US TV Appearance on the Friday show on ABC TV
updated August 2004
updated 12 april 2011 - added Friday's writer comments
updated 20 Sept 2012 - punters comments
updated June 2021 added tickets
Audio 4 - 'Fridays' USTV -
Sound 4 - 13min - Unknown gen? - tracks 4
London Calling
Video - 'Fridays' USTV -
The video has now surfaced for sale through Shoutfactory.
The Clash footage has not been repeated recently enough for very good video copies to circulate, unlike for example the 1982 Saturday Night Live footage. Clips from it were included in the 1991 MTV Clash Rockumentary. It therefore could and should have been used on the Essential Clash DVD if Sony had been prepared to do the job properly and pay ABC to licence their footage.
Varying quality video copies circulate the best being one or two copies off the master. Audio dubs are similar, the best have 4 rating sound. Being a soundboard source all the instrumentation and vocals are well mixed although the live music sound on this show had a poor reputation.
With Paul back from his film work, The Clash seize the offer resulting from Train In Vain reaching No.23 on the Billboard chart, to gain their first network US TV exposure as the musical guests on Fridays, a late night live show on the ABC network.
Fridays was a sketch comedy TV show (to compete with Saturday Night Live) that aired on ABC between 1980-1982. The Clash appeared in the first season, episode 3.
A viewer’s account describes the impact of The Clash on the show;
"The single greatest moment of this show happened when the Clash performed. Network TV had never seen such a moment before. The band did six songs back to back. I don't think anyone in the producers box knew what to make of it. Strummer was running all over the stage. It was completely frantic and had more impact then any of the comedy sketches."
Joe Shulkin was a writer on Fridays and remember that night well
Answer to your question re April 25 1980: Did they play an LA gig that night and was Fridays pre-recorded?
The show was done at 8:30 p.m. L.A. time for live broadcast to the east coast and midwest. It was then seen on tape delay later that night in the western portion of the country. The band was not pre-taped.
They were there all day for numerous rehearsals including a full dress rehearsal in front of an audience late in the afternoon. Following the show there was an after party at Yamashiro restaurant in the Hollywood Hills which all the members of the band attended and everyone stayed until late into the night.
I talked to Joe Strummer for a long time that night, as well as the other band members. There definitely was no other public gig that night - and if there had been, I would have been there. "Joe Shulkin" <jshulkin[a]roadrunner.com>
Deliver 4 tight powerful, performances
The Clash with Mickey Gallagher side of stage, deliver 4 tight powerful, performances and certainly mainstream America had seen little ever like this before.
The camera pans in over the seated audience’s heads to reveal the band backs to the camera as the opening bars of London Calling ring out. They swivel round just before Joe moves to the microphone and delivers his intense vocals. Joe, teeth still not fixed, with a new very short cropped haircut (one he would return to for the Jamaican Music Festival in November 82) looks suitably intimidating especially in close up. He’s wearing a red shirt and braces, and his white Fender Esquire now sports the words “I may take a holiday”.
Paul in black leather jacket has a spikey haircut, following his film role as a punk, he would soon follow Joe and sport an almost skinhead cut on the rest of the 80 shows. Topper is wearing an Alex Michon designed 16 Tons tour shirt but its Mick who shatters the visual impact of the rest of the band by wearing a bright purple zoot suit and tie, that even Kid Creole would have rejected.
Mick delivers a passionate vocal on the hit single, Train In Vain, then the band leave the stage, and the stage curtains are drawn.
When they return Mick, has taken off the offending jacket, Topper is in a red shirt and cap, Joe now wears a black and white striped shirt and only Paul remains unchanged. Paul sings a fine but shortened for TV, Guns of Brixton, losing its usual extended “dubwise” ending.
Then the highlight of the 4 performances; Joe says “Have Mercy” and then the band launch into Clampdown. It’s powerful TV with plenty of moment from the band, not least from Joe who jumps from Topper’s drum riser, to stand on Mickey’s organ and then back to the drum riser before getting to the microphone to sing.
TV constraints limit the usual extended ending but the band are able to build the intensity still further to a climactic ending with Joe adlibbing about Three Mile Island and “When does the pony express leave…last stage!”. The song ends and Joe, Fender aloft goes to Topper who drums on the strings. The footage ends with the band walking off stage side into their dressing room to be greeted by Kosmo Vinyl.
Did you go? What do you remember?
Info, articles, reviews, comments or photos welcome.
Please
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Pete: Hey, Concerning the 27 April 1980 "Fridays," my recollection, confirmed by IMDB is that the show was broadcast live, like its model, "Saturday Night Live." †It aired later than SNL--at 12:30, meaning it actually aired early Saturday morning. I suppose the band could have played a regular concert in LA beforehand. I doubt very much that the band's tv appearance was pre-recorded.
And I remember seeing this particular program!
Cheers, Pete McCluskey
ABC TV Studios, 4151, Prospect Avenue, Los Angeles. Seated audience of general public but clearly some Clash fans too!
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London Calling |
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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 covering the period the 16 Tons tour of the US, March 1980.
If you know of any articles or references for this particular gig, anything that is missing, please do let us know.
Trouser Press - July 1980
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New York 7 March 1980
Lifetimes’ TV documentary -
audio sound quality 4 -
video: poor picture quality - 6.36 mins
Lifetimes TV Documentary
An excellent and very positive 7-minute documentary appeared on US TV on the programme ‘Lifetimes’ with live clips from the Palladium show and interviews with fans outside and the band backstage. A good audio dub circulates but video copies are generally poor which is a shame as the live clips are brilliantly intense.
Capitol Theatre, Passaic New Jersey -
Saturday 8th March 1980
Boston 9 March 1980
Alan McPheely : I shot this March 9, 1980 on silent Super 8mm film. Recently, some thirty years later, I found the audio on the internet and matched it up. alanmcpheely@mac.com
Detroit Punks: We were there to catch them on super 8 ektachrome
at the Motor City Roller on March 10, 1980.
A brief Super 8 colour film and sound from both the Detroit 79 and 80 shows has surfaced.
1) Almost ALL of Safe European Home, camera mainly on Joe, Joe PLAYS to the camera near the end when he dos that spoken word thing. This is from the Jackie Wilson Benefit march 10/80 at Motor City Roller Rink.
2) Mick sings a song I've never really cared for. He sings Bang Bang something. Over 2 minutes of that.
25 Aprtil 1980 - 'Fridays' USTV
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