St Sampson Square 12noon - Jam down Petersgate 9.00pm
York Minster 9.30pm
... your comments ....
BUSKING TOUR...Joe and Paul took the boys on an impromptu busking tour - playing publicly and outside venues acoustically... the 'shows' generated some excitement about the forthcoming album... They all hitched from London by the M1 and agreed to meet up in the pub near Nottingham Railway Station. The Last Days of the Clash - Vince White pg 226
page updated - June 2000 - began
page updated - April 2020 - redesigned and added too
St Sampson Square 12noon
No known audio or video
Jam down Petersgate 9.00pm
No known audio or video
York Minster 9.30pm
No known audio or video
If you know of any recording, email blackmarketclash
Did you go? What do you remember?
We are looking for scans - articles - tickets - posters - flyers - handbills - memorabilia - photos - comments / any info - you might have. Anything welcome.
Please email blackmarketclash or post below on bmc facebook post.
Joe with fans sampson Square, York
Joe Strummer in York on the 1985 busking tour by photographer Peter Byrne. Peter says "It was published in the NME & kick-started
my photography career."
Played three songs including I Fought the Law before being moved on by the Police.
Neal Bambridge - nealbambridge[at]hotmail.com>
I also heard that they stayed in York the night of 8th and played at a nightclub for someones birthday and that their parents were pissed off as they passed the hat around! But maybe this was in Leeds not York. But they stayed in York definately that night at one of my college friends house!
On the 9th they played about 3 songs outside York Minster before being moved on by the police.
Woody G Mellor - 13th May 2019
I was there the night they played outside the Minster. I remember it like it was yesterday. After they played the last song everyone piled into the York Arms. Strangely I saw Joe walking past the war memorial, alone. He was a bit drunk. I was the only one that spotted him. So I went after him to tell him where everyone else had gone. He put his arm around me (not sure if it was for support) and he said "c'mon then."
He never let go of me, even when signing autographs etc, if he had let go of me there was no way I would of got through the pub door it was that packed. He gave me his address that night.
The Press in York - 26 February 2017 ·
Anyone here remember their unannounced busking tour visit to York?
David Hall
When they were busking outside the Minster the police stopped them and Joe Strummer said they would play one more song and leave ......the police said ok and the Clash then played 'Police on my back' with 200 kids on backing vocals.
Graeme Hopson
I remember getting out of work (carriage works)to see them,someone wrote about going into the hole in the wall pub,it wasn't,it was the york arms,the only time ive ever been in there.
Chris Parkin Clash on Parole FB 5 Dec 2012
Back in the 80's I saw the Clash busking outside the Alarm gig at Leeds Uni. Some animal rights protester had lobbed red gloss all over Joe cos they didn't like leather jackets, hmmmm. We were tipped off that it was going to happen by the now famous James Brown (not that one) and were in at the start. I had the pleasure of chatting with Joe in the Faversham afterwards and he gave me a roll up, which I stubbed and selotaped to the Combat Rock poster. Sadly it was lost in a house move years later. I offered them a lift to York the next day but as I only had a Mini Clubman Estate at the time it was a non starter from the off. Happy days indeed.
Niall A. Duthie
I saw them earlier that month in York. They stayed in the guest rooms in my local, The York Arms, and played a storming acoustic set in front of the Minster ( Cathedral ) until the polis intervened. Happy days!
The Clash - 20 August 2014 ·
Thank you to John Goodridge for sharing his memories of The Clash busking in York, 1985. Newspaper cuttings
Rachel - @rachelcdavies - 27 Mar 2011 - @marick
saw The Clash play live when they did a busking tour and played in the car park behind my house in York.
METAL MELISHA - @MelishaMetal - 2 Apr
Joe Strummer in York on the 1985 busking tour by photographer Peter Byrne. Peter says "It was published in the NME & kick-started my photography career."
THE CLASH METAL MELISHA
The Clash - 20 August 2014 ·
Thank you to John Goodridge for sharing his memories of The Clash busking in York, 1985.
BBC Radio 6 Music - @BBC6Music - 6 Jan 2012
The law won :( RT
@SistaLou
#buskerheroes My fella saw The Clash busking outside York Minster in early 80s. they got moved on by the fuzz!
Did you go? What do you remember?
Info, articles, reviews, comments or photos welcome.
Please
If you know of any recording, email blackmarketclash
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
Numerous articles, interviews, reviews, posters, tour dates from the Busking Tour
If you know of any articles or references for this particular gig, anything that is missing, please do let us know.
York News - 26 February 2017
Did The Clash really once use York Minster's door as a drum?
May 8 and 9, 1985, are remembered fondly by hundreds of York's music fans.
There had been no official announcement, but on the afternoon of May 8, word spread that punk legends The Clash were to perform live in the city that evening, outside York Minster. PDF
York Press - 13 May 2019
Do you remember the day The Clash came to town?
WELL, here's one for any ageing punk-rockers out there. Do you remember the day The Clash came to town?
It was May 9, 1985, according to this brilliant sequence of photographs we have dug out of our archive.
They didn't play a proper gig here. But Joe Strummer and co did busk in King's Square, to the delight of onlookers. They also paraded down Petergate, all black leathers and attitude. PDF
York press - c10 May 1985
Roll Up Punk Band The Clash in York
York press - c10 May 1985
Punks march Minster
York press - c10 May 1985
Clash in York? Now pigs fly
York press - c10 May 1985
Clash City Rockers
York press - c10 May 1985
Chart-toppers Clash busk in city square
York press - c10 May 1985
Carefree and trouble-free as fans of superstars jam the city centre
York press - c10 May 1985
Carefree and trouble-free as fans of superstars jam York
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