updated 20 May 2015 - added full review
Audio 1 -
Sound 2.5 - 1hr 40min - gen? - tracks 24
Car Jamming
The only circulating recording is a good audience recording, it’s not from the master though and an upgrade would be very welcome. All instrumentation comes through well, lead guitar is to the fore, bass is there but distorted, sound is clustered in the mid-range with little top end and vocals suffer from distance to the stage. Someone is chatting through most of the gig near the taper and should have been throttled!
The recording though captures the quality and energy of the gig despite its deficiencies.
The Clash had not played in Bristol since June 1980 at the Colston Hall but in 1982 to end their UK tour they played two nights at the more Clash friendly Locarno Ballroom, a 2,500 standing venue, which on both hot sweaty nights (Joe refers to the free sauna) was packed to the rafters for (from all accounts and the recording) very memorable gigs and a fitting end to what turned out to be Mick Jones’ last Clash gigs in the UK.
The second night was affected by Joe having a cold and an exasperated band quitting the stage for a time due to spitting. The first night though from the circulating recording shows no sign of end of tour tiredness indeed the band playing a memorable and longer set than usual.
On the second night the band were supported by Mikey Dread and Peter Singh (an Asian Elvis impersonator called Elvis Patel!) however there is no sign of Mikey’s presence as would be expected on this first night. Anyone know the support acts on the first night at the Locarno?
Photos from the Bristol Locarno gigs; http://www.80srockpics.com/the-clash.html
The only circulating recording is close to the audience master tape and despite its limitations captures the live Clash sound well (Mick’s guitar to the fore) and is well worth seeking out as it captures one of the best nights of the tour.
Punk gear from Bristol
The recording begins with the usual intro music before Joe says “Good evening and welcome to you all. Ladies and gentlemen, London Calling to the faraway towns” A strong performance like most this night followed by Clash City Rockers and Radio Clash, Joe instructing the band to bang out each song without pause to keep up the momentum and energy levels. Radio Clash sounds fresh and vital on this tour, the band are clearly pumped up, responding to the energy of the packed, standing audience. After introducing Terry, its Car Jamming, fine performance again shame sound is not better, an upgrade to the master would make this a very enjoyable recording.
Joe issues an urgent “Woah, woah, woah” but Terry thinks its Guns of Brixton so it quickly breaks down and the band goes into Joe’s intended The Call Up after he continues his siren impersonation “Woahs!” Next it is Guns of Brixton followed by Somebody Got Murdered with Mick’s guitar loud and clear and again Terry tries manfully the crescendo drum intro but can’t quite pull it off! Clampdown again is unusually mid set as at Brighton. Mick plays a variation on his lead guitar intro at start, the band rip it up with Joe adding some largely unclear adlibs but it’s not extended and indeed there’s an abrupt ending without the usual finale.
The band go straight into Wrong Em ‘Boyo with again a variation to Mick’s usual intro and then stops completely and Joe go’s “anyone have any idea what to say here?? Brakes start all over again” A highlight the band stretch out adding to the usual arrangement clearly enjoying themselves. Joe’s in good voice on a pumped up Magnificent Seven with some adlibs “get away from that crowd get out of your face…dark blood chocolate little bit of British, how do you say it - stupidity!”
The second CD restarts at first bars of Stay Free; Joe provides unusually some ethereal “woo, wooo” backing vocals, behind Mick’s lead vocals. The final instrumental coda sounds great with Mick’s lead guitar to the fore but the annoying tit continues talking away near the taper! English Civil War again sounds great but an edit mid song loses a chunk.
“Hey down the road came a Junco Partner” Micks guitar playing sounds great adding splinters of steel around Joe’s vocals. Mick’s contribution to Know Your Rights also adds to a very good performance. “We need your help to Rock The Casbah” is followed by Mick’s intro to Police On My Back which is loud clear and strong, Mick belts out his vocals. The main set unusually ends with Police & Thieves; Mick plays an inventive variation on his solo and the sound quality improves a little mid song. Drum and bass drop down section again a highlight and although the song is not extended and no memorable Strummer rap it’s still very enjoyable.
The recording continues right through to start of the first encore and Armagideon Time; the chat near the taper continues unabated. No segues now mid song but plenty of Joe adlibs,, some great Mick guitar fills and the band ending the tour on top form. An energetic Should I Stay or Should I Go goes into I Fought The Law ;Terry again largely failing on the crescendo intro!
Recording again continues through to the second encore with the enthusiastic Locarno audience clapping, stamping, cheering, and whistling for more interrupted finally by Mick’s battery of effects over Terry’s thump thump bass drum intro to (a fine) Straight To Hell. “We’d like to attempt Pressure Drop by Lee Perry and Junior Murvin” says Joe getting the Toots Hibbert written Maytals number mixed up with Police & Thieves. Not played since Bonds on 13th June 1981 this may have been Terry’s first performance of the song live, certainly it’s the first recorded version circulating. Joe belts it out over Terry’s rather heavy drumming and after Mick’s fine solo it drops down to drum and bass. It’s enjoyable more for its scarcity value than its musical qualities though.
The band then crash into I’m So Bored With The Usa debuted with Terry the night before at Brighton. This second Terry attempt sounds more together and is another highlight. The gig ends with the usual Garageland without the repeated intro refrain of recent nights. End of tour almost but no sign of wilting the band delivering a memorable gig. No doubt the Locarno venue and audience helped. Joe leaves the stage with a quip; “Just to let you know there’s no extra charge for the sauna, good night!”
Did you go? What do you remember?
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Previous Clash gigs in Bristol had been at the Colston Hall and the University but they had played the Locarno ballroom previously in 1978.
The Locarno Ballroom was demolished in 1998 but was originally part of Mecca Leisure Group's New Entertainments Centre and ABC Cinema. Opening in 1966, it included a dozen licensed bars, an ice rink, bowling lanes, the Craywood Club casino, a night club, a grand cinema and the 2,000-capacity Locarno ballroom with an illuminated ceiling. Only the ice-rink and the cinema survived, the rest being demolished in 1998 and subsequently the site given over to student accommodation. The cinema closed in 1996 and was converted into a nightclub in 2000, originally called Rock, and now is 02 Academy Bristol.
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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 known articles from coveringr the period of the Tour can be found here..
Tour pass
Tour advert with dates
with the original dates
%20Advert%20(later%20Casbah%20Tour)/Tour%20advert.jpg)
Dozens of newclippings
capturing the whole saga...
Tour dates, runaways, cancellations, reshedules, sackings .... 33 pages so far..
.
If you know of any articles or references for this particular gig, anything that is missing, please do let us know.
On the Road with the Clash
Traxmarx - includes this gig
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Radio interview - Joe Strummer Interviewed by Lisa Robinson around June 1982
Radio interview BBC R1 Kid Jensen Joe interviewed after being found
BBC Radio 1- Joe before his disapearance + interview- with the band after including BAD interview
BBC Radio 1 Kid Jensen 1982
BBC Radio 1 Rock On Mick interview on Sandinista & teh realese of Combat Rock
BBC Radio 1 Interview with Kid Jensen May 1982
BBC Radio 1 Interview with Kid Jensen Mick, Paul & Kosmo talking about Joe Strummer disappearing 2 May1982
BBC Radio 1 Interview with the band, -part 2 Mick, Combat Rock Interview
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