THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2008- 4:17 pm
Recorded at New York’s Shea Stadium in 1982, Live at Shea Stadium captures the band at the peak of its powers and on devastating form. Bristling with energy and attitude, Live at Shea Stadium is destined to feature alongside James Brown at the Apollo, The Who at Leeds and Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison as one of the greatest live recordings of all time!
The Clash, opening for The Who on their farewell tour of the US, played two nights at the legendary Shea Stadium (12th & 13th Oct 1982). They had recently released the Combat Rock album, and the singles “Rock The Casbah” and “Should I Stay Or Should I Go” were enjoying mass audiences via MTV and radio airplay. Despite being the support act, the New York Post reported “there were as many Clash fans on those nights as Who fans.”
Recorded by Glyn Johns, the album features the second night’s performance in its entirety and shows the band at a fascinating and pivotal point in their career. They had risen from punk agitators to arena superstars and would break up less than a year later. One of the few remaining unreleased Clash treasures, the recordings have long been sought after by fans and were unearthed by the late Joe Strummer while packing for a move.
This is a legendary Clash concert – released in a historic year for Shea Stadium. More than an album, it’s an event.
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Replies for this News article
"SPANISH BOMBS" should be a single!
The Clash Live at Shea Stadium is an incredible live album, and it was recorded very well. The sound is amazing! I've never heard a live album with so much "PUNCH" and energy! I remember back in the day going to import shops and buying the latest singles by The Clash, Sex Pistols, Ramones and other great punk bands. The picture sleeves were great, and it was great to collect all of them. When a new Clash single came out, you new the sleeve was going to be special. I think it would be a great idea if "Spanish Bombs" from The Live at Shea Stadium CD/Album should be released as a single. I've been told that "Straight To Hell" was also performed at Shea Stadium. If that's true, that should be the B-side, since it's not on the CD/Album. It would also be great if a 2 part single could be released with the studio version, and any out takes of "Spanish Bombs". I can imagine the picture sleeve being a smaller version of the Shea Stadium cover. It would be great to see The Clash on the charts again, and played more often on the radio. Maybe "Spanish Bombs" would make all this possible. It's a great Live track from The Clash at Shea Stadium!
COULD HAVE DONE BETTER? SHOULD HAVE DONE
I saw the band in bradford on the casbah tour, which was re-scheduled due to Joe going missing. i was only a young lad but had been brought up on the " greatest rock n roll band in the world " by my older peers. this gig was awesomeand modelled my life from that day to this, but i feel after combat rock they should have taken time out and re-charged. rested, and gone on to even better things, but, alas. i was not to be. i had the good fortune to meet Joe some years later when he played the same city with the latino rockabilly war. they say you should meet your "idols" as you will be dissapointed. NO WAY. he was as charming, articulate and affable and as funny as you would want him to be. RIP JOE.
The quote above about other live recordings has got to be true, the Boston Orpheum show for one which was used on from here to eternity must exist in its entirety.
anybody out there got the full show?
A Welcome Addition - However want more classic Clash line-up
I totally agree with Benny C.! I along with a number of others would love to have complete concert recording of the 'classic' Clash line-up. My understanding form comments which Mick Jones made - most if not all Clash shows were recorded from the sound board. If that is true then there must be a number of great performances captured on tape. The box set, The Clash on Broadway contains live performances of Tommy gun and I Fought the Law both taken from pre 1980 shows with good sound quality. Long time Clash filmographer and friend Don Letts has said that the historic Bonds shows were recorded. Where are those tapes?
As a note on the soon to be released Shea stadium recording, this is Clash at the cross-roads. Here is the Clash playing venues which created the just the type of corporate rock which they rallied against in the early years. This is a Clash where Jones and Strummer were barely speaking to each other off stage. This is a Clash which would soon crash and burn under the pressure of several years of continual touring along with internal money and management issues.
The Clash designed the blue print for bands with the philosophy of music with a message and soul; a message that bands like U2 still carry on today, 'a public announcement with guitars’.
Keeping the message and the band alive.
I HOPE THERE WILL BE MORE!!!
Nearly a decade since, "From Here To Eternity", at last another live album!!!!!! This has been long over due. I HOPE THERE WILL BE MORE to come in the not so distant future.
May I suggest, if the record execs do decide to release more live albums, Release a live gig from The 16 Tons Tour.....THE CLASH at there best......Give TOPPER SOME JUSTICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was there. I will be buying this CD.
I was at that concert. My sister won free tickets but was up in school in Boston and I got to go.
The Clash, The Who and the opening act was David Johannsen
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"Yankee detectives are always on the TV cause killers in America work seven days a week."
Forever The Clash
The music of The Clash will forever live on. The reports are staggering concerning the end of the group's musical career but the free world will always be able to enjoy the only band that mattered. Today, we have at our disposal the adventure from beginning to end of a Punk band that stood for justice of the working man and dispised racism. Everyone no matter who you were and are today are loved by The Clash.
If you are a music lover no matter what genre, get every Clash DVD and CD. Seeing and hearing this group in action will lift the lowest of spirits.
When I die, there are a few people I will be looking for in heaven: Jimy Hendrix,
Stevie Ray Vaughn, Janis Joplin, Luther Vandros and Joe Strummer.
I never saw this wonderful group in person but the videos of Joe and the boys on stage kicking ass uplifted me no matter if I was up or down.
Punk lives on just as The Clash!
They Could've Done So Much Better
I'll run out and buy this when it's released. I'm sure I'll even enjoy it. All the time knowing they could've released something so much greater
Why release something from 1982 instead of the 1979-80 height of their power, with Topper on the skins?
I don't get it...they must have other good multitrack recordings in the vault of complete shows, right?
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The Clash Live! Veteran of 12 unforgettable shows, 1979-82.