Don't miss Chuck and Cumbia Shoes tonight if you're able to attend!
This powerful collective band rocked, rolled, and samba-ed Seattle but good on the first show of the tour behind the excellent new record. Of course y'all know he won't disappoint! He was kind enough to field some dumb questions even after leaving it all on stage. Wish I could follow the tour, but did get one of the super cool shirts!
Good one. I remember standing with you at the Warfield stage door as Bill pulled up with John Kahn, late for his gig that night with Jerry. Bill made sure the show would go on.
Interesting you posted this about a Clash show as I (re)watched "Spanish Bombs" last weekend a few days before your post on Graham and the Clash landed in my email. Playing all of "London Calling" in concert was an incredible thing to do - quite a labor of love. When "Sandinista" came out I was at first confused ("damn, this ain't what I expected from The Clash") but quickly became (and still am) thrilled with that massive release of a mosaic of music. My sentiments/experience with "Sandinista" are along the lines of your comment in the pre-show "Spanish Bombs" interview about "punk showed anyone could be in a band, The Clash showed what punk could do" (or something like that). Keep bringing it brother.
Also I grew up in Marin in the 80's not too far away from Bill's compound called, "Masada." I clearly remember Bill outside shows riding around on his small motorcycle. I also remember a couple of times after Dead shows in Oakland seeing him drive home in his convertible Aston Martin of something like that. We'd have a car full of trippin' teenagers and we'd honk and wave and he always waved back.
I love this blog post. It brings back so many memories. Not of growing up in San Francisco, but growing up in New York City and my fond memories of The Clash. I had this amazing framed poster of their performance on Broadway. I believe it read Clash on Broadway. I I reluctantly gave that poster away to a friend when I moved to California. I don’t think I saw the show unfortunately. I would’ve remembered that. And I can’t remember if I have seen them live or not. And that bums me out.
Reminds me of seeing the Clash in '83 at the SF Civic Auditorium (now the Bill Graham Auditorium) when I was 13 yrs old. I still remember the show, with Los Lobos, who opened, getting stuff thrown at them and getting booed off the stage. This was right after Mick Jones left the group.
Graham was a bully, but he did make sure the quality of the audio was superb. His security could also be bullies. Almost got bounced front a Dexy’s Midnight Runners show at the Kabuki because I objected to the way they manhandled my (under 100 lb.) wife (at the time) for blocking an aisle. (Another security dude calmed the raging one.)
I also managed to see the Clash at the Civic.
Flying from Portugal to Valencia to see you in November at the Loco Club, bringing a crew (some of whom have never seen you).
I interacted with Bill on many an occasion. He could be tough and well, if you knew his history, you understood it. But he was fair and he could get things done. He also turned a ton of people on to music that they wouldn't typically know because of his odd pairings at the Fillmore. I remember being in Hampton, VA for a Dead show in the '80's and the security queue was so bad, we didn't get in until the 3rd song. I saw Bill milling around and the next night there were check points set up and everyone got in on time. Those of us in the know, knew it was Bill's doing. I also remember getting off a plane and going right to a show at the Kaiser in Oakland and security wouldn't let me in with my Frisbee because "that was the rule". But I was an Ultimate Frisbee player and did freestyle as well and the disc was slicked up for tricks and I wasn't about to throw it around the arena. They were adamant, though, and refused, but Bill happened to be walking by and I yelled for him and showed him the disc and my tricks. He said, "So I won't see this thrown around?" I assured him he wouldn't, and he let me in with it. Bill was always around and willing to talk. I kinda miss him.
I, of course, went to the Bill produced show and the one at the Temple. For some reason I don't remember the Sleepers (but that was a long time ago and there may have been some substances involved)... I remember the Zeros on first - Hector in some great bright yellow socks, and shiny black shoes, then the Clash, then Negative Trend. Half the place cleared out after the Clash played and Negative Trend put on a brilliant show. Ah youth. (Plus, having worked for Bill for years I have to say he was a pretty good guy to work for - treated his staff well always)
oh, I know ... and he had the ability to be a serious pain in the neck! I remember him grabbing someone by the scruff of their shirt and personally tossing them out of the Warfield one night - I think the guy had tried to steal someone's tip jar.
I worked with her a few times ... she was part of the 'newer' crew and they weren't fond of the old-timers. She once called Candice a corporate stooge, which was amazingly wrong but Candice had to keep the bar running and, as mentioned, Bill could be cranky! Though once, long ago, Rachel booked one of my sister Mary's bands at the Blue Light? Was that what it was called? She was nice in that way.
Don't miss Chuck and Cumbia Shoes tonight if you're able to attend!
This powerful collective band rocked, rolled, and samba-ed Seattle but good on the first show of the tour behind the excellent new record. Of course y'all know he won't disappoint! He was kind enough to field some dumb questions even after leaving it all on stage. Wish I could follow the tour, but did get one of the super cool shirts!
Check out The Chord of Evil
historicmysteries@substack.com
My memory must be shot- I would’ve sworn that Maximum Rocknroll was on KALX, not KPFA.
Yeah, sometimes I'm not sure. I thought it was KALX for the longest time too.
Good one. I remember standing with you at the Warfield stage door as Bill pulled up with John Kahn, late for his gig that night with Jerry. Bill made sure the show would go on.
Oh yes, classic!
Interesting you posted this about a Clash show as I (re)watched "Spanish Bombs" last weekend a few days before your post on Graham and the Clash landed in my email. Playing all of "London Calling" in concert was an incredible thing to do - quite a labor of love. When "Sandinista" came out I was at first confused ("damn, this ain't what I expected from The Clash") but quickly became (and still am) thrilled with that massive release of a mosaic of music. My sentiments/experience with "Sandinista" are along the lines of your comment in the pre-show "Spanish Bombs" interview about "punk showed anyone could be in a band, The Clash showed what punk could do" (or something like that). Keep bringing it brother.
Also I grew up in Marin in the 80's not too far away from Bill's compound called, "Masada." I clearly remember Bill outside shows riding around on his small motorcycle. I also remember a couple of times after Dead shows in Oakland seeing him drive home in his convertible Aston Martin of something like that. We'd have a car full of trippin' teenagers and we'd honk and wave and he always waved back.
I love this blog post. It brings back so many memories. Not of growing up in San Francisco, but growing up in New York City and my fond memories of The Clash. I had this amazing framed poster of their performance on Broadway. I believe it read Clash on Broadway. I I reluctantly gave that poster away to a friend when I moved to California. I don’t think I saw the show unfortunately. I would’ve remembered that. And I can’t remember if I have seen them live or not. And that bums me out.
Reminds me of seeing the Clash in '83 at the SF Civic Auditorium (now the Bill Graham Auditorium) when I was 13 yrs old. I still remember the show, with Los Lobos, who opened, getting stuff thrown at them and getting booed off the stage. This was right after Mick Jones left the group.
Graham was a bully, but he did make sure the quality of the audio was superb. His security could also be bullies. Almost got bounced front a Dexy’s Midnight Runners show at the Kabuki because I objected to the way they manhandled my (under 100 lb.) wife (at the time) for blocking an aisle. (Another security dude calmed the raging one.)
I also managed to see the Clash at the Civic.
Flying from Portugal to Valencia to see you in November at the Loco Club, bringing a crew (some of whom have never seen you).
I interacted with Bill on many an occasion. He could be tough and well, if you knew his history, you understood it. But he was fair and he could get things done. He also turned a ton of people on to music that they wouldn't typically know because of his odd pairings at the Fillmore. I remember being in Hampton, VA for a Dead show in the '80's and the security queue was so bad, we didn't get in until the 3rd song. I saw Bill milling around and the next night there were check points set up and everyone got in on time. Those of us in the know, knew it was Bill's doing. I also remember getting off a plane and going right to a show at the Kaiser in Oakland and security wouldn't let me in with my Frisbee because "that was the rule". But I was an Ultimate Frisbee player and did freestyle as well and the disc was slicked up for tricks and I wasn't about to throw it around the arena. They were adamant, though, and refused, but Bill happened to be walking by and I yelled for him and showed him the disc and my tricks. He said, "So I won't see this thrown around?" I assured him he wouldn't, and he let me in with it. Bill was always around and willing to talk. I kinda miss him.
I, of course, went to the Bill produced show and the one at the Temple. For some reason I don't remember the Sleepers (but that was a long time ago and there may have been some substances involved)... I remember the Zeros on first - Hector in some great bright yellow socks, and shiny black shoes, then the Clash, then Negative Trend. Half the place cleared out after the Clash played and Negative Trend put on a brilliant show. Ah youth. (Plus, having worked for Bill for years I have to say he was a pretty good guy to work for - treated his staff well always)
But, do you think he could’ve taken a punch?
Hey Terese! ! Or “hey now” as you love to say. Yeah I don’t mean to imply he wasn’t a good guy to work for. He was a righteous dude. Bigger than life.
oh, I know ... and he had the ability to be a serious pain in the neck! I remember him grabbing someone by the scruff of their shirt and personally tossing them out of the Warfield one night - I think the guy had tried to steal someone's tip jar.
Also, he was honestly not happy with the new punk scene... he did like being the only game in town (once he got Chet Helms out of the way)
All those years you bartended at the Warfield, you must know Rachel Kushner?
I worked with her a few times ... she was part of the 'newer' crew and they weren't fond of the old-timers. She once called Candice a corporate stooge, which was amazingly wrong but Candice had to keep the bar running and, as mentioned, Bill could be cranky! Though once, long ago, Rachel booked one of my sister Mary's bands at the Blue Light? Was that what it was called? She was nice in that way.
no...the Blue Lamp, that was it...i
Right.
that's so cool. great story. there must be more, a part 2 at least.
"Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows! Tune in next week, same time, same station, for another thrilling adventure."
I'm thinking more along the lines of Paul Harvey and "that's the rest of the story"