1977 December 20

1977

DATE INDEX

JANUARY

THE LOU'S

Ulster Hall, Queens University

The Clash finally make it to play Belfast after transport problems scuppered yesterdays booking. Heres an on the spot review from Belfasts premier punk zine Private World...

CLASH IN BELFAST

This was more important than any gig played in Belfast. The last time the Clash attempted to play they were thwarted by authority and were attacked by the cops. The group suffered from the trip because of the Army photos and the "I only saw his back" disaster experienced by the editor and many more. When the whole sickening business was over they said they'd be back. I didn't believe them but they kept their word.

I prefer to forget about the controversy over the cancellation of one of the shows. So lets start about 8.00. The queues getting bigger and bigger, the fuzz are getting worried, I'm getting drunk and carried away (literally) (s'rite-Ed) and the Clash are tuning up. Because of a disagreement I missed THE LOU'S (he got lifted). But I got back just in time to hear the opening number - 'Complete Control'...it sounded great. Proving that it was the single of '77 no matter what anyone says. I don't know what the sound should've been like (Strummer says it should've been better), but it didn't matter to me or any of the other 600 kids or so in the hall. 'USA', 'Janie', 'Protex', '1977', all those fucking classics from that fucking classic album & 'Capitol Radio'. No bouncers either, Nick said to me the next day..."Hey wasn't it great without any bouncers in your way"...The music was the best I had heard and especially the new numbers - 'Clash City Rockers' (new single) and 'White Man In Hammersmith Palais' have got heavy wog influences but they really worked. 'White Riot' sent us wild and the stage was invaded by lotsa people with lotsa things to say. All Strummer managed to say was "Thankyou".

The next day between, autographs and mouthfuls of egg and chips (Jones is a vegetarian in case you are interested) Strummer and Jones hold court in the Europa. They didn't say much of interest. They were probably afraid to say anything in case they said it to the wrong person. Even I feel that way sometimes and I fucking live here. Micks asking Matlock to get the Rich Kids over here so watchout for that. You know what you've read about the Clash and from what I seen it's all true. FUCK THE PISTOLS...THE CLASH ARE THE ONLY ONES WHO CARE. - Billy Mollwaine

(Review extract from Private World fanzine 1977/780 - Supplied by Joe Donnelly)

WARSAW

return to Pennine Recording Studios again to record after extensive rehearsals. The result is a four-song tape that they're hoping to turn into a record. Tracks include "No Love Lost," "Failures," "Warsaw" and "Leaders Of Men."