The Clash Victoria Park Hackney 30th April 1978

Now this is a big anniversary gig! 40 years to the day when one of the most important gigs in British punk history took place in Victoria Park in London's Hackney. Really the culmination of several years of activism throughout the mid-70's against the far right whose parties, The National Front and The British Movement, were at what was to be the pinnacle of their popularity.

Of course gigs continued to be smashed up after Rock Against Racism had run its course, but in many ways this festival seemed to break the will of those organisations of the far right who then turned on themselves.

Not originally billed, but one of the main draws of the day were The Clash.

FLAC: https://we.tl/i6HWt8bsLF

01. Complete Control
02. London’s Burning
03. Clash City Rockers
04. Tommy Gun
05. Jail Guitar Doors
06. White Man in Hammersmith Palais
07. Last Gang in Town
08. Police and Thieves
09. English Civil War
10. Guns on the Roof
11. Capital Radio
12. White Riot

Oh Gawd, its Jimmy!

There's a Ghost in my House

'The Mysterious World of Arthur C. Clarke' has got a lot to answer for! That and one of those Marshall Cavendish bit part magazine publications that came out in the late '70's/early '80's called 'The Unexplained'. It was these that sparked an early interest in the paranormal. And let's face it who does not enjoy the thrill of an occasional ghost story.

Last week I was perusing through some radio podcasts and I stumbled on one of BBC Radio 4's 'Reunion' broadcasts. This brought together some of the characters that were involved in the so called 'Enfield Poltergeist' case of 1977/78.

This is another publication that I read back in the day and consequently spooked myself for weeks afterwards..... no pun intended... OK it was. Guy Lyon Playfair's book documented the goings on at this unassuming property in a North London suburb and the efforts of the Maurice Grosse who investigated the phenomenon on behalf of the Society for Psychical Research.

MP3: https://we.tl/rQPZrmVt3K

In recent years the case has taken the form of a UK TV drama as well as a feature film, The Conjuring 2..... the latter of which I will not be watching!

Elvis Costello (With The Imposters) Live at the BBC Radio Theatre London 28th April 2002

Here's a man like so many others that at least in part owes his success to the vibrant London pub rock scene of the mid to late seventies. Clearly a very talented man Costello has written some of the greatest songs in the English songbook...... a few of them appear in this BBC radio broadcast from 2002.

FLAC: https://we.tl/7cccn3lWod

01. 45
02. Waiting For The End Of The World
03. Watching The Detectives
04. Spooky Girlfriend
05. (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea
06. When I Was Cruel No. 2
07. Man Out Of Time
08. Dust 2
09. Tear Off Your Own Head (It's A Doll Revolution)
10. Alibi
11. You Belong To Me
12. Pump It Up

First Avenue Minneapolis 29th April 1987

No less than 31 years ago tomorrow, here's one from the US leg of the 'Dreamtour'.

FLAC: https://we.tl/NxmBH0CWzi

Artwork: https://we.tl/pShpIKcfoC

01. No More Heroes
02. Was It You?
03. Down In The Sewer
04. Nice In Nice
05. Punch And Judy
06. Souls
07. Always The Sun
08. Northwinds
09. Big In America
10. Nice 'N' Sleazy
11. Who Wants The World
12. Bring On The Nubiles
13. Shakin' Like A Leaf
14. Uptown
15. Tank
16. Toiler On The Sea
17. Spain
18. Nuclear Device
19. Grip
20. Duchess
21. London Lady

20 From '86 (10) Black Flag Detroit MI 28th June 1986

Here's one from the quite frankly terrifying Black Flag! This is also the last gig they played by all accounts.

FLAC: https://we.tl/MRBm7E82cM

Artwork: https://we.tl/QiT4JaCHHn

01. Retired At 21
02. Annihilate This Week
03. Bastard In Love
04. Drinking And Driving
05. Paralyzed
06. In My Head
07. White Hot
08. Black Love
09. Kickin’ And Stickin’
10. Society’s Tease
11. This Is Good
12. I Can See You
13. Nothing Left Inside
14. Gimme Gimme Gimme
15. Louie Louie

The Damned CBGBs New York 7th April 1977

Once again The Damned led the way by being the first of the British punk bands to play the States. Here they are in the toilet that was CBGBs on this day back in 1977.

FLAC: https://we.tl/ClOPhiODBA

Artwork: https://we.tl/fAYzq13r92

Set 1:

01. I Feel Alright
02. Sick Of Being Sick
03. See Her Tonight
04. Fan Club
05. I Fall
06. Feel The Pain
07. Neat Neat Neat
08. Help
09. New Rose
10. So Messed Up!

Set 2:

11. I Feel Alright
12. Born To Kill
13. Fan Club
14. Intermission (Broken Amp)
15. Anarchy In The U.K - Part
16. Neat Neat Neat
17. Stretcher Case Baby
18. Help
19. New Rose
20. Stab Yor Back
21. So Messed Up!