This page lists all known Clash gigs from 1980 with info. If you have any corrections please email blackmarketclash
...16 Tons and what do I get / Another day older and deeper in debt... (Tennessee Ernie Ford).
The Clash had not toured the UK since the end of 78 (partly because of CBS debt) and they were at the height of their popularity in Britain. London Calling, single and album were high in the charts and venues sold out fast. Punk had taken off in a big way with spikey haired punk rockers contrasting with The Clash’s new slicker retro rocker, greased back look.
The Tour, the support acts, a new album
Clash favourites, the great Toots & The Maytals sadly cancelled at the last minute resulting in a last minute search for replacements. Ian Dury & The Blockheads stepped in to repay the favour paid to them by The Clash supporting them at the Kampuchea Benefit. Prince Hammer and Lew Lewis also stepped in, the latter providing harmonica at Aylesbury and elsewhere in 1980. Mikey Dread, of Dread At The Controls fame would appear later and have a huge influence on the sound Bankrobber and Sandinista. Mikey has said recently that he is angry that he has not received the royalties since that his imput merited.
The Clash touring party was still swelled by the likes of Robin Crocker and Kris Needs (whose band played support at Aylesbury) and Mo Armstrong (over from San Francisco with FSLN bandanas and first news of the Sandinista’s. Baker and Johnny were still there but now there was catering and merchandising, organised by Blackhill who were still the management. Barry “Scratchy” Myers still DJ’ed and Tennessee Ernie Ford’s classic, 16Tons became the first Clash stage “fanfare”, the song’s lyric of obvious appeal to The Clash, not least because of their huge debt to CBS. Dreadlocked (at least via his hat) Ray Jordan became a new fixture in the Clash camp, able to defuse any potentially violent situation before it blew up.
For a collection of other printed material, interviews fanzines, magazine, tour clippings etc..
List of articles and magazines from around the tour period
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| Jan 5 |   |
UK ITV TV - TISWAS 2nd Tiswas Appearance |
| Jan 5 |  |
Aylesbury - Friars |
| Punk & It Aftershocks Video has a better sound. It may also come from 1980 TV documentary "Rock: Ready for the 80´s. 7min |
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| Jan 6 |  |
Canterbury – Odeon |
| Jan 8 | |
Brighton – Top Rank |
| Jan 9 |  |
Brighton – Top Rank |
| Jan 11 |  |
Bath – Pavillion |
| Jan 12 | |
Taunton – Odeon |
| Jan 13 | |
Bristol – Locarno |
| South West swing cancelled | ||
| Jan 11 | |
Crawley – Leisure Centre |
| Jan 12 | |
Hastings – Pavilion |
| Jan 14 | |
Ipswich – Gaumont |
| Jan 16 | |
Leicester – De Montfort Hall |
| Jan 18 | |
Dundee – Caird Hall |
| Jan 18 |  |
BBCTV "Nationwide" |
| Posted by Edda In Reply to: Nationwide & The Last Testament live footage. I think the live footage in those two videos is 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 also looks like Joe's wearing the same clothes in the van ( nationwide interview) and the soundcheck pictures from the 20th. cheers |
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| Jan 19 | |
Edinburgh – Odeon |
| Jan 20 | |
Edinburgh – Odeon |
| Jan 21 | |
Glasgow – Apollo |
| Jan 22 | |
Glasgow – Apollo |
| Jan 23 | |
Lancaster – University |
| A Riot of Our Own p227 - See Blackpool Gazette | ||
| Jan 24 | |
Blackpool – Tiffany’s |
| A Riot of Our Own p227 - See Blackpool Gazette | ||
| Jan 25 | |
Blackburn – King Georges |
| Jan 26 | |
Queensferry – Deeside Leisure Centre |
| Jan 27 | |
Sheffield – Top Rank |
| Jan 29 | |
Bradford – St. Georges |
| Jan 30 | |
Bridlington – Royal Spa |
| Jan 31 | |
Leeds – University  |
| Feb 1 | |
Stoke – Victoria Hall, Hanley |
| Feb 2 | |
Manchester – Rafters secret gig  |
| Feb 3 | |
Manchester – Apollo |
| Feb 4 | |
Manchester – Apollo |
| Feb 5 | |
Birmingham – Top Rank  |
| Feb 6 | |
Birmingham – Top Rank |
| Feb 7 | |
Coventry – Tiffany’s |
| Feb 9 | |
Portsmouth – Guild Hall |
| Feb 10 | |
Poole – Wessex Hall   |
| Feb 11 | |
Cardiff – Sophia Gardens |
| Feb 12 | |
Bournemouth – Stateside |
| Feb 13 | |
Southampton – Top Rank,  |
| Feb 15 | |
London – Electric Ballroom |
| Feb 16 | |
London – Electric Ballroom |
| Feb 17 | |
London – Lyceum |
| Feb 18 | |
London – Lewisham Odeon |
| Feb 20 | |
Stoke – Victoria Hall, Hanley |
| Feb 22 | |
London – Liberty Theatre, Balham |
| Feb 23 | |
London – Mile End Liberty Theatre |
| Feb 25 | |
Bristol – Colston Hall |
| Feb 27 | |
Paris  – Le Palace |
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16 Tons Tour, US dates ...Less than 5 months after the last US tour The Clash were back in the USA for a short tour, a blitz of 9 gigs in 10 days in key cities. This reflects acceptance by the band that if they were to be able to break free of the CBS debt shackles they must break the huge American market. Indeed there was no complaint when the unrepresentative but commercial Train In Vain was released as a single in the US on February 12th.
List of articles and magazines from around the tour period
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| Mar 1 | |
San Francisco CA – The Fox, Warfield |
| Mar 2 | |
San Francisco CA – The Fox, Warfield |
| Mar 3 | |
Santa Monica CA – Civic Theatre |
| Mar 4 | |
Santa Monica CA – Civic Theatre |
| Mar 6 | |
Philadelphia PA – Tower Theatre |
| Mar 7 | |
New York NY – Palladium |
| USTV report: Lifetimes - snippets of live footage, interviews. 20mins |
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| Mar 8 | |
Passaic NJ – Capitol Theater   |
| Mar 9 | |
Boston MA – Orpheum Theater |
| 1 track - source unknown dubbed with soundboard audio |
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| Mar 10 | |
Detroit MI – Motor City Roller Rink |
| hand held footage - 5 tracks |
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| Apr 25 | |
Los Angeles – ABC-TV "Fridays" |
| Apr 25 | |
Los Angeles – According to the 16 Tons gig poster there was a gig in LA. |
| Apr 27 | |
Hollywood CA – Roxy Theatre, |
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16 Tons Tour returns to Europe ...
List of articles and magazines from around the tour period
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| May 4 | |
Trondheim – venue? |
| May 12 | |
Hamburg – Markthalle |
| cancelled dates due to Toppers injury - moved to 19th | ||
| May 13 | |
Berlin – Neue Welt, Hasenheide Park |
| The concert on May 13th at the Metropole (as listed) was moved to the "Neue Welt" in the Hasenheide Park (Berlin) – Juergen |
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| May 14 | |
Munich – Schwabingerbrau |
| May 15 | |
Vienna – Oberlaa |
| May 17 | |
Wiesbaden – Wartburg |
| May 18 | |
Dusseldorf – Philipshalle |
| May 19 | |
Hamburg – Messehalle |
| May 21 | |
Oslo – Chateau Neuf |
| May 22 | |
Lund – Olypen |
| May 23 | |
Stockholm – Eriksdalsballen |
| May 24 | |
Gothenburgh – The Scandinavium |
| May 26 | |
Cambrai – |
| May 27 | |
Paris – Palais de Sports |
| May 28 | |
Strasbourg – Hall Tivoli |
| May 29 | |
Lyon – Palais D'Hiver |
| May 30 | |
Nice – Theatre De Verdure |
| Jun 1 |  |
Bologna – Piazza Maggiore |
| Italian TV 20mins mixture of part tracks and interviews The recording is from the Italian TV show MIXER. The popular journalist Gianni Minà interviewed the Clash. Full gig TV Broadcast wanted |
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| Jun 3 | |
Torino – Parco Ruffini |
| Jun 9 | |
Derby – Assembly Rooms |
| Jun 10 | |
Bristol – Colston Hall |
| Jun 11 | |
Bristol – Colston Hall |
| Jun 12 | |
Newcastle – Mayfair, |
| Jun 12 | |
Stoke – Victoria Hall, Hanley |
| Jun 14 | |
Lorraine, France – Rettel Festival |
| Jun 16 | |
London – Hammersmith Palais |
| Jun 17 | |
London – Hammersmith Palais |
| Jun 18 | |
Stoke – Victoria Hall, Hanley |
| Jun 21 | |
Reykjavik – Laugardalshöllin Sports Hall |
| Aug 8 |  |
Bankrobber 7" single released |
| ? | |
Unknown - Magnificent 7 - unknown venue - supposedly shot as video for single (release date 24 April 1981) |
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| Aug 23 | |
Toronto - Heatwave Festival, Mosport Park |
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| Oct | |
Blackmarketclash 10" US released |
| Nov 8 | |
The Call Up 7" single released |
| 1980 |  |
BBCR1 Radio Interview Duncan Gibbons 11mins |
| 1980 | |
UK Radio Hallam [Notts] Interview 1980 47mins 2 seperate interviews |
| 1980 | |
BRMB Radio Interview 18mins |
| Dec 12 | |
Sandinista 3x triple album released |
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Jun 76 - Black Swan & five piece »
Aug 76 - 100 Club & London Gigs »
Dec 76 - Anarchy Tour »
Jan / Mar - Early 77 Gigs »
May 77 - White Riot UK Tour »
Jul 77 - European Dates »
Oct 77 - Out of Control UK Tour »
Jan 78 - Sandy Pearlman UK Dates »
Apr 78 - UK Festival Dates »
Jul 78 - Out on Parole UK Tour »
Oct 78 - Sort it Out UK Tour »
Feb 79 - Pearl Harbour US Tour »
Jul 79 - Finland + UK dates »
Sep 79 - Take the Fifth US Tour »
Dec 79 - Acklam Hall Secret Gigs »
Jan 80 - 16 Tons UK Tour »
Mar 80- 16 Tons US Tour »
May 80 - 16 Tons UK/Europe »
May 81 - Impossible Mission Tour »
Jun 81 - Bonds Residency NY »
Sep 81 - Mogador Paris Residency »
Oct 81 - Radio Clash UK Tour »
Oct 81 - London Lyceum Residency »
Jan 82 - Japan Tour »
Feb 82 - Australian Tour »
Feb 82 - Hong Long & Thai gigs »
May 82 - Lochem Festival »
May 82 - Combat Rock US Tour »
July 82 - Casbah Club UK Tour »
Aug 82 - Combat Rock US Tour »
Oct 82 - Supporting The Who »
Nov 82 - Bob Marley Festival »
May 83 - US Festival + gigs »
Jan 84 - West Coast dates »
Feb 84 - Out of Control Europe »
Mar 84 - Out of Control UK »
April 84 - Out of Control US Tour »
Sep 84 - Italian Festival dates »
Dec 84 - Miners Benefit Gigs »
May 85 - Busking Tour »
Jun- Aug 85 - Festival dates »
74-76 - Joe with the 101ers »
Jul 88 - Green Wedge UK Tour »
Aug 88 - Rock the Rich UK Tour »
Oct 89 - Earthquake Weather UK »
Oct 89 - Earthquake Weather Euro »
Nov 89 - Earthquake Weather US »
Jun 99 - Comeback Festival dates »
July 99 - Short US Tour »
July 99 - UK Tour »
Aug 99 - Festival Dates »
Oct 99 - UK Tour »
Nov 99 - Full US Tour »
Dec 99 - European Xmas dates »
Jan 00 - Australasian Tour »
May 00 - Mini UK Tour »
Nov 00 - supporting The Who Tour »
Jul 01 - UK & US Instore Tour »
Oct 01 - Full US Tour »
Nov 01 - Japanese Tour »
Nov 01 - Full UK Tour »
April 02 - Brooklyn NY Residency »
Jun 02 - UK Festivals »
Jul 02 - Hootenanny Tour »
Aug 02 - UK Festival Dates »
Sep 02 - Japanesse Dates »
Nov 02 - Bringing it all Back Home »
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Audio exists and circulates |
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Audio exists but is not in circulation |
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No known Audio |
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Audio (radio) interview |
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Soundcheck |
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Video exists and circulates |
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Video exists but is not in circulation |
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No known Video |
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Not clear whether gig took place |
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Gig cancelled |
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Never took place / bogus date |
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Unoffical release |
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Offical release |
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| Clash pages only - Rated 0-5 for iTunes. How real the sound feels re: the sound you'd hear in the concert hall. |
to  Rated 0.5 to 5 for sound (for iTunes) |
| Unknown generation |
| Master source |
| Low generation (better) |
| High generation (copied too much) |
 Soundboard |
| FM |