The Anarchy Tour December 1976 - Sex Pistols, The Heartbreakers, The Clash and The Damned... Briefly!

 

As rock 'n' roll tours go there cannot be many that have had so many column inches devoted to it. The notoriety that built up around these four bands with just a handful of gigs under their belt as they toiled up and down the motorways of Britain says more of British society as it existed in late 1976 than it did of the antics of the bands themselves. 

Looking back upon what actually happened and it is the various pillars of the establishment in the form of the national press (or at least the tabloids), E.M.I. and a host of local councilors and 'dignitaries'  that are reflected in a much less favourable light than the Sex Pistols. 

Johnny Rotten Leeds Polytechnic 6th December 1976.

I have just finished reading a book by Mick O'Shea that provides a blow by blow account of the tour that both broke punk in terms of awareness on a national level and at the same time broke punk, in the sense of its original incarnation as an elusive scene for those that dared to think a little differently. In addition to covering the ill-fated tour, the early chapters in the book set the scene and place the tour into the correct context. The two seminal gigs at Manchester's Lesser Free Trade Hall are covered in detail since these two shows explain the band's relationship with the city and in particular with the 'Electric Circus', Manchester's answer to London's Roxy. Needless to say, the Grundy incident is analysed in great detail since it was the expletive loaded two minutes that occurred moments before the closing credits of Thames TV's 'Today' programme rolled that propelled the four Sex Pistols into position as Public Enemies No. 1!

Of course the British society of 2023 is infinitely more permissive than was the case in 1976. Just look at attitudes towards the monarchy. Lydon and Cook were seriously assaulted for their involvement with a song such as 'God Save The Queen' in the year of her Silver Jubilee. In 2023 we see scenes of demonstration by republican groups on each and every occasion that King Charles III visits a UK town or city.

No, the Anarchy Tour debacle was of it's time, it would not happen today. Reading about the series of events that occurred between 1st December and 22nd December 1976 (the night of the last gig of the tour at Plymouth Woods Centre) has an almost 'Carry On' feel about them, little more than saucy postcard titillation!

Johnny Rotten Leeds Polytechnic 6th December 1976.

But in December 1976 this was deadly serious stuff! Gigs arranged and rearranged were cancelled the next day, it was (cash from) chaos! Up and down the country student unions and/or chancellors put the kibosh on university gigs, councilors  under pressure blocked Town Hall gigs and the top brass of the Top Ranks pulled the plug. It was a farce in a very British sense. 

Given that only seven gigs were played out of a potential twenty four it is quite something that two of them survive in the bootleg record, namely the first of two dates at the Electric Circus in Manchester on the 9th December and Leeds Polytechnic on 6th December (the only date that The Damned played on the tour before being booted off as a result of their 'treacherous ways').

The two Pistols sets are enhanced by sets by The Clash and Buzzcocks from the Circus gig on the 9th. Buzzcocks appearance on the bill was in many ways Malcolm's acknowledgement of the role that Howard and Pete had played in opening Manchester and wider Lancashire and Yorkshire area to the Pistols.

Thanks to the original Dime uploader for this fantastic piece of UK punk history. Recordings also include contemporary new clips as the tour 'progressed' across the country.

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-QQjqNergED

Artwork: Included in download file.

DISC 1

 

Sex Pistols  Electric Circus Manchester 9th December 1976 

01. Anarchy In The UK

02. I Wanna Be Me

03. Seventeen

04. Stepping Stone

05. Satellite

06. Submission

07. Substitute

08. No Feelings

09. Stop Gobbing

10. Liar

11. Pretty Vacant

12. God Save The Queen

13. Problems

The Clash Electric Circus Manchester 9th December 1976

14. White Riot

15. Bored With The USA

16. London's Burning

17. Hate & War

18. Protex Blue

19. Career Opportunities

20. Cheat

21. 48 Hours

22. Janie Jones

23. 1977

DISC TWO

Leeds Polytechnic 6th December 1976

01. Grundy Incident - REMOVED OFFICIALLY RELEASED CONTENT.

02. Derby Statement

03. McLaren Yorkshire Television

04. Dean Of Leeds Polytechnic

05. Anarchy In The UK 

06. I Wanna Be Me 

07. Seventeen 

08. Stepping Stone 

09. God Save The Queen 

10. Substitute 

11. No Feelings 

12. Liar 

13. Pretty Vacant 

14. Problems 

15. Caerphilly segment

The Buzzcocks - Manchester Electric Circus on the 9th December 1976 

16. Orgasm Addict

17. Breakdown

18. Times Up

19. Boredom

20. Tear Me Up

21. Friends Of Mine

22. Love Battery

23. Big Dummy

24. Oh Shit

25. Can`t Control Myself