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Last updated 7 July 2008 - page started
Updated 16 January 2016 - added extras.
Updated May 2021 added pass
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Not known other than Sounds gig review by Jon Ingham
From Wikipedia: Barbarella's was a nightclub and music venue located in Birmingham, England. The name of the club was taken from the film Barbarella. The club opened in 1972 and closed in August 1979.
This club was one of Eddie Fewtrell's clubs.[1] Fewtrell promoted known rock bands at that time, such as AC/DC, Dire Straits, Queen, Sex Pistols and The Clash.
Duran Duran's drummer Roger Taylor played at Barbarella's with punk bands in the 1970s.
The Clash: Barbarellas, Birmingham
Jonh Ingham, Sounds, 13 November 1976
WEDNESDAY HAD been booked as Punk Night at Barbarellas, an excuse, if nothing else, for the club deejay to fall in love with the sound of his mouth flapping. It was the brainchild of the local Suburban Studs, supported by their mentors the Clash. And here lies a story.
The Suburban Studs are the band initially thought to be called the Suburban Bolts. Now that was a great name, and I'm still hoping someone at least becomes the Bolts. But the Suburban Studs...How mundane, how archaic, how suburban. They supported the Pistols at the 100 Club during the summer, a laughable mixture of tacky jumpsuits, tacky makeup, tacky props and tacky music. More dinosaur rock.
They then supported the Runaways, billed as Birmingham's Glam Rock Band. They realised how recherche they were. Simultaneously, they were encouraged to check out the Clash, playing that night at the ICA. It was instant love; they even drove down to see the band the next week. Generally rockers at heart, they were said to have changed their music and dropped all the makeup and props. Their hair was getting shorter.
On Wednesday it took about five minutes to realise that this short haired geezer chatting to us was actually the formerly ultra-long haired Studs guitarist, Keef (sic). Such is progress.
After all this, they just stood there. Eddie Zippa wears a black vinyl suit - called Julian? - tastefully torn over one tit, singing songs the equal of the punk lyricists in our letters pages. E.G.: 'I don't care what life's about, I just want to jump and shout'. Well, Black Sabbath aren't exactly Bertrand Russels in their social commentary, either.
But their music matches the lyrical artlessness. Stolen riffs and rhythms abound, with a penchant for Bowie. The saxist can't really play; a pity, when you consider the spaces explored by Steven Mackay on the Stooges' Fun House as an example of where it could go, that he stuck to Glitter Band riffing all night.
It's a shame their music is so lacking, because they get full points for trying.
It was the Clash's finest 45 minutes. Due to PA problems only the voices were on it, the rest of the sound coming directly from the amps - just like the old days. It made for amazingly clear vocals.
'White Riot' was superb. The Clash's anthem and view of the Notting Hill Riots, it contains all the Clash's best trademarks: great hooks and chorus, a storming rhythm, and a Clash trick of everything dropping out except for Mick Jones' guitar, dropping back in two bars later behind a thundering crack from Terry Chimes' baseball bat sized drumsticks.
'London's Burning' became 'Birmingham's Burning'. 'I'm So Bored With You' has changed to 'I'm So Bored With The USA'. Not once do the Clash falter. Every song is pared to the minimum required to get it across with maximum energy and zero flab. Which they do with such power, speed and explosion that one assumes the lack of response from first time audiences in London is due to shock - no one young has seen such manic energy except from the Who or Quo in a stadium.
But in Birmingham, the audience began to applaud more and moe vigourously. 'Protex Blue', another rhythmic high point and Mick's vocal bid for the spotlight, exploded into guitar mania, but unfortunately some amps problems took the edge off the attack.
But it was the encore, 'I've Got A Crush On You', that clinched it. Joe sings about being handsome and does his visual best to look anything but pretty. This time, he excelled himself, and with Mick racing between mikes and Paul exploding and jerking, it had powerful effect.
© Jonh Ingham, 1976
Did you go? What do you remember?
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If you know of any recording, please email blackmarketclash
There are several sights that provide setlists but most mirror www.blackmarketclash.co.uk. They are worth checking.
from Setlist FM (cannot be relied on)
from Songkick (cannot be relied on)
... both have lists of people who say they went
& from the newer Concert Database
Also useful: Ultimate Music datbase, All Music, Clash books at DISCOGS
A collection of articles, interviews, reviews, posters, tour dates from early 1976. Articles cover the period form July to New Year.
If you know of any articles or references for this particular gig, anything that is missing, please do let us know.
Sounds
gig review Jon Ingham
WEDNESDAY HAD been booked as Punk Night at Barbarellas, an excuse, if nothing else, for the club deejay to fall in love with the sound of his mouth flapping. It was the brainchild of the local Suburban Studs
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Facebook Page - for Clash Collectors to share unusual & interesting items like..Vinyl. Badges, Posters, etc anything by the Clash. Search Clash City Collectors & enter search in search box. Place, venue, etc
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I saw The Clash at Bonds - excellent
Facebook page - The Clash played a series of 17 concerts at Bond's Casino in New York City in May and June of 1981 in support of their album Sandinista!. Due to their wide publicity, the concerts became an important moment in the history of the Clash. Search I Saw The Clash at Bonds & enter search in red box. Place, venue, etc
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