THE CLASH - Live In L.A 1982

1982 was the year that The Clash's outsider values (particularly Joe's) ideologically.... clashed with reality. Drummer Topper Headon had a 'drug problem' and the bands popularity had been growing across the world. By October, Topper had been sacked, and the band were gonna be taking the sound of West London to the stadium stages of America supporting The Who, at the request of Pete Townsend, who was a big fan. It was a case of the old guard meeting the new guard Once again just like when they signed with CBS in 1977, the band were accused of 'selling out' but once again it was about “Reaching more people” and with the Who supports they had a ready made audience to get the message across to, The Clash went out and “Did a job.” and fine job they did to.

The intimacy with the audience may not have been there, but was there anywhere else for the band to go? The previous year, 1981 The Clash had done residencies at Bonds in New York, The Mogador in Paris and The Lyceum in London.

The criticisms and contradictions, were pretty irrelevant because by the 1980's The Clash had broken free from Punk Rocks constraints, but they still tried to remain true, at the Shea Stadium gig hundreds of fans were let in to the after show party.

Did The Clash break the USA, or did the USA break The Clash? It was during this stadium tour that tensions between Strummer and Jones heightened, this would ultimately mean the end of the band when Mick Jones was sacked in 1983 for having “moved away from the original ideals of the group.” The Clash were more than just a band....and if they were just a band, then they were the only band that mattered.

Since The Clash split there has only been one other band with the same mouth and trousers attitude and they are the Manic Street Preachers, and without The Clash there would have been no Manic Street Preachers. Joe may no longer be with us, but his heart still beats with every herbert that picks up a guitar, writes some words and tries to get a message across.

This is a great quality bootleg (with artwork) recorded through the soundboard that I liberated/leached from somewhere/someone who/where I can't remember, respect to whoever and wherever you are, and to everyone else ENJOY!