These photographs were published as part of a much larger set in a Clash group I'm a member of, the band in Monterey, California on September 9th 1979. As a set of pictures of four men who have absolutely nailed a look and that four men against the world mentality they take some beating and the sheer colour, excitement and drama of The Clash on the road is evident. Joe in red and white with white brothel creepers and ending up in the crowd, Paul all in black with jeans tucked into his biker boots and quiff perfectly in place, Mick in black and white with sunburst Les Paul, and Topper in pink.
The Tribal Stomp was an attempt to put on a festival reviving something of the spirit of the hippies but attracting some of the punks. It was poorly attended than the organisers hoped and they lost loads of money. The Clash played it as part of their first big US tour, after recording London Calling in the summer of '79 but not yet releasing it until December. Peter Tosh, Robert Fripp, Canned Heat, Country Joe and The Fish and Big Mama Thornton also played and it was MCed by original Woodstock MC Wavy Gravy. Taking the stage Joe told the audience “We brought some cheap gasoline with us and we’re selling it at the side of the stage for 50 cents a gallon”. They then charge into a largely pre- London Calling set, an hour of high octane punk rock energy, built around the songs and singles from 1977 and 1978- I'm So bored With The USA, Complete Control, London Calling, Jail Guitar Doors, (White Man In) Hammersmith Palais, Drug Stabbing Time, Police And Thieves, Stay Free, Safe European Home, Capital Radio, Clash City Rockers, What's My Name, Janie Jones, Garageland, Armagideon Time and Career Opportunities. Joe Ely joins them for Fingernails and then the obligatory ending of White Riot. It is fast and loud and close to the edge and at times almost out of control, the pedal well and truly pushed down to the floor. The set has been widely bootlegged and the recording is pretty rough and ready. If you want the entire set it's here but these four are among the best in terms of sound and listenability (if you accept that it's a bit like listening to The Clash on a transistor radio in the next room- but maybe that adds to the authenticity of the experience).
Stay Free
Capital Radio
Garageland
Armagideon Time
Amazing. Joe was one all round cool guy wasn't he. That's a great Clash set too, pretty much the ideal one in my view.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to have known what Joe would have made of the last 5 years- Trump, Brexit, Farage, Coronavirus, the full shebang.
ReplyDeleteThe setlist is great but its amazing that a year later they'd have released London Calling, be recording Sandinista and be able to play a completely different, equally great setlist.
That's absolutely true. Would've been one of the best setlists of all time.
DeleteEssential stuff from the only band that mattered as they entered their untouchable phase. Great to see Johnny Green lurking in the background of one of the shots.
ReplyDeleteIt's almost impossible for me to picture the lads hanging out in picturesque Monterey. These live posts have been fantastic.
ReplyDeleteI've no idea of what Monterey is like other than these photos of The Clash and some 60s ones. I Google mapped it to see exactly where it is- such a long way from San Diego and San Francisco. My British understanding of distance thought it was only a short drive away.
ReplyDeleteGreat post SA. You nailed it!
ReplyDeleteThis was The Clash realizing the world really was their oyster. They look so damn cool.
I remember moving right into white and black jeans, solid color bowling shirts, slightly oversized so you could tuck them into the jeans. I had blue suede, black and white and all black creepers and a second hand store army field jacket. That was my look for my Junior and Senior years of High School and even into my first year of University. The field jacket survived into my Bunnymen inspired Post Punk look that took me all the way to the late 80s. I bought some white jeans and a new Camo Field jacket around Christmas...I need to find some bowling shirts that look reasonable on a middle aged guy...
Yep, those bowling shirts are shit hot. Totally. Army field jackets too.
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