Supported by Defunkt

last updated 27 Jan 07
last updated 4 October 2015 - added full review

Audio 1 -
OK sound slight echo - Sound 4 - 91min - low? - tracks 23

Audio to follow

Interview with Kosmo - Sound 3 - 24min - low?
Kosmo Interview with Eric Beaumont aka Eric Blowtorch

Audio to follow

The only recording is not from the master but is low gen. and a decent audience source. It suffers though from the analogue copy and some tape wear issues. It suffers too from distance to the stage and lacks range. All instrumentation is heard but bass is indistinct and vocals not clear enough to pick out much of Joe’s adlibs and comments. Terry’s drum sound is poor especially compared to the earlier St Paul recording and Mick’s guitar rather thin. The great atmosphere within the Aragon Ballroom is captured though and the sound quality improves after an edit before Straight To Hell.

The Clash returned to Chicago for two nights at the Aragon Ballroom in 1982 (two members would return in 1984). The audience were “Punks, dreads, Japanese bamboo kids, rockabilly rebels, mods, men and women of all ages, colours and sartorial styles, all dancing like maniacs” according to an account in the FHTE booklet. Another account below;

I don't remember how I ended-up with an unused ticket for each show, but I still have them. The thing I remember most about the shows was the differences in the two performances. The first one was upbeat, high energy. The 2nd show (Friday the 13th) was very dark; the last song was "I'm So Bored With The USA". I spoke with someone else who had gone to both shows he had the same reaction as I did -- the 2nd show had a foreboding mood. 

No recording circulates unfortunately of the Thursday first night (supported by the Elvis Brothers) but there is one of the Friday second night. It’s not from the master though and there are better sounding and better performances from this tour. That said the recording captures another strong committed performance from this tour with some definite highlights, so is worth hearing.

Kosmo interview

A recording also circulates of an interview backstage with Kosmo Vinyl by Eric Beaumont aka Eric the Blowtorch. It’s an interesting and entertaining interview with Eric asking informed questions and lasts 24 minutes.  Kosmo had been 4 years with The Clash by then and did not meet them through Ian Dury he said but had been to Clash gigs previously and knew them vaguely.  He confirms he was never employed directly by Blackhill. 

When asked about his role; does he provide the band with “a spark “ he says no “they’re all motivated I just shove them along a little, sometimes cheer them up.” He says the most powerful thing about The Clash is “more a spirit than an emotion”

He talks about the band’s management, his role is not artistic - he’s “better [negotiating] on the phone than Joe” He defends the signing to CBS in order to be heard around the world needed to sign to a major CBS sole motivation he says is to make money, ”sometimes we’re not worried about the money but we have to accept the reality, realise CBS have to make some profit” The band are self-sufficient now for touring, can draw enough people to pay for touring costs but needed CBS/ Epic though to promote Sandinista. “Lunatics and enthusiasts” started rock’n’roll and loved the music but they have been” replaced by suits and accountants”

A highlight is his tongue in cheek Bernie comments including about Bernie’s mother who “cracked the mould” when he was born! 

After the intro music fades there is a roar as the band come on stage. “Thank you ladies and gentlemen this is a song entitled London Calling to the faraway towns” Whilst the St Paul recording has a very good drum sound here Terry sounds like he’s bashing bin lids! (although the drum sound does improve later). Joe’s intro due to the sound quality is unclear to White Man in Hammersmith Palais.  Joe’s in good voice and it’s a strong performance like most this night but his adlibs over the extended ending is largely unclear.

A strong Radio Clash is followed by Spanish Bombs and then straight into Know Your Rights; Terry’s drumming is fast but not as fast as the remarkable St Paul’s performance. The drum sound has improved by Guns of Brixton and there’s lots of great lead guitar on a very strong band performance. The audience clap along enthusiastically on Train In Vain.

“Let’s have the lights on a minute. OK anyone here not been to a Clash concert before - what did he say?” asked Joe but rest is unclear. Magnificent Seven is another long one, Joe’s in in good form but his lengthy adlibs are unclear but does get in a local reference “Went for a picnic down at the Oak Street Beach”  

The band are continuing since the start of this tour to leave a really long pause after the ”breaks” first section on Wrong Em Boyo before the ska section. “OK boys and girls we‘re going now to Rock The Casbah“; Mick’s inventive over the prominent lead guitar intro. The recording ends abruptly at the end of the song and restarts into Police On My Back. “Now a word from our sponsor” intro’s another outing on this tour of Pressure Drop. Joe’s intro to Charlie Don’t Surf is again unclear as are his adlibs on Police & Thieves; drum and bass drop out section again the highlight

“Murder” shouts Joe and Mick and band play an extra-long impressively inventive crescendo intro to Somebody Got Murdered. The band then charge through Brand New Cadillac and I Fought The Law to end the main set.

The recording does not seem to be edited before Armagideon Time but surely must have been. It’s a raucous enjoyable performance with adlibs aplenty including reference to 1776 and US independence. Should I Stay then goes into English Civil War before the sound improves after an edit at the start of a strong Straight To Hell to which the crowd clap along to noisily. Straight into Janie Jones with a long repeated Terry drum intro before Mick’s guitar comes in. Unusually the final song is I’m So Bored With The USA (of course used to start with it on the Pearl Harbour Tour). Interesting some fans saw it as a message or indication of a bad mood but more likely they had been alternating the final song and the song was never meant as an attack on America and its people  anyway but its targets are US imperialism, economic, political and cultural. Mick adds a solo before Joe’s vocals come in and it’s a fine fierce and sharp performance to end the gig. 

Did you go? What do you remember?
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Don: Hi, I don't remember how I ended-up with an unused ticket for each show, but I still have them. The thing I remember most about the shows was the differences in the two performances.The first one was upbeat, high energy.

The 2nd show (Friday the 13th) was very dark, the last song was "I'm So Bored With The USA". I spoke with someone else who had gone to both shows he had the same reaction as I did -- the 2nd show had a foreboding mood

Anyway, very cool web site -- really well done.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21

London Calling Know Your Rights This Is Radio Clash Car Jamming White Man In Ham The Guns Of Brixton Should I Stay Or Should I Go? Call Up Career Opportunities Junco Partner Train In Vain Rock the Casbah Brand New Cadillac Wrong ‘Em Boyo Somebody Got Murdered English Civil War Safe European Home Armagideon Time Police On My Back The Magnificent Seven Straight to Hell Pressure Drop I Fought the Law

If you know of any articles or references for this particular gig, anything that is missing, please do let us know.

If you know any please let us know