Clash on Parole Tour
Supported by The Specials & Suicide
updated 1 Aug 2011 - added vers3 recording
Music Machine - The Clash
Audio 1 - full gig lesser - below average - Sound 2.0 -
66min - unknown generation - 20 tracks
Audio 2 - better but edited - Sound 2.5 - 62min - low gen - 20 tracks
Audio 3 - best - full - Sound 3 - 67min - low gen - 20 tracks - includes all of first Complete control
Audio 3 - What's My Name and ..
Audio 3 ("Jones and Jones") - I'm so Bored with the USA
The first source includes the first run-through of Complete Control and the sound should be very good, like that of the 24th earlier, but is spoilt by excessive bottom end over amplification, though the top end remains good. Vocals are distant but guitar comes through powerfully.
The second source is a small upgrade as it has greater clarity and bass is not distorted but starts at the beginning of the second Complete Control. It too suffers from distant vocals, has better instrumentation clarity and width but lead guitar sound is not as powerful as source 1.
Better source has several cuts
The second source is the more enjoyable but this is a matter of personal preference. Small sections of between song tuning up are cut from this source but is otherwise complete except for a small edit at the start of Stay Free.
This source came with a significant bonus of having all of the Something Else January 1978 BBC TV performance in very good quality. It’s the only source to include the interesting discussion with Paul and Joe and a then Government minister.
Official releases - wrong dates
Rude Boy and From Here To Eternity gives this gig as the source for the Complete Control, Safe European Home and What’s My Name included in the film and FHTE. However, if Barry Myer’s immediate account is correct, as is likely, and Complete Control was repeated on the Thursday 27th then the versions of these songs should be the same on these two bootleg sources. They are not though.
Even allowing for the extensive overdubbing we know took place, we do know on the film Joe says “Aberdeen, Manchester, Perthshire” etc before Safe European Home” and this could not have been dubbed in to match Joe’s lip synching for the 27th.
From the two bootleg sources that exist for this gig Joe does not give this intro and the versions of the songs do sound different as well. So it is safe to conclude that Rude Boy and other official dates are wrong, something many collectors have long suspected.
Currently we know three audience audio tapes exist. From the 24th, 25th and this the 27th. From the 25th tape of Safe European Home, we know that this is not the Rude Film version either.
Safe European Home was played on the 24th but sadly it has been edited from the audio tape [as also with Whats My Name].
Only Complete Control was played and is on the audio versions of the 24th. Either this night, or the unrecorded 26th are obviously the sources for Rude Boy. Complete Control does sound a lot like the 24th one. Rude Boy promo cassette.
The 27th gig
What we do know for absolute certainty from these two bootleg sources is that The Clash put in another thrilling performance on the 27th July 1978. The performances are strong throughout and build up to a terrific rush through the released songs at the end of the set and the encore with special guest artistes.
Clash residency
Clash On Parole Tour climaxes with their first residency, four nights at The Music Machine. The Music Machine (now Camden Palace) is actually about 20 seconds walk over the road from Mornington Crescent tube, and roughly 5 minutes walk away from Camden Town tube.
The 4 nights recendency were rapturously received in the press and by those in attendance. Rude Boy captures the drama: is there a more exciting moment in rock’n’roll cinema than when the film cuts dramatically into Complete Control at the Music Machine?
Last night
Last night of the On Parole Tour and of the 4 night London residency at Camden’s Music Machine.
Barry Myer’s reviewed the gig in Sounds and it clarifies that this recording is the 27th. Barry’s account written just after the gig states that “on Thursday [the 27th] the bass amp packed up during the first run-through, they regained their rhythm by repeating it.”
According to Johnny Greens A Riot of our Own p84, Complete Control was restarted because someone pulled the plug. There are 2 recordings of this gig in circulation, the first includes this first extended run-through of Complete Control which also has Joe improvising many different lyrics.
This recording refutes the Johnny Green version remembered in hindsight after many years as the song is not curtailed suddenly nor are vocals, guitars or drums stopped. The bass is heard after the song being tuned up suggesting Barry Myer’s version is the reason for this unique Complete Control.
Myers stated that Steve Jones guested on the encores on the 25th, 26th and 27th. This is confirmed on the bootlegs by Joe introducing “This is the guitar hero bit, Jones and Jones!” before I’m So Bored With The USA. Steve Jones trademark sound can be heard clearly on this song and White Riot. Paul Cook was also reported as playing along on a second kit on this night but it’s hard to confirm this from the bootlegs. However, as reported Jimmy Pursey is certainly present on the extended wildly chaotic White Riot.
The Music Machine
The Music Machine (later renamed the Camden Palace) began in the 60’s and became famous for punk gigs, still in use today as a dance nightclub, it has staged gigs in recent years by Blur and the Oasis.
The Music Machine was a perfect type of Clash venue; sweaty, intimate, seat less, restrained security and within the part of London they lived and loved best. Enjoying greater critical acclaim and increasing commercial success, few other bands (if any) either then or now, would have opted to play four nights here rather than they take the money and play one or two nights at the larger Hammersmith Odeon or similar.
New heights of popularity within the UK music press, the Music Machine residency resulted in some ecstatic reviews (see link).
Complete Control fades in, halfway through Joe alters the lyrics talking to the sound guys, heh you, the bass he sings as the bass drops. A general confusion ensues following and some bass tuning takes place and Joe talks to the audience, "We were gonna do Tommy Gun" during the lengthy wait. "This is a song we ain't done before" and Complete Control take 2 kicks in.
The band power through the first half of the gig before pausing, only for Joe to say, "Get on with it, I ain't waiting" and Safe European Home kicks in. After Garageland which ends the set the tape cuts. Steve Jones comes on stage for the last two. The guitar sound is very powerful.
White Riot is just manic as the punk supergroup takes place. Joe ad libs Gary Glitters Rock'n'Roll Hey lyrics in just before the tape cuts off before the end. The drumming sounds heavier, less and more precise and it sounds like it could be Cook on drums.
Getty Images
Did you go? What do you remember?
Info, articles, reviews, comments or photos welcome.
Please
email blackmarketclash
I saw all the clash gigs (4) there. Brilliant. I followed them a lot back then. We were punks from the neighbourhood and someone from the band..usually Joe or Baker or JG would let us in through the back door. Once we had to scale 30 feet up a drain pipe to the dressingroom window. The MM bouncers were animals and there were always a lot of fights in there.
backstage pass for all 4 nights at the Music Machine -
this one given away to a fan by Johnney Green
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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
Numerous articles, interviews, reviews, posters, tour dates from The Clash on Parole Tour, June & July 1978
If you know of any articles or references for this particular gig, anything that is missing, please do let us know.
NME Thrills
Music Machine 27th July 1978
27th July 1978
What a Bunch of Wankers
'Clash Supergroup'
The band they're already calling the 'Supergroup' of the 80's still seems to be a long way from hard fact. That marriage of fine minds and noble intellects – who, for the sake of argument, we'll call Pursey, Cook, Jones and Kermit (PCJ&K) are even embroiled in little matters of contract fullfillment with at least three very interested and potentially stubborn parties whose influence may impede our heroes progress for at least six months
Melody Maker review of the 27th
Record Mirror review of the 27th
Sounds review of the 27th
A Riot of Our Own pg83
Johnny Green & Garry Barker
Flyer (large)
Poster
MM Music Machine dates & prices
Sounds - early July
Clash to be City rockers after all
The Clash giving it all onstage at The Music Machine (Camden Palace), London in 1978 Max Browne recalls, "This was the first time I'd seen the band and it was on their home ground at The Camden Palace in 1978. Their power was shattering - visually, aurally and socially of course. White lightning flashed on musical crescendos that seemed to singe the hair, crowd surfing, fans jumping up singing with the band until they were whisked offstage, only to be instantly replaced - all part of The Clash at their peak. Mick Jones glanced at me in the box and I pressed the shutter."
Time Out Magazine previews dates at Music Machine
14 Excellent Photos
probably form the 27th?
Granada region, Whats On - ITV
Manchester – Apollo – 2nd July
Rock Revolution Video - 2 tracks - 5 mins The "Rock revolution" vid is overdubbed with fake crowd noise. This is labeled often November 1978 inlcluding inthe video itself but with both audio recordings circulating – it is from this gig, the 2nd July.
Glasgow – Apollo 4 – July 4th
audio & video tracks from Rude Boy
Aberdeen – Music Hall – July 5th
2 audio & video tracks from Rude Boy
London – Music Machine – Jul 27
3 audio & video tracks from Rude Boy
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