Bonds Residency Bad Brains and the Slits opened
Three weeks & 17 gigs that shook up New York and America.
last updated 19 Feb 02
Audio 1 -
Sound 2.5 - 1hr 52mins - unknown generation - 26 tracks
tape faults
Somebody Got Murdered
Audio 2 - DAT master
Sound 3.5 - 1hr 47mins - DAT master - 26 tracks
Somebody Got Murdered
From audience DAT master.
The majority of the Bonds audience recordings have a very similar sound, not surprisingly as they come from the same taper and equipment, and are sourced from the master tapes via DAT transfer.
Two recordings from the 2nd June concert are circulating. The best is a typical Bonds audience recording (there are a few that are poorer and some better); plenty of detail and crispness from the master mono source but distance from the stage, affecting vocals in particular, detracts from the enjoyment of what is other wise a very decent sound.
The second recording is from a different source but because it is an unknown number of generations off the master has a poorer sound; it runs significantly slow and suffers from a number of tape blurs and faults. Anyone have an upgrade to the master?
Both recordings are complete with all 26 songs from the almost 2 hour concert.
The 5th night into the Bonds residency and with Joe in great form, The Clash deliver another very strong performance, although maybe not quite as good as the previous 2 shows.
The amazing fact that recordings from all 17 shows circulate in decent quality allows for detailed analysis of the Bonds marathon residency. Despite the similarity of recording quality and similar set lists all the recordings are enjoyable and of interest particularly because the band were improvising on many of the songs, making for different performances each night. Tonight they even manage to improvise on Brand New Cadillac!
It has been suggested that the live footage from the Clash on Broadway film on Westway To The World DVD is from tonight’s concert. That though is incorrect it is actually from the 9th June concert (check out Radio Clash and compare Joe’s scream at the start and his great “woooooah” as he careers across the stage microphone in hand before “before hands of law…”!
'I saw the Clash at Bonds' - Facebook page
Popular Facebook group that recounts memories for the Bonds residency. Well worth a read.
The lesser recording begins with most of the Morricone intro music but the concert proper and the better recording starts with a fired up Joe shouting “Are we all ready” before London Calling kicks in. The now fixed start of the concert attack leads then through Safe European Home and The Leader with Joe barking out the lyrics in classic Strummer style.
Somebody Got Murdered is fine but not as memorable as the previous night’s performance. "Singing started now, we're gonna do .... White Man in Hammersmith Palais" Joe’s adlibs over the ending are sadly unclear as are most tonight because of the distance problems of the recording.
The guitar swops are getting quicker and a fine Guns of Brixton follows quickly. Joe gets in a little dig at the authorities next; “Has everybody got plenty of room? Yeah, Bring the other 1700 people in from the lobby!.. This is Radio Clash” An extended performance with Joe’s funk rhythm guitar playing complimenting Mick’s lead guitar work and Topper’s drumming sounds here and throughout the concert sounds very tight and impressive to these ears.
Topper beats out a steady rhythm as the band begin a spirited but a little ragged The Call Up, the band not really nailing the song at Bonds so far. Complete Control in contrast is hugely impressive, with the FHTE intro again played (after its absence the night before), the band deliver a scorching version, with Joe screaming out the lyrics and every dramatic point in the song accentuated. The very enthusiastic and noisy audience crowd loved it.
Junco Partner gets a stripped down start and is followed by a heavily improvised and thus unusual Lightning Strikes with Joe adlibbing on an extended performance. The better recording stops abruptly at the end of the song losing part of Joe’s intro to Ivan Meets GI Joe that is heard on the lesser source; “Presenting at great expense and no further charge the Third World War!”
Topper plays a long intro before Mick picks out the melody of Charlie Don’t Surf, Paul’s bass line coming through OK, and the band improvises around the mid-section. The audience are very lively and during Bankrobber the taper’s microphone gets a heavy knock.
Another highlight tonight is an extended 8 minute Magnificent Seven on which Joe goes off on a stream of consciousness adlib, something he would often do increasingly on later performances of this song. Again there is plenty of improvisation musically but it its all very effective, Joe screams “Magnificent” repeatedly as the band build magnificently to the bridge, improvise around an instrumental section before Joe comes back in; the song finally coming to a fairly abrupt ending. These improvisations from the band, evidence of course of their now greater musicianship, make these performances memorable, as even when the changes do not quite work its far more interesting than 17 repeated performances of the same arrangements that many bands would have produced night after night.
Wrong 'Em Boyo next with Joe clearly enjoying himself is followed by a strong Train In Vain. A short gap and then Mick screams “1-2-3-4” and the band explode into Career Opportunities. With the energy levels still peeking its straight into
Clampdown with Joe ranting over the beginning. Another powerful performance of this Clash classic song with Joe adlibbing a plenty, the words sadly largely unclear but the effect very impressive!
The first encore begins after an edit with Topper beating out the intro to One More Time before the rest of the band come in. Joe whoops and screams impressively over Mick’s effects and Topper’s terrific drum fills. Then its straight into Brand New Cadillac with an instrumental extra first verse before Joe comes in and Mick plays some great guitar fills, the band even managing to improvise on this song!
One of the best Washington Bullets follows. the performance very tight and effective. Mick plays some great guitar and sings one verse. Joe shouts “El Salvador” repeatedly and again the same voice of the representative of the Democratic Revolutionary Front of El Salvador is heard saying as the band play on; “I’m from El Salvador where the people are fighting to stay alive, your Government (?) is sending millions of dollars to kill my people…” The rest of his words are unclear but he continues at length perhaps inspired from hearing Joe’s ranting technique! An abrupt edit at the end of the song restarts almost at the end of the song, repeating a few bars. An energised Janie Jones with adlibs from Joe brings the first encore to an end and a “Thank you, goodnight”.
After an edit the second encore begins with Topper beating out repeated drum rolls and then the audience cheer as the rest of the band come back on stage. Then the guitars kick in and the band launch into an excellent Police and Thieves; the band very tight, improvising around the mid section, just missing an inspired Joe rant to make it exceptional! Straight into Armagideon Time next with again plenty of band improvisation and then Joe screams
New Yorks Burning and the band deliver a storming ending to a very fine concert.
Did you go? What do you remember?
Info, articles, reviews, comments or photos welcome.
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I was lucky enough to see the Clash play twice--a great show at NYC's Palladium and one of their famous shows at Bonds. The latter show was a little lackluster, finally catching fire around halfway in--kicked off by a rousing version of Complete Control as I recall. One moment I remember clearly: a crew member put a small TV onstage so Mick Jones could watch the band perform on the Letterman show, pretaped earlier in the day. Joe Strummer was obviously annoyed at this, finally kicking the TV in. - Marlowe
As for greatest live bands well i saw the clash in nyc when they sold too many tickets for bonds in Times Square and were obliged to play something like 2 weeks straight to honour all the tickets sold. This was the sandinista tour but the show covered every period and was quite simplyamazing. Strummer got visibly pissed off when the crowd did not sing along with the obvious anthems but then you can’t expect perfection from a rock audience.Support that night was funkapolitain and the slits which blew my mind as i had no idea they were on the bill. Pearl harbour was the dj between sets.
I've been a Clash fan for a very long time. I had tickets for all 8 of the original Bonds Performances. I was right up front opening night when the club was overpacked by double. Quite a few people passed out and had to lifted and surfed to the stage area to be removed. Bouncers were passing out jugs of water to the front. I LOVE Grandmaster Flash but they were AWFUL. As a matter of fact they were beyond awful. It wasn't racism, it was a matter of an overpacked house and a group that wasn't making music, it was barely noise. What would you call listening to a kick drum for 10 - 15 minutes? Leaving, I literally couldn't stand up straight, there were fire marshalls at every door. SinceI had tickets for the original 8 nights bought at Bonds, my ticket was not valid the following evening. But, I saw 8 shows, and they were all fantastic. I saw them every tour since then, and they remain one of the greatest acts in R&R. One night I was dying of thirst and Mick kept sipping from a large soda cup. So I kept looking at him and motioning for a drink (security would pass water to the crowd). Mick points to his cup and shakes his head no, but finally he gave in and it was RUM and a tiny drop of coke for flavor. I took a sip, passed it on and within a few seconds people were fighting over the cup.
There were a ton of opening acts at the Bonds shows, and none were memorable.
Snowman “I had tickets for all 8 of the original Bonds Performances. I was right up front opening night when the club was overpacked by double. Quite a few people passed out and had to lifted and surfed to the stage area to be removed. Bouncers were passing out jugs of water to the front. It was then that the rappers went into a tirade of "The Clash asked us to be here. They wanted us to perform". Though I love GF&TF5 they couldn't be any worse live. To be squeezed into a sardine can, and hear a pounding bass drum and nothing else was more than anyone should bear. I LOVE Grandmaster Flash, and they were AWFUL. As a matter of fact they were beyond awful. It wasn't racism, it was a matter of an over packed house and a group that wasn't making music, it was barely noise. What would you call listening to a kick drum for 10 - 15 minutes? I saw them a few years later on Long Island where the levels were decent and you could understand what they rapped. It was great. Leaving, I literally couldn't stand up straight; there were fire marshals at every door. Since I had tickets for the original 8 nights bought at Bonds, my ticket was not valid the following evening. But, I saw 8 shows, and they were all fantastic.”
David S “Grandmaster Flash did open for the boys at Bonds. I was there and thought it was really closed-minded and small the way the crowd reacted. They wouldn't even give basic courtesy. Grandmaster Flash was right; the Clash did ask him to play, and frankly the reaction of a white crowd to an inner city act like that had to smack of racism.
The New York Nobody Sings- Clash at Bond's reosted from my blog...
Remember When - The Clash Photos at Bonds Casino – 80s Retro Punk Rock So a few years later, when we got to do the printing for the official Clash at the Bonds Casino gig in NY City, we where ecstatic. We printed the shirts, drove them to NY City, sold them in the streets...
They Shoot Actors, Don't They? Bond's Casino
The Clash at Bonds Casino, Times Square, NYC gigs 1-3 of 17.
IT'S ALL THE STREETS YOU CROSSED NOT SO LONG AGO -The Bow-Ties that Bond BOND INTERNATIONAL CASINO--1530 Broadway, on the east side of Broadway between 44th and 45th Streets. (Often referred to as Bond's.) A short-lived discotheque most famous for hosting the "Clash on Broadway" residency in 1981,
Personal memories
RETRO MEMORIES The Clash at Bonds Casino NYC, 1981 The Clash at Bonds Casino, Times Square, NYC gigs 1-3 of 17.
where you there?
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Following their appearance at the Palladium in 1980 The Clash had refused to play in New York unless they could play in a venue they thought suitable, i.e. an unseated dance hall. In February, Bernie and Kosmo had come to New York to seek out a suitable venue and agreed on Bonds which seemed ideal; it could hold 4000 with minimal discomfort (fire exits would prove the problem) but it was comparatively intimate and had character (art deco interior. History Of Bonds - includes write up and old photos It was a former men’s department store with a lino floor and beams and a makeshift stage. Local promoters could not understand why The Clash did not play a couple of nights at Madison Square Garden (16,000 capacity) like everyone else. Indeed Chris Salewicz was asked to write a piece for Soho News “to find the story behind the story!” “The doors opened at 8pm, we went up a carpeted spiral staircase surrounded by barbed wire and Mooseheads. We went into a large lobby and bar, with Clash concession stands. Through a large bank of double doors we located the dance floor, strobing lights - stunning glow in the dark things, half inflated silver spacemen hanging through trap doors in the ceiling. The dance floor itself was huge with recessed balconies at 2 sides to handle the large number of techies apparently required to keep all the lights flashing and the mikes feeding back. The facilities at Bonds were dance or drop! There was absolutely no seating anywhere.” In the photo below Bonds is the low building on the right.
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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
To read all the news reports from Bonds including video and audio chronologically in one thread.
1. Background
3. The Clash arriving in New York
and the build up
4. News Reports video and audio
6. The remainder of the residency
7. History of Bonds
longer history of Bonds & images
9. Badges, FSLN hadouts, flyers, Clash
press release ...
10. Photos various - PDF 48mb
If you know of any articles or references for this particular gig, anything that is missing, please do let us know.
Italy to New York
When The Clash landed at JFK airport in New York on the night of the 25th May 1981 they had no idea that their residency at a Broadway nightclub would create such a furore and nationwide media coverage that it became a pivotal event in their assault on America, helping to propel them into the major league Stateside. As Kosmo Vinyl has succinctly put it, “People who didn’t have straight trousers and short hair suddenly knew who we were. It got out - it was big!”. The Bonds concerts became one of the most enduring aspects of the Clash legend. ... more ...
Arrival
A collection of articles covering the bands arrival into New York including previews of the week. Also includes the WNEW preview broacast with Meg Griffin.
Ticket Fiasco
Numerous articles and audio and video reports covering the ticket fiasco.
Bonds News Reports
Audio and video reports covering the ticket fiasco. Fascinating watching / listening that captures those three days well. Includes notes.
Residency
The remainder of the press coverage once the bad had agreed to ensure all ticket holders got in by adding 8 more dates.
Photos - PDF 42mb
All randon phonts bundled here.
Adverts, posters and sundry
Bits and pieces inclduying all adverts and posters.
Comments
Comments for those who attended one of the gigs
Italy to New York
When The Clash landed at JFK airport in New York on the night of the 25th May 1981 they had no idea that their residency at a Broadway nightclub would create such a furore and nationwide media coverage that it became a pivotal event in their assault on America, helping to propel them into the major league Stateside. As Kosmo Vinyl has succinctly put it, “People who didn’t have straight trousers and short hair suddenly knew who we were. It got out - it was big!”. The Bonds concerts became one of the most enduring aspects of the Clash legend
WNEW Bonds week
Prior to The Clash's arrival WNEW FM ran a Bonds Week with Meg Griffin. It includes an intro to the Clash at Bonds week with a montage of old interviews and Clash tracks
Listen again here:
Bonds News Reports
28 May - 30 May 81 - updated 5 Jan 2009When the probelms started on the 29th at the venue the news media decsended and there s both audio and video circulating that captures those few hectic days.Audio: 30 mins of TV and Radio interviews, news and commentary.
Video: The Clash - News Reports about Bond's Casino Shows - June 1981
Video - Clash on Broadway Reels -
"all the original reels have been found and are now with Sony. UPDATE1 The footage the footage that was found is very expensive to transfer. Don hasn't yet ID'd the film boxes (03/2015). UPDATE2 On the Facebook page dedicated to the summer 1981 Nyc residence, from one Kevin Bud Jones that was hired by Don Letts to help shout ing The Clash on Broadway docufilm:"We shot one complete show with multiple cameras and a 24 track mobile recorder. We also shot most of every show with one camera and in house 8 track recording. The band wore the same gear every night and Topper was such a consistent drummer - and the band well rehearsed - that we were able to build edits from different nights with no trouble at all." (03/2015)"There are around 36 tapes in all, each of which would cost at least £500 per tape to transfer (the prohibitive cost is why the filmakers didn't have this material transferred at the time) - it's on a rare early video format called EIAJ. Sam
Facebook The same guy who posted that also wrote this in the comments (bold emphasis mine):
"We shot one complete show with multiple cameras and a 24 track mobile recorder. We also shot most of every show with one camera and in house 8 track recording. The band wore the same gear every night and Topper was such a consistent drummer - and the band well rehearsed - that we were able to build edits from different nights with no trouble at all." "Sadly - we never shot the opening acts. We started the gig with the intention of doing a six song DVD EP - not a full scale documentary. Shooting expanded as the story expanded and the shows stretched on."
"We were not making a concert movie per se - and my part in the post production ended when the material left the US after doing the Combat Rock video which John shot in Texas." All of this makes me wonder where all that footage is and why they haven't done a long form concert video or if they will at some point. I mean, a whole show in multi-camera, 24 track?! I can't imagine that kind of thing just inadvertently gets lost.
I'm sure there is way more about this that is known that I am not aware of. I think I've read that lots of footage has been lost but I don't know any details about that. Concert movies have been constructed from way less (The Doors Hollywood Bowl for one, I expect there are more).Found in London garage 2006 - handed to SonyThere are around 36 tapes in all, each of which would cost at least £500 per tape to transfer (the prohibitive cost is why we didn't have this material transferred at the time) - it's on a rare early video format called EIAJ.
From - I saw the Clash at Bonds play at Bonds - Facebook page
My partner John Hazard and I were fortunate enough to be hired by Don Letts and The Clash to produce and shoot the documentary of Bonds and beyond that is the Clash on Broadway film featured at the end of Westway to the World. What started out as a one week shoot to get six songs live in the can became a year of our lives. The video for This Is Radio Clash was a lift from the 10 minute trailer for the unfinished film that we shot on 16mm and went all the way to a 35mm blowup to show potential distributors. Needless to say - the project was never completed as the band disassembled after Combat Rock. Clash on Broadway is the rough cut we had finished by the time to project was wrapped and went back to the UK.
We shot one complete show with multiple cameras and a 24 track mobile recorder. We also shot most of every show with one camera and in house 8 track recording. The band wore the same gear every night and Topper was such a consistent drummer - and the band well rehearsed - that we were able to build edits from different nights with no trouble at all.Sadly - we never shot the opening acts. We started the gig with the intention of doing a six song DVD EP - not a full scale documentary. Shooting expanded as the story expanded and the shows stretched on.Q. How come we've never seen the release of the entire show?
We were not making a concert movie per se - and my part in the post production ended when the material left the US after doing the Combat Rock video which John shot in Texas.
For all video, it is presumed that significant footage comes from the first night but it is also highly likely it came from other nights.
Clash On Broadway - 19:50
The Clash / Sound System box setIt is not clear which of these comes from which night?London Calling (first night?)
This Is Radio Clash (Tom Snyder show)
The Magnificent Seven (Tom Snyder show)
Guns Of Brixton (first night?)
Safe European Home (first night?)
A good listing of the contents of the The Clash's Sound System box set can be found here.
WNEW Bonds week
Prior to The Clash's arrival, WNEW FM ran a Bonds Week with Meg Griffin. It includes an intro to the Clash at Bonds week with a montage of old interviews and Clash tracks
Listen again here:
Bonds News Reports - 28 May - 30 May 81 - updated 5 Jan 2009
When the problems started on the 29th at the venue the news media decsended and there s both audio and video circulating that captures those few hectic days.Audio: 30 mins of TV and Radio interviews, news and commentary.
For full listing go here
Video: The Clash - News Reports about Bond's Casino Shows - June 1981
Video - Clash on Broadway Reels -
For a full details on video from the opening shows go to the 28th
For information on the Clash on Broadway reels go here
Private Super8mm film footage of the rucus outside Bonds
Someone had a video camera aand has more and better footage from outside.
Press Conference - "See out"
Would like the full press conference.
Video from Bonds
1. Essential Clash DVD
cut down version of CoB from Westway but with unseeen angles and clips. Includes an edited London Calling [audio is unmixed pro recording from 9th].
2. Westway to the World BONUS footage DVD
Includes nearly full tracks of - London Calling [Trick of Treat audio] - Guns of Brixton [dubbed partly] Safe European Home [dubbed with studio single] - Charlie Don't Surf [original sound but from mixing desk] - Radio Clash [original sound but from mixing desk]. Also includes a mash up of a lot of footage from New York and outside Bonds such as the riot.
3. video - press conference, backstage, 16 Tons play on, London Calling nearly full [probably the same length as Westway? but the sound plays on to a montage of NYC/Clash pictures]. The sound is remixed from [Trick or Treat bootleg] radio broadcast from the 9th June as Westway. 5.38min
4. MTV Rockumentary is same as Westway/Clash on TV/Essential DVD but with only very edited clips of the press conference and London Calling. Nothing new except a couple of comments form Mick and Paul.
Tom Snyder show NTV
The complete Clash appearance circulates on Clash On TV Vol.1 in very good quality (apart from some ghosting) from a TV rebroadcast (better than the YouTube broadcast below). For many years Clash fans had made do with very poor quality video copies of this important Clash footage.
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