Clash hastily re-arranged gig at Barbarellas

'Britain's Burning' Punk Festival
with The Saints, Cherry Vanila

updated 7 July 2008 - added ticket, added Gary K's view
updated 30 Dec 2008 - added Search and Destroy Fanzine Link
updated 20 December 2014 - added NME article + poster
updated 2 April 2020 - tided up added bits
updated May 2021 added Clash top punk event Brum clipping

Please leave any comments, articles, scans here. Thanks.

Full page Ad placed in the NME July 9th 1977

No known recordings exists

Birimngham Rag Market

The band show up to the aborted punk festival announced 3 weeks earlier. he council managed within a couple of days to shut it down. The Clash talked to local fans but the police turned up to make arrests for unlawful gathering and obstruction.

Following the afternoons debacle, the band managed to borrow heavy metal band Warhead's gear and play a 45 minute set in front of 500 punks at Barbarellas. [See ticket below]

There is a small interview reference in Search and Destroy [1977] fanzine titled Clash Landing where the Clash are interviewed by Annette Weatherman and Vermilion Sands.

NME Clash top punk event in Brum

Poster

NME Advert 9 July 1977

Sounds Advert 16 July 1977

NME 23 July 1977 (poor quality)

Photo courtesy of Alyn Currie @ www.punkrockposters.net

Did you go? What do you remember?
Any info, articles, reviews, comments or photos welcome.
Please

Recent Interview with Gary Kent of Stranglers fansite

30 years ago back in 1977...

"It was 30 years ago back in 1977 when I first took to the stage for my first public performance. In July 1977 I witnessed The Clash at their most passionate and raw. When the Birmingham Rag Market Punk Festival was banned, headliners The Clash arranged to play at Birmingham's Barbarella's.

The gig was an inspiriation for me to get involved as a performer. Barbarella's was a night spot that had recognised the Punk phenomenon and started regular punk nights. The club announced that an all day bank holiday Punk Festival would take place on the 29th August. I knew local band Model Mania well enough to borrow a guitar and arranged to play as they finished. I thought I had better tell the promoter and decided to tell him that I was a local hero and amazingly he believed me and that I could have 10 minutes. The only flaw in my plan was I didn't expect to actually get to play and had no material prepared more soon...

Hi there great site!

I attended the Barbarellas gig on 17th July, 1977 as a young 17 year old punk! I've written a review of that day if you're interested.

I also have a question. I attended Sheffield arts school in the early 80's and definitely remember seeing the band at a gig at the Sheffield City Polytechnic Union Of Students in 1982. I can't find a mention of it anywhere? Any ideas?

Cheers, Paul Lambert

We were a group of five who crammed in a car and drove over from Cambridge for the Britainís Burning Punk festival. When we arrived at the Rag Market which was the intended venue for the event there were a few hundred punks walking around outside. We were duly informed that the festival had been cancelled by the Police only a few hours before. We also mingled with the crowd when suddenly there was a commotion as a limo drove by. Inside were The Clash with the windows wound down. Mick, Topper and Paul were in the back seats and Paul was hanging a ghetto blaster out of the rear window playing loud roots reggae. Joe was in the front with a megaphone letting us know that they were going to try and play later at the Barbarellas club.

We rushed to the venue but there was chaos outside with too many punks trying to squeeze in. After about an hour we got as far as a bar area but the entrance to the venue itself was barred by a doorman who wasnít letting anybody new inside as it was packed. Many people gave up and left at that point but we hung around, suddenly I saw Joe come out with a beer in his hand. I went up to him and told him weíd come from Cambridge and wanted to get in. He said so what? We came all the way up from London and couldnít play! We talked a little more mostly I remember about Jamaican reggae. He said he had to go back in and play so we all just walked past the doorman with him!

Once inside it was extremely hot and sweaty. Suddenly the band crashed onto the stage and went straight into Iím So Bored with the USA. They were using a heavy metal bands gear that had already been set up as they were due to play later. The performance was rough but loud and there was an amazing amount of energy coming from the stage and the crowd. It felt very special because it was a kind of secret gig and everybody who was there were so happy theyíd manage to get in.

I remember on the way out we received a lot of abuse and jeers from the hairy heavy metal locals.

If you know of any recording, please email blackmarketclash

If you know of any articles or references for this particular gig, anything that is missing, please do let us know.

NME
The Clash top Punk event in Brum
The Clash top the bill in Britains first indoor Punk Festival ... About 5,000 are expected to attend... any info / reviews appreciated

RM – 2 July 1977
First Punk Fest

unknown
Trouble down the Kings Road after cancellation

If you know any please let us know