stalking the stage in a fearsome mohawk haircut, erupted into a series of primal screams. From then on - from older punk anthems like "Safe European Home" and "White Riot," to new songs like the provocative "Are You Ready for War?" and "Sex-Mad World" - Strummer lifted off to another dimension.
Like a deranged showman, he waved the mike stand overhead and occasionally banged it into drummer Pete Howard's crash cymbals. He also jumped into the crowd on "Rock the Casbah" (played as high-velocity rock minus the disco sheen of the original), and barked out so many defiant political raps that a few fans muttered he should be renamed Chairman Joe.
It was plain that despite personnel changes, Strummer sought to show the Clash have retained their revolutionary impulses. "There's a need for The New Human Being' - anti-racist and anti-sexist!" he screamed at one point. "Are we going to turn into our parents or what? Look what happened to them!" he then shrieked before belting out "Working for the Clampdown."
The theme of working-class revolt was reinforced by a stark grey-black stage set designed to be an abstract representation of a factory. Ten TV screens were interspersed throughout, and though they couldn't be seen by most fans in the arena, they were used in place of one giant screen because the Clash refused to employ anything that could not be in the normal worker's home, manager Bernie Rhodes said later.
Some of the videos were entertaining, such as old performing shots of Elvis Presley and Chuck Berry. But others were violent, including newsreels of street fights during bassist Paul Simonon's blaring "Guns of Brixton," and various scenes from martial arts movies, Clint Eastwood spaghetti westerns and James Bond's "Goldfinger."
It's a violent world, the Clash continually suggested, while reasserting the power of rock 'n' roll to cut through the numbness before it's too late.
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London Calling |
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Boston Globe Review
Steve Morse
Any further info / reviews
appreciated
Tour Reviews & Interviews
The Last Crusade
©2005 Chris Knowles
Out of Control T-Shirt
US Tour - Jive/RB Shakedown
front - back
The Clash:
They Want To Spoil The Party So They'll Stay
Bill Holdship, Creem, October 1984
CREEM CONTRIBUTOR Mark Norton and I were talking several days before the Clash "invaded" Detroit, and we began discussing the concept of "armchair activism" and how the Clash probably fit into that category.
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Nashville, TN, | |
| You list the Cut the Crap-era Clash as playing Knoxville on March 27 and Nashville on March 28, 1984, but in fact those two dates are reversed (corrected now)--I went to both shows, and the Nashville show came first. The Nashville show was much better, but was marred by a bizarre crowd incident--my friend Dave W. was involved. He was standing on the bleachers like everyone else, but some drunk sorority girl from Vandy kept kicking him in the back of his legs for half the Clash's set. He finally got fed up and kicked her back, and it sent her falling over. It broke her leg in three places, and show security immediately set after Dave, who had to flee immediately or get the shit knocked out of him. She was taken to Vandy hospital of course, and after hearing about her side of the incident, Joe Strummer and Paul Simonon paid her a visit in hospital before moving on to the show in Knoxville at UT Alumni Hall, a much smaller venue about 3 hours away by car. Tav Falco & Panther Burns did in fact open both shows, but only at the Nashville show were they the full line-up--they played a full opening set at Vanderbilt in the basketball auditorium, but by the time they played Knoxville, the second guitarist and the piano player had quit and--of all people--Alex Chilton was drafted in to play guitar in their place, even though it immediately became clear to the audience that Alex obviously did not know the songs at all. The "band" played about 6 songs in total, and the booing got so bad that the drummer stopped playing several times to smile and sarcastically blow kisses at the audience. GmbH
Vince White describes this gig in his Clash biog, The Last Days of the Clash, page 109. He mentions an interview the band did for Channel 4 which appears on US TV that night. |
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Knoxville, TN, Alumni Memorial Gym on the University of Tennessee campus | |
| Clash in Knoxville, TN on March 28, 1984, at the Alumni Memorial Gym on the University of Tennessee campus.
Opening act was Tav Falco and the Panther Burns, a rockabilly band from Memphis. They were booed off the stage after just a song or two. The band also played a show in Nashville, but I'm not sure if it was before or after the Knoxville concert. Whichever one was earlier was the opening date for the tour. Confirmed dates: Knoxville 27th, Nashville 28th from audience member. |
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Wdiz and Beach Club, Jai-Alai, Orlando FL | |
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Sunrise, Fort Lauderdale FL | |
| Apr 2 | ||
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Fox Theatre, Atlanta GA | |
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The Township, Columbia SC | |
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Carmichael Auditorium, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill NC | |
| Apr 7 | ||
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GWU Smith Center, Hempstead, Washington DC | |
| Apr 9 | ||
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Vassar College, Poughkeepsie NY | |
| Joe contracted syphillis and was treated at a local hospital. It was in the newspaper the next day. I saved the article. The first song they played the floor monitors werent working so joe kicked them violently and one fell off of the stage. He had his newly cut mohawk. I think the first song was know your rights. The show had large video monitors behind them showing them in a car driving around NYC. I bought a shirt there with 2 girls dancing on the front saying "jive after five" on the back said "steel jungle" 84 R & B showdown. I still have it. It was a good show overall despite the sound. It was in the gymnasium at vassar college in poughkeepsie NY. There wasnt an opening band. If you want a scan of the article or tshirt let me know. | ||
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Palace Theatre, State University of New York at Albany, aka SUNY Albany | |
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Expo, Portland ME | |
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The Centrum, Worcester MA | |
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Hofstra University, Long Island NY | |
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St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY | |
| I saw the Clash perform at St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY when I was a mere 6th grader. That concert changed my life. I vaguely remember that it was a Sunday night in '83 or '84. I was also at that show. I had to google search it because, even though I remember it and it was awesome, there was a part of me that didn't think they could have possibly played there... Glad to know it was real - pretty damn awesome! danielle robarge |
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Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey | |
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Civic Center, Providence RI | |
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The Hopkins Center, Thompson Arena, Dartmouth College, Hanover NH | |
| Apr ? | |
Rider College, Lawrenceville, New Jersey |
| I remember seeing Clash 2 in the spring of '84 at Rider College in New Jersey. The band was awesome and I hung around afterwards and got everyone's autograph (including Vince) and spoke with Joe briefly. I asked him what was up with Mick and he replied "the hot news is that Topper is out of the band". I told him the new stuff was great and how I was looking forward to a new album and he replied with something to the effect of they were going into the studio after the tour. I remember waiting and waiting for the new album and rushing home with the 'This Is Englad' 12" (along with the 'Bottom Line' 12") and being worried that the production was a bit weird. | ||
| Apr | |
University of Massuchusetts, Dartmouth MA |
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"First i would like to say the clash made my whole entire life. My parentss owned a restaaurant for 20 years in the 80's we spent moost of our time going to clash concerts in the northeast. I have to share this story for once in my life, The clash was playing one night at u mass dartmouth, my gran worked there and was called to the reheresal site t here was a blood drive and the boys were rehearsing . me gran was called to step it down a bit , she walked on stage and told mick jones to keep it doen and the had a cuppa with the rest of the band, she being english an all with the boyz as thy were from the same stock. Had. a grand time and it is something i will never forget that me grand told the Clash to be quiet!! buttheyhada cuppa and laughed" |
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| Apr 21 | |
see illegible poster |
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The Spectrum, Philadelphia PA, USA |
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Rochester The War Memorial | |
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The Agora, Hartford CT, USA |
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| Apr 26 | |
Stony Brook University Gym, New York |
| Hi, great site. I attended the first Pier 84 show, and both the Hofstra University and Stony Brook shows. The 2nd Clash were excellent, I was crushed when that Jose Unidos record came out, it was beyond disappointing. Anyway I hope to write some recollections for you of the shows soon, as they were all amazing in their own way. Thanks, Ed Fingerling"
"I was at the 1984 Stony Brook University show--I was the 14 year old kid sitting on the speakers right off stage" Brian Vince White describes arriving in New York in his Clash biog, The Last Days of the Clash, page 118 "1984 in Stony Brook. That show sucked big time, they came out (minus mick - this was lawsuit time or something) and then played like 2 or three songs and walked off - they never came back, all my friends were furious, i was like, "yeah mee too, fuck joe strummer," and as we were filing out of the gym we walked past the stage and i was like "oooh joe strummer was drinking out of thissee here solo cup!!" I grabbed it and slugged down the rest of his beer." Julie "I attended the 1984 Clash show at Stony Brook University and it was nothing like what was described. I remember being thrilled that I would be able to see them in such a small venue. I also remember going to buy tickets and the gathering crowd was very excited to be able to go see The Clash show. The night of the show, the crowd was loud and rowdy. At the time, this college had the reputation of being a liberal hotbed and being very open minded. Unfortunately most of this "liberal" crowd expected Mick Jones and The Clash from Combat Rock and so they were a little let down. Despite all this it was a rocking show as the guitars were cranked up. I can't recall the setlist but they played a wide selection of songs. My friends who were not Clash fans thought that they put on a good show. Joe looked very cool in his mohawk and was quite the showman.The Clash were definitely there for more than 3 songs!" Gene |
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Colgate Uni, Hamilton New York | |
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Buffalo, New York |
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Toronto Maple Leaf Gardens, Canada | |
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Montreal Forum, Canada | |
| I still have mixed feelings about the May 2, 1984 Montreal Clash Mack II gig. Joe had this white suit and Paul wore camouflage trousers. The other guys ? Can't remember, except they looked punk. Pete messed up at least three times, which got Joe very irritated. Maybe it was just a bad day... It was an all-seated floor, but when Joe told the crowd to get up and dance, it was a rush to the stage that made the Forum bouncers very scared ! The cops were called in and one punter stole a police cap and gave it to Joe, it was hilarious ! As for the setlist ? I remember they played In the Pouring Rain and Sex Mad Roar, among others. BtT | ||
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Ottawa Civic Centre | |
| supported by the Wise Guys. tics $12.50 | ||
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Physical Auditorium Complex (PAC) University of Waterloo Campus in Waterloo, Ontario |
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Detroit Fox Theater | |
| Vince White describes these gigs in his Clash biog, The Last Days of the Clash, page 140 | ||
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Detroit Fox Theater | |
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Hara Arena, Dayton OH | |
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Veteran’s Memorial Hall, Columbus OH | |
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East Lansing, Michigan State University | |
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Cleveland Public Hall | |
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Mecca Auditorium, Milwaukee WI | |
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Civic Center, Saint Paul MN | |
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Civic Center, Des Moines IA | |
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Aragon Ballroom, Chicago IL | |
| Vince White describes this gig in his Clash biog, The Last Days of the Clash, page 148 | ||
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Davenport Masonic Hall, IA | |
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Kiel Opera House, Saint Louis MO | |
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Kansas City Starlight Bowl, MO | |
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Omaha Music Hall,NB | |
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Denver Red Rocks, CO | |
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Salt Lake City Exhibition Hall, UT | |
| Vince White describes these next few gigs in his Clash biog, The Last Days of the Clash, page 159 | ||
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University of Oregon, Eugene OR | |
| The Last Days of the Clash, page 161 | ||
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Paramount Theater, Seattle WA | |
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Vancouver PNE Coliseum, B.C. |
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the promoter gave this number: For more information please contact: Eliot Hubbard (212) 975-5051 ...ticket |
