16 Tons Tour
Supported by Mikey Dread + Violation [who later turned into the southern death cult]
updated 29 July 2005
updated 14 July 2008 - added Rock n Folk French gig review
Audio 1 -
Unknown gen - Sound 1.5 - 1hr 17mins - 24 tracks
Wrong 'Em Boyo
The worst of the generally poor 16 Tons UK Tour 1st leg recordings. The set has no surprises also making this one of the least enjoyable Clash boots. It is though the first recording to have Mikey Dread toasting on Armagideon Time.
A poor recording, copied too many times with noise and distortion.
Though worse exist, it is for completists, or those who where there only. Bass is best but vocals are very distant and Joe’s between song comments cannot be made out. There is very little range or clarity but does include the full set played although there are some between song edits.
19 dates into a long exhausting tour and it’s a standard set with few surprises. Joe’s between song comments are few and it’s a professional but not particularly inspired performance. Protex Blue is back as is Julie’s Been Working For The Drug Squad on the second encore. Police & Thieves is played “straight” without the Hit The Road Jack or other variations played on this tour.
It’s most notable for the recorded appearance of Mikey Dread toasting in the gaps between Joe’s vocals on Armagideon Time. Mikey was generally well received in the UK leg of the tour but not so later in the States. Mickey Gallagher is still absent presumably because of Blockheads duties.
The band launch into a confident Clash City Rockers. Quickly followed by Brand New Cadilac and a big sounding Safe European Home. Joes words are lost to the poor sound and hall echo, though the instrumentation is better.
The bands elevation leads to Joe ad libbing midway through a faster, brashier Jimmy Jazz & London Calling. There's some audience participation at this stage in response to the stage. Guns of Brixton kicks in, Pauls vocals a bit clearer than Joe's. It plays powerfully. The first album ethos carries over as Joe introduces 'an old song' Protex Blue. Micks vocals coming across semi-clear shouting the close, Johnny Johnny as the band follow into the chords to Micks 2nd stint at the vocals Train In Vain.
There's a slight cut after Train In Vain, though it seems to follow without any loss. Joe chatters briefly before Koka Kola which ends with mick shouting "1-2-3-4" as the band continue into a very mature I Fought the Law which is greeted by the loudest cheer, but not for long as the applause is muted as the band race continously onward into White Man. Joe croaking out.
Bankrobber has a more funky faster feel, much different than the recorded version. Mick fills in with some neat lead guitar work which goes astray aand the band wind the song out. There's some Mick chatter before Clampdown. There's some more Joe ad libs at the end of the song, which has a slight cut after it has finished.
Joe is to be heard having some banter as the recording comes back with seaminlgly little cut out. Wrong Em Boyo follows. Paul's bass keeps this song flowing nicely amongst some lost words and jamming Mick guitar work. Toppers drums are almost indecipherable.
There's a cut/slight gap, again seemingly missing little as the fans applause is still fading out. Mick has some trouble with people shouting out requests, the noisy audience and the possible the crush at the front before launching into Stay Free.
A powerful Police and Thieves, a LP rendition of Tommy Gun, Mick seemingly enjoying his solo bits.
Janie Jones is followed by a Garageland. There's a long spell of audience cheering with some audience chatter at the end of the set.
Topper's first on fiddling with his kit before the band kick into a Mickey Dread Armagideon Time which tamelessly drifts and loses itself into the opening chords of Wrong Em Boyo again before Joe opens up the lyrics of the English Civil War, Micks guitar follows and the band get into the song.
A rousing Complete Control followed by a slight cut and plenty of audience noise before a rocking Julie's Been Working For the Drug Squad and the usual rousing Londons Burning.
Did you go? What do you remember?
Info, articles, reviews, comments or photos welcome.
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Venue
The Clash were to return to the old St.Georges Hall again in 1982, they liked it for its municipal grandeur with oak panelling and portraits of previous town dignitaries on the walls! A big change from the Top Ranks elsewhere on the tour!
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Clash City Rockers |
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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
A collection of articles, interviews, reviews, posters, tour dates January, February 1980 covering the period the 16 Tons tour of the UK.
If you know of any articles or references for this particular gig, anything that is missing, please do let us know.
Rock & Folk no.158
review of Bradford Gig (French)
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Unknown Interview with Joe followed by John Tobler 'Rock On' interview with Mick and Paul
John Tobler 'Rock On' interview with Mick and Paul
Radio Interview with Duncan-Gibbons
BBC Roundtable
The Clash on TISWAS (UK-ITV) on 5th January 1980, promoting London Calling
THE CLASH - RARE INTERVIEW - LONDON WEEKEND TV - 6 JANUARY 1979 - HD
Archive footage when - the clash - appeared on the saturday morning show on 6 january 1979. The official music video of tommy gun was played - this is now available on vevo - and cannot be uploaded here. Joe strummer - paul simonon - topper headon - were live in the studio and were interviewed by elvis payne. It was tx on lwt in london area only - rest of country watched tiswas.
Saturday morning show was introduced by steve jones and elvis payne. The saturday morning show - tx in london area only - ran for 16 shows eventually replaced by the itv networked show - tiswas - with chris tarrant from atv in the midlands
Punk & Its After Shocks
Aylesbury 5 Jan 1980
BBC Nationwide documentary
- 12.39mins - Sound 3
Dundee 18 Jan 1980
Edinburgh 19 Jan 1980
Edinburgh 20 Jan 1980
The live footage probably comes from the two Edinburgh gigs from Jan 19/20th 1980, and not from the 18th Dundee gig. Last 30 secs Londons Burning in nationwide clip does sound a lot like the Londons burning from 20th. It looks like Joe's wearing the same clothes in the van ( nationwide interview) and the soundcheck pictures from the 20th.
Essential Clash DVD
Lewisham 18 Feb 1980
8 mins - 5 sound -
Clampdown & Train In Vain
Source for various officlal single track video and audio sources - 2 videos plus 4 audio tracks. A good listing of the contents of the The Clash's Sound System box set can be found here.
Paris 27 Feb 1980
Quality /sound 5 - 41mins - 13 tracks - excellent
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