Bond’s - Times Square, New York Bonds Residency
Three weeks & 17 gigs that shook up New York and America.
List of support acts
Supported by The Brattles & The Rock-cats?
last updated 18 May 2006
last updated 4 Jan 2007
Audio 1 - DAT master
Sound 3 - time 1hr 39mins - 25 tracks
Spanish Bombs
From audience DAT master
The only recording in circulation is from the same taper’s DAT master who apparently recorded almost all the Bond’s shows. The sound is thus similar to the others but is a little poorer than most; flatter, duller, more distant and with a level of hiss and lack of crispness. The sound does however improve halfway through Magnificent Seven but tails off again during Jimmy Jazz.
the Brattles played a set.
Hey Graham, I'm very much enjoying your website and the Bonds coverage. And I noticed an error. I was there for the afternoon show of June 13th at Bonds and the website is correct in that the Brattles played a set. But the Dead Kennedys did not play. If memory serves me well the other band was called something like The Rock-cats, and they had a stand-up bass and played Stray Cats-type music. Just wanted to pass that along. Matt
(afternoon show) Hi-School band The Brattles opened the matinee show, plus The Rock-cats? who they had a slap bass and played Stray Cats-type music. ulysses1904athotmail.com
the band again work hard to deliver
Seventeen days after The Clash first took to the stage at Bond’s they still had two more shows to do on their last day! The late afternoon start for the Matinee show proved again to be a problem for the by now nocturnal Clash! Mick moans/jokes about being still asleep during Train In Vain and at the end of the song Joe says “Yeah Good morning(!) Sorry we’re a bit late, it’s my fault I couldn’t get out of bed on time!”
Perhaps not surprisingly then this is not one of the best Bond’s performances (it’s also one of the poorer audience recordings) but the band again work hard to deliver and the show is never less than very enjoyable, and there is the added bonus of the only Bond’s stage invasion!
a 100 or more on stage by the time they played "London's Burning"
“I attended 2 of the Bond's gigs back in '81, the last two (June 13 Mat & Eve). Towards the end of the matinee gig (probably near the start of "Jimmy Jazz"), audience members started climbing up on stage from the right (Paul's side). Not just a few but many.
I decided to get up there and did. There must've been at least a 100 or more on stage by the time they played "London's Burning". I found an uncongested spot in front of Topper. The stage lights were incredibly hot. I can't imagine being up there for 2 hours. If you listen to "London's Burning" from that gig you can hear other non-clash personnel singing into the mic. This is why it's also likely the reason this gig was cut short.” Anon
The Brattles again opened the show.
Went to the show instead of going to my senior prom!
“I was supposed to be at the first matinee. We went in, waited in line, and instead of a show, got a riot. The rumour going down the line at the time was that one of the competing NYC clubs were jealous that bonds got the gig and they didn't, so they called the police and let them know that the gig was oversold. Basically, the venue sold tickets at their box office for capacity, and then ticketron (precursor to ticketmaster) sold the exact same amount at tm locations. which is how the band ended up doing all those weeks of shows, god bless 'em.
I went in and exchanged my ticket for the last matinee show, June 13. I went to that show instead of going to my senior prom (big high school dance), my mother still moans about that. I can tell you that the dead kennedys definitely did NOT open, I knew them and had seen them once at that point. The brattles did open, but I also remember another band, and recall that they were a rockabilly act, as I remember a pink stand-up bass. I want to say that it was the rockets, who were a pretty hot rockabilly band in NYC around that time, but cannot be sure.
The Brattles - Branch
I just came across your site. It’s absolutely amazing. My name is Branch Emerson and I was in the Brattles. I was the 12 year old guitarist that played with a punk/pop band called the "Brattles" (ages 8 to 12). We opened for the clash twice, June 6 & 13.
You had a question mark, meaning that your not sure if we played or the Dead Kennedys? We both played, Joe saw us at the Chelsea Hotel (actually we met in the elevator and then "hung out" in his room, thereafter doing a show on the roof, the story is a riot,) He asked us to play a Bonds due to the extentions. Needless to say it was an amazing time.
[We were a] Hi-School band, followed by Funkopolitin. The "We love you clash" that is heard mid-show is caused by a mic that fell into the audience. Joe just watched kind of amused while these guys in the first rows yelled into the mic. After a while, the roadies got it back and set it up again.
I remember sitting on the side of the stage watching that show after we opened up for them and to be able to hear that show again would be amazing.
(Below) Dagin, Branch, Vern, Emerson, and Jason in front
All but Vern were 8 and he was 12 years old.
Thank you, Branch W. Emerson - bemerson@rhfunding.com
The Brattles - Werner
“I was the 12 year old guitarist that played with a punk/pop band called the "Brattles" (ages 8 to 12). We opened for the clash twice, June 6 & 13. You had a question mark, meaning that your not sure if we played or the Dead Kennedys. We both played, Joe saw us at the Chelsea Hotel (actually we met in the elevator and then "hung out" in his room, thereafter doing a show on the roof, the story is a riot,) He asked us to play at Bonds due to the extensions. Needless to say it was an amazing time”. Werner
The Brattles - Elda
We were at Tony Machine's wedding on the Roof of the Grammercy Park Hotel...the Clash were staying on the floor below..I remember as I arrived, Mick was just coming out the door..I was so excited that I got an approving once over, before he got in a waiting car!!
The kids were there with their parents. Branch Emerson, keyboards, is the son of Elda of Elda and the Stilleto's, the band Debbie Harry was in before Blondie..his father was Eric Emerson, who was one of Andy Warhol's actors and a Max's fixture, until he was hit by a truck, if I remember correctly, and killed...Emerson Emerson, bass, is the son of Jane Forth, made famous by Lou Reed's song Sweet Jane..also a Warhol star, and again...Eric Emerson was his dad too..the drummer was Dagin, and when he was a toddler, he got carried out on stage at the Palladium in a trash can which they tipped over, he crawled out and said Ladies and Gentlemen, The NEW YORK DOLLS...My nepehw Jason, singer, songwriter....in the plaid cap, and my shirt..his Dad, John Collins, my husband's brother, was a Max's guy, and had a pretty good Ska band called the Terrorists back in the 80's..(#23 in the list of 130 Fabulous Faces, photos by Leee Black Childers..from the book called HIGH ON REBELLION INSIDE THE UNDERGROUND AT MAX'S KANSAS CITY), and Vern was just a kid they knew.
So, they were at the wedding, and they knew the Clash were staying there...Branch wrote a note to Joe, telling him about the band and said he'd like to open for the Clash and wrote down his phone number..he left it at the front desk for Joe...who, being our Joe, was intrigued, called and Voila!!!!
elda gentile" <eldasezatearthlink.net>
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BONDS CASINO, NEW YORK Following their appearance at the Palladium in 1980 The Clash had refused to play in New York unless they could play in a venue they thought suitable, i.e. an unseated dance hall. In February, Bernie and Kosmo had come to New York to seek out a suitable venue and agreed on Bonds which seemed ideal; it could hold 4000 with minimal discomfort (fire exits would prove the problem) but it was comparatively intimate and had character (art deco interior.
History Of Bonds - includes write up and old photos It was a former men’s department store with a lino floor and beams and a makeshift stage. Local promoters could not understand why The Clash did not play a couple of nights at Madison Square Garden (16,000 capacity) like everyone else. Indeed Chris Salewicz was asked to write a piece for Soho News “to find the story behind the story!”
an excellent description of the interior of Bonds J. Blocher writing in a fanzine gives an excellent description of the interior of Bonds and the experience of seeing The Clash there: “The doors opened at 8pm, we went up a carpeted spiral staircase surrounded by barbed wire and Mooseheads. We went into a large lobby and bar, with Clash concession stands. Through a large bank of double doors we located the dance floor, strobing lights - stunning glow in the dark things, half inflated silver spacemen hanging through trap doors in the ceiling. The dance floor itself was huge with recessed balconies at 2 sides to handle the large number of techies apparently required to keep all the lights flashing and the mikes feeding back. The facilities at Bonds were dance or drop! There was absolutely no seating anywhere.”
In the photo below Bonds is the low building on the right.
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Sorry we’re a bit late, it’s my fault I couldn’t get out of bed on time!”
This recording is one of the few to have the play on Morricone intro in full. The performances here are fine but there is a not unsurprising lack of inspiration common to the later Bonds shows; there are few adlibs from Joe and the songs are played with few of the improvisations common to the earlier shows. The band had made it through to the last day and once they wipe the sleep out of their eyes they clearly increasingly enjoy playing in front of their young fans!
The set list is again largely unaltered until the encores. After London Calling, Joe starts to greet the under age audience but he’s stopped by his band mates slamming into a fine, charged Safe European Home. The Leader next is followed by Train in Vain during which Mick talks to the audience saying “You see this track…” it’s mostly unclear but he does say “still asleep” referring presumably to himself rather than the young audience who cheer along loudly albeit in a higher pitch than normal!
Taking up the theme and greeting the audience Joe says “Yeah, Good morning (actually late afternoon but morning to the band!), Sorry we’re a bit late, it’s my fault I couldn’t get out of bed on time!” Mick then screams “1-2-3-4” and the band slam into White Man In Hammersmith Palais. Mick’s solo is too far back in the mix and unusually there’s no adlib from Joe over the albeit fine instrumental ending; evidence of the lack of inspiration despite the obvious efforts of the band to deliver.
The new Radio Clash sounds fresh, the band enjoying themselves and Joe sounds in good spirits. A fine run through of one of Mick and Joe’s favourites, Spanish Bombs is next followed by Paul’s Guns of Brixton, complete with the now normal extended intro.
“We’re gonna Call It Up now but it probably won’t mean anything - but it will…so I’ll just give the drummer £10 dollars and we’ll continue!” is Joe’s intro to a fine if unexceptional The Call Up and adds “Take your time” as Mick starts the song slowly. A typically enjoyable at Bonds performance of Bankrobber is next and then Mick starts the intro after Joes call to Complete Control then stops letting Toppers bass drum alone herald the start of the Clash classic 77 anthem. The band are working hard to deliver a great show and the young audience roar their approval.
Mick’s great guitar playing dominates Lightning Strikes and then the spotlight literally moves to Topper singing Ivan Meets GI Joe.”Call in the helicopters, call in the Medivac,” shouts Joe as the band conjure up more great chopper and other sound effects for Charlie Don’t Surf. Mick then picks out gently the melody and the audience clap along to an enjoyable if not exceptional performance.
“Are we allready, alright now move your shoes, Hey Tops give me the beat on the hi-hat” is Joe’s intro to a storming Magnificent Seven, the band’s performances hitting a higher gear here on in. After an edit mid song the sound improves and is now brighter and less flat. The song ends after a longish instrumental break with no adlibs from Joe. “Yes for Leon Spinks” says Joe over the intro to a fine Broadway and then Joe enjoying himself and working hard to connect with the young audience shouts “Help, help, help!” semi comically over the intro to a powerful Somebody Got Murdered.
Mick plays a terrific repeated echoed riff at the start of an excellent Police and Thieves. Joe adlibs over Mick’s great guitar work “Hey put your hand up, stick it up Mister,..Oh no” unfortunately the rest is unclear but Joe’s now really up for it. He says “Too slow” at the start of Clampdown and then Mick does not come in leaving only Topper’s drums and Paul’s bass to play for some time before Joe says something unclear and then Mick shouts “ 1-2-3-4” and he and Joe come in; an unusual start! Mick adlibs on his usual lines and then later Joe adlibs “Let the teenagers there just stood around the front…. I ain’t a juvenile delinquent, Oh No! (Joe in a rare reference to the Frankie Lymon 50’s hit!) The rest is unclear and the 7 minute performance finally brought to an end by Topper.
After an edit the first encore begins (after a surprising shouted request for Capital Radio!) with Mick saying, “Who’s ready? Joe? This is a kid’s song!” He then screams out “1-2-3-4” and the band crash into Career Opportunities with Mick singing lead vocals to begin with. Then its into the usual encores opener, One More Time featuring some good guitar and effects from Mick. An edit at the end of the song restarts with the intro to a fine Brand New Cadillac. “Thank you Amigos” shouts Joe but Topper takes it into Janie Jones. A female voice screams, as things get livelier in the audience.
The band leave the stage perhaps to cool things down but after an edit which leads into presumably the second encore and Jimmy Jazz there is soon sign of the stage invasion evidenced earlier. The sound quality drops now with the sound moving to predominantly the right channel. Various voices shout along with Joe, as things get increasingly chaotic. “New York’s Burning” shouts Joe and he is joined by other voices shouting out the lyrics in what sounds like a good-natured stage invasion by a reported 100 plus fans. Whether this resulted in the band curtailing the show is doubtful as the band usually played two encores ending with London’s Burning.
Did you go? What do you remember?
Info, articles, reviews, comments or photos welcome.
Please email blackmarketclash
Amazing
Hey, Love the site. I was lucky enough to see the Clash half a dozen times in 1981 and 1982--three nights at Bond's including opening night and the last matinee when we all got up on stage (my brother reminded me the other night of seeing me on stage singing "Jimmy Jazz" into Mick's mike and deciding he too had to rush the stage), Asbury Park in 1982, one of the nights with The Who @ Shea and a night in August 1982 at Red Rocks, a natural amphitheater in the Rocky Mountains outside of Bolder, Colorado.
The Bond's shows were remarkable, but the Red Rocks show was great too. The band opened with "White Riot" Mick, Joe and Paul beginning with their backs to the audience and wheeling around at the mikes just in time to nail the opening vocals. Also, Allen Ginsburg came out to do his "Ghetto Defendant" rap (he was chairing a symposium at the Naropa Institute in Bolder on the 25th anniversary of the publication of On the Road which I was in town to attend). Amazing all around. Thanks for compiling this. Jason Chervokas
'I saw the Clash at Bonds' - Facebook page
Popular Facebook group that recounts memories for the Bonds residency. Well worth a read.
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Joe Strummer was obviously annoyed at this, finally kicking the TV in I was lucky enough to see the Clash play twice--a great show at NYC's Palladium and one of their famous shows at Bonds. The latter show was a little lackluster, finally catching fire around halfway in--kicked off by a rousing version of Complete Control as I recall. One moment I remember clearly: a crew member put a small TV onstage so Mick Jones could watch the band perform on the Letterman show, pretaped earlier in the day. Joe Strummer was obviously annoyed at this, finally kicking the TV in. - Marlowe
greatest live band As for greatest live bands well i saw the clash in nyc when they sold too many tickets for bonds in Times Square and were obliged to play something like 2 weeks straight to honour all the tickets sold. This was the sandinista tour but the show covered every period and was quite simply amazing. Strummer got visibly pissed off when the crowd did not sing along with the obvious anthems but then you can’t expect perfection from a rock audience.Support that night was funkapolitain and the slits which blew my mind as i had no idea they were on the bill. Pearl harbour was the dj between sets.
Support acts There were a ton of opening acts at the Bonds shows, and none were memorable.
The New York Nobody Sings - Clash at Bond's reposted from my blog...
Remember When - The Clash Photos at Bonds Casino – 80s Retro Punk Rock So a few years later, when we got to do the printing for the official Clash at the Bonds Casino gig in NY City, we where ecstatic. We printed the shirts, drove them to NY City, sold them in the streets...
They Shoot Actors, Don't They? Bond's Casino
The Clash at Bonds Casino, Times Square, NYC gigs 1-3 of 17.
IT'S ALL THE STREETS YOU CROSSED NOT SO LONG AGO -The Bow-Ties that Bond BOND INTERNATIONAL CASINO--1530 Broadway, on the east side of Broadway between 44th and 45th Streets. (Often referred to as Bond's.) A short-lived discotheque most famous for hosting the "Clash on Broadway" residency in 1981,
Jo Streno Personal memories
RETRO MEMORIES The Clash at Bonds Casino, Times Square, NYC gigs 1-3 of 17.
Did you go? What do you remember? Info, articles, reviews, comments or photos welcome.
Photos
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Setlist
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London Calling |
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There are several sights that provide setlists but most mirror www.blackmarketclash.co.uk. They are worth checking.
from Setlist FM (cannot be relied on)
from Songkick (cannot be relied on)
... both have lists of people who say they went
& from the newer Concert Database and also Concert Archives
Also useful: Ultimate Music database, All Music, Clash books at DISCOGS
Articles, check 'Rocks Back Pages'
The drama of the Bonds residency
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1 2 3
5 6 7 8 9 10
12 |
The Clash arriving in New York and the build up The remainder of the residency |
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1. Background: The Clash at Bond's
Italy to New York
When The Clash landed at JFK airport in New York on the night of the 25th May 1981 they had no idea that their residency at a Broadway nightclub would create such a furore and nationwide media coverage that it became a pivotal event in their assault on America, helping to propel them into the major league Stateside. As Kosmo Vinyl has succinctly put it, “People who didn’t have straight trousers and short hair suddenly knew who we were. It got out - it was big!”. The Bonds concerts became one of the most enduring aspects of the Clash legend. ... more ...
The remainder of the press coverage once the bad had agreed to ensure all ticket holders got in by adding 8 more dates.
A collection of articles covering the bands arrival into New York including previews of the week. Also includes the WNEW preview broacast with Meg Griffin.
4. Bonds News Reports
Audio and video reports covering the ticket fiasco. Fascinating watching / listening that captures those three days well. Includes notes.
5. Ticket Fiasco
Numerous articles and audio and video reports covering the ticket fiasco.
6. The remainder of the residency
8. Longer history of Bonds plus old photos
9. Posters and adverts
Bits and pieces inclduying all adverts and posters.
10. Badges, FSLN handouts, flyers, Clash press releases ...
11. Clash on Broadway Reels
What was filmed and what happened to it?
13. Photos
Random phonts bundled here.
14. Comments
Comments for those who attended one of the gigs
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ARTICLES, POSTERS, CLIPPINGS ... A collection of A collection of articles, interviews, reviews, posters, tour dates from the Clash's residency at Bonds, New York. Articles cover the period from July through to the end of September.
VIDEO AND AUDIO Video and audio footage from the tour including radio interviews.
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Italy to New York
When The Clash landed at JFK airport in New York on the night of the 25th May 1981 they had no idea that their residency at a Broadway nightclub would create such a furore and nationwide media coverage that it became a pivotal event in their assault on America, helping to propel them into the major league Stateside. As Kosmo Vinyl has succinctly put it, “People who didn’t have straight trousers and short hair suddenly knew who we were. It got out - it was big!”. The Bonds concerts became one of the most enduring aspects of the Clash legend.
WNEW Bonds week
Prior to The Clash's arrival WNEW FM ran a Bonds Week with Meg Griffin. It includes an intro to the Clash at Bonds week with a montage of old interviews and Clash tracks
Listen again here:
Bonds News Reports
28 May - 30 May 81 - updated 5 Jan 2009When the probelms started on the 29th at the venue the news media decsended and there s both audio and video circulating that captures those few hectic days.Audio: 30 mins of TV and Radio interviews, news and commentary.
Video: The Clash - News Reports about Bond's Casino Shows - June 1981
Video - Clash on Broadway Reels -
Clash On Broadway - 19:50
The Clash / Sound System box set
It is not clear which of these comes from which night?London Calling (first night?)
This Is Radio Clash (Tom Snyder show)
The Magnificent Seven (Tom Snyder show)
Guns Of Brixton (first night?)
Safe European Home (first night?)
A good listing of the contents of the The Clash's Sound System box set can be found here.
For a full details on video from the opening shows go to the 28th
For information on the Clash on Broadway reels go here
Private Super8mm film footage of the rucus outside Bonds
Someone had a video camera and has more and better footage from outside.
Press Conference - "See out"
Would like the full press conference.
Video from Bonds
There's a lot of material now floating around all mixed up, here's the older offical stuff
1. Essential Clash DVD
cut down version of CoB from Westway but with unseeen angles and clips. Includes an edited London Calling [audio is unmixed pro recording from 9th].
2. Westway to the World BONUS footage DVD
Includes nearly full tracks of - London Calling [Trick of Treat audio] - Guns of Brixton [dubbed partly] Safe European Home [dubbed with studio single] - Charlie Don't Surf [original sound but from mixing desk] - Radio Clash [original sound but from mixing desk]. Also includes a mash up of a lot of footage from New York and outside Bonds such as the riot.
3. Video - press conference, backstage, 16 Tons play on, London Calling nearly full [probably the same length as Westway? but the sound plays on to a montage of NYC/Clash pictures]. The sound is remixed from [Trick or Treat bootleg] radio broadcast from the 9th June as Westway. 5.38min
4. MTV Rockumentary is same as Westway/Clash on TV/Essential DVD but with only very edited clips of the press conference and London Calling. Nothing new except a couple of comments form Mick and Paul.
5. Clash on Broadway Reels
Extensive details here
6. 60minute doc never realeased, various shots
7. Full multi camera shoot of the 13th evening
Never released except two tracks on 6 above.
8. Video shot across various shows
but particulalry full show from the 3rd
9. As 8 above, and Don Letts footage of Mag 7 from the 2nd June
But only partial so patched up with other audio and cut video. Though partial soundboard.
Tom Snyder show NTV
The complete Clash appearance circulates on Clash On TV Vol.1 in very good quality (apart from some ghosting) from a TV rebroadcast (better than the YouTube broadcast below). For many years Clash fans had made do with very poor quality video copies of this important Clash footage.
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