16 Tons Tour
Supported by Mikey Dread
last updated 18 April 2003
updated June 2021 added passes and date list
Above is an original flyer for the Leeds Fan-club which also lists
The Clash at Leeds Uni - Kindly shared by Robbie Wilson
Audio 1 -
unknown gen - Sound 2 - 1hr 17mins - 24 tracks
Koka Kola
some generations off the master
This recording is better than some from this tour having an OK level of clarity, but is affected by being very bass heavy, (overcome by bass controls) and much more seriously bass distortion. It does improve from a noticeable swirling start, maybe the taper got caught the mayhem an excitement ealiy on.
It is some generations off the master, but not too many retaining some width and clarity of the original sound. Joe’s vocals are distant but OK and some if not all of his between song comments can be made out, but his improvs in songs cannot.
Mick’s vocals are worse. Bass is good (too good) but guitars are thin and blurred. Audience chat is intrusive at times but adds generally to the atmosphere of a very enthusiastic audience.
Twenty odd dates into an exhausting tour and The Clash are struggling at times to find inspiration and not fall into autopilot. This concert submits to this at times but there are plenty of highlights though, all in all a fine if not great Clash gig. The audience help; clearly very enthusiastic securing the now customary, on this tour, two encores. Again Mickey Gallagher is missing (returns at Manchester 3 days later).
The day after this gig The Clash are booked into Manchester’s Pluto Studios to record Bankrobber/Rockers Galore (the Hanley concert scheduled for 1st February cancelled to allow this) with Mikey Dread producing.
Leeds alumni online
Everybody hold on tight
By 1980 the hippy influence had disappeared, and bands that first played Leeds as anarchic punks now returned as established stars. The Clash, for instance, played the Refectory that year as part of their 16 Tons tour and impressed Liz Kershaw’s younger brother Andy, who was then an enthusiastic Ents steward, spending more time in the Union than on his politics degree.
“That was the greatest gig I ever saw in there. It was the last time they were all truly happy,” he says. “They’d just released London Calling, the album where they fully bloomed as a band, allowing all their enthusiasms - reggae, R&B and country - to come through. They had big proper rock n’ roll songs, and by that stage they could play as well.”
Several months after that gig, Andy became Ents Secretary and booked a stream of sell-out bands, from 1980 to 82. Your writer arrived at the University in 1980, and watched Siouxsie Sioux, all black spikey hair and smokey eyes, doing her freewheeling metallic dance.
I was the Ents Publicity Secretary at the time, and had a back stage pass. Usually these would be printed with the bands name, but seems mine was just written on in pen for this gig!
Robin Tate - 31 January
Tonight saw The Clash playing Leeds Uni on this the 31st of January 1980 on their 16 Tons Tour. Below we have some great private photo's from the gig, taken & kindly shared by Gary Penketh
The recording starts with a roar from the audience as the 16 Tons intro fades and the first chords of Clash City Rockers ring out. The usual set follows, strong if not inspired performances; Joe is beginning to repeat his song intros unlike earlier tours, again it’s “I just got back and wished I’d never left”.
His comments before Jimmy Jazz are unclear but are presumably directed at spitters “..I don’t actually care much, when it hits you feel no pain [reference to Bob Marley’s Trenchtown Rock, another Strummer hero]”. The song is minus Mick’s heavy echo effect played earlier in the tour when Mickey was also absent, and the audience clap along. “Calling out all round the world” is Joe’s intro to a fine London Calling. Protex Blue continues in the set and Joe adlibs over the end of White Man but sadly his words are unclear.
Bankrobber is moving in the direction of the soon to be recorded version but still is more a ska/r’n’b number than a reggae one. Much quicker and much more lively upbeat. Mikey Dread’s influence on the final recorded version cannot be overestimated.
Joe has a long spiel following Bankrobber which is distorted and unclear.
Clampdown is a highlight with Joe screaming improv words over the ending. An edit leads straight into the first bars of Wrong ‘Em Boyo.
Topper then beats out a steady pattern and then Mick sings high-pitched “oooh’s” and Joe chants over the top in an unusual opening before the usual intro to Police and Thieves kicks in.
Another highlight is an amazing (the always standout) Capital Radio; Mick plays a staccato intro ending in feedback hanging in the air before he screams out “1,2,3,4” and the band crash in. Joe rants away incoherently as Topper’s drum rolls build and build before the song careers to its conclusion with Joe doing a 'phah, phah, phah' Jam impersonation ad lib.
It’s straight in then to Janie Jones, punctuated mid song with Joe doing a 'Ten Pole Tudor/Lydon' high pitch vocal. The band are on a high and race straight into Complete Control leaving the audience shouting for more. The band leaves the stage with Joe saying "thanks, its better than the last Tour".
An edit begins the first encore with Kosmo or Scratchy introducing “..Michael Campbell, Mikey Dread” then the audience roars as Mikey says “This one’s called Armagideon Time, Irie, Irie!” This is the chief highlight of the set with Mikey toasting in the gaps left by Joe, with both adding there own trademark whoops and cries. Mikey adds a different dimension to the song, which again segues into English Civil War more smoothly than at Bradford 2 nights previously.
An impassioned Garageland ends the encore and leaves the audience chanting (after an edit) “White Riot, A Riot of Me Own”. They don’t get that and after the Sheffield incident earlier when Joe punched (or beat up Mick depending on the account) for refusing to play White Riot it would become a rarity in future concerts. They do get Tommy Gun and a blistering London’s Burning to send the audience home more than satisfied.
Did you go? What do you remember?
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John Barnett - @21pavone
The Clash, best concert ever Leeds Uni. Seen them a couple of days before at St Georges Hall too!
Paul Johno Johnston - 17w
Yup was there. Great night.
Darren Blundell - 1 · 17w
Was there ever a better tour by any band!?
Steven Walker
Was at the dragonara hotel with them after the show
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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.
Leeds alumni online
Everybody hold on tight
This story originally appeared in Leeds magazine. Music writer and former punk, Lucy O'Brien recalls Leeds in the punk and post-punk years. PDF version
LeedsUniversityUnion - @LeedsUniUnion
Here's a little bit of union history: Andy Kershaw on booking The Clash to play at Leeds Uni http://bit.ly/13c2qMC or archive PDF
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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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I saw The Clash at Bonds - excellent
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