Suported by Richard Hell and the Voidoids and the Lou's

Last minute added date. Not 100% it is the 6th. Could be the 10th?

page updated - 20 December 2020

Please leave any comments here. Thanks.

No known audio or video
If you know of any recording, please email blackmarketclash

Robert John Furnace - 18 December 2020 at 12:31

Many Thanks. Rob,

Tudor Evans -
I was there. Not sure of the capacity though. Remember Strummer demanding not to be gobbed on! “We’ve stopped doing that in London.”

Ken Gale
Yes I saw them. They played at Castaways supported by Richard Hell and the Voidoids and a French band called the Loos. Pretty awesome gig

Robert John Furnace
Many thanks for all your replies, as i was starting to think i had mixed it up with another gig, not only was it a fantastic line up, it was also the first time that i had seen a female punk band on stage, whilst looking through various Clash websites it was not clear why the gig gets no mention, until i came across the website blackmarket clash.co.uk( which i believe has a more comprehensive coverage of all things Clash). than the official website, i raised the question of the "missing gig" saying that i believed the tour was mainly in non seating venues, some venues cancelled which left spaces on the tour, so it was possible Castaways was a fill in gig , and the publicity posters etc had already been issued,? the reply was yes its possible, they do get "new" information on gigs from time to time and like to keep their records up to date, but to do this they require the evidence , hopefully now that Tudor, Ken and myself being in attendance, Castaways will be placed in the Record's as being an important part of the British Punk scene.!

Robert Furnace <freedomfields@talktalk.net> wrote:

Hi Graham

Not sure if you have received my screen shot from the Plymouth After Dark forum?

Robert Furnace – The Clash gig and Castaways

In 1977 both my brother Mike and myself lived in Plymouth.

We would have caught the bus into the centre then walked, to the venue. Castaways was a night club set in the heart of Plymouth's club land on Union Street.

I was a regular visitor to its Monday Rock cafe night. Groups would be booked to play the early part of the week but not Friday onwards as the venue would return to it's disco /night club routine.

From the outside the building did not look any thing special but once inside it was quite smart all on one level, long and oblong in shape with a couple of bars at each end. The stage and dance floor were a three sided box which looked as if it had been dropped into the top right hand corner of the venue. The stage was on the small side, the dance floor was sunken and to get on the floor there was a long two tier step that ran the whole of the open side of the box.

Punters would congregate on the steps to gain a better view of the stage or to view people dancing, whilst on the dance floor the view was ok at the front but not so at the back. If you wanted to go to the bar/ toilet you would have to battle your way through the crowd as a lot of people would congregate at the top of the steps and this would back up. When the band where playing it created a small bowl adding to the atmosphere. The ceiling was lowish with good lighting also adding to the effect.

Castaways could accommodate about 1000. 1200 people on a disco night people would congregate at the bars and in the centre of the building.

I cant remember buying a ticket for the Clash ig we must have done as I was on the dole at the time so had to be careful with the pennies.

Upon entry the tickets must have been retained by the door staff.

I got into the habit of keeping my ticket stubs but for castaways I only have one, The Drones who played there in January 78.

As for the Clash –well to start, what a line up. The Lou's were first on. They stick in my mind for they where the first female punk band i saw live. Their set was basic. Not many people would have known who these French punksters were but to be fair the crowd stayed and watched instead of diving for the bar.

Richard Hell and the Voidiods. I had heard of them I new that they were big on the US punk scene. To me he seemed like a men of mystery whilst on stage. I cant remember anything about the set they played but it must of had some lasting impression on me as I bought the LP Blank Generation soon afterwards.

The Clash being the main event. A more raucous affair. Very energetic. Joe Strummer at the edge of the stage snarling down his mic. They were my favourite band along with the Stranglers and Buzzcocks. I can not remember the set they played but it was by far the best act that i saw at Castaways. You sensed that they would go on to greater things so on reflection i feel very privilged that I saw them at this stage in their careers,

Regard Rob.

Castaways on Union Street, more latterly known as C103

Once the second largest club in Plymouth, C103 was a mix of a venue - spread out from the Underground bar through to the main room and into the Warehouse.

Every night had a different vibe, from 'Boogie Nights' and RnB, to metal and drum and bass.

Before changing its name to C103, which comes from the fact it is number 103 Union Street, with the 'c' standing for 'club', it was JFK's.

Originally the building was a brewhouse owned by Thomas Ford, who formerly owned Fords of Tiverton. The 'Warehouse' area is where they would keep the horses overnight.

In 2015 there was a bid to relaunch the club with the name 'Brewhouse' as a reference to the building's history, but the launch night itself was cancelled and keen club-goers left in the lurch.

In 2016 C103 was on the list of run-down Plymouth buildings and plots in such a dilapidated state that the owners were ordered to tidy them up or face legal action.

The ramshackle sites, which included the huge GOD TV prayer centre and the ex-C103 nightspot, both in Union Street, had ‘Untidy Land’ notices literally nailed to them by the council.

C103 resides next door to the Palace Theatre, on one of the best known streets in Plymouth. Despite suffering from economic and social decline, Union Street retains its historic role as the key linking road between Plymouth and Devonport.

Memories of Union Street's nightclub C103 - where you could drink Babycham in the mosh pit

The popular venue closed in 2013 but the people of Plymouth still really miss it

Plymouth After Dark - The Box, Plymouth (facebook page)

Did you go? What do you remember?

Any info, articles, reviews, comments or photos welcome.
Please email blackmarketclash or post below on bmc facebook post.

If you know of any recording, 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 the Get Out of Control Tour. Articles cover the month of October through to New Year 1977.

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