The Clash - 'Live At Shea Stadium' (Sony BMG) Released 06/10/08

Formed in 1976 amid the soaring temperatures of an endless summer, a deteriorating political landscape, crumbling economy, industrial unrest and fast approaching winter of discontent, The Clash were among the original wave of bands to raise a two fingered salute in the UK punk explosion of 1977. While the Sex Pistols were the original punk band, The Clash were the definitive punk rockers and it mattered little when Mark Perry proclaimed that “Punk died the day The Clash signed to CBS”. Dubbed “The Only British Band That Matters” their self-titled debut ensured instant success and their popularity soon navigated the Atlantic with their third album ‘London Calling’.

But despite the success the band were falling apart. Prior to the 1982 release of ‘Combat Rock’ and its accompanying tour, drummer Topper Headon was sacked due to an increasingly destructive heroin addiction and Terry Chimes, the group’s original drummer rejoined; but the cracks remained. Despite rising tensions, an invitation to support The Who at New York’s Shea Stadium was accepted and for two nights in October 1982 The Clash played to crowds in excess of 60,000; The New York Post reporting "as many Clash fans on those nights as Who fans". Recorded by recording engineer Glyn Johns ‘Live At Shea Stadium’ captures their second night’s performance in its entirety and is one of the last remaining Clash treasures to be released; the tapes largely forgotten until rediscovered by Strummer when moving home.

After an introduction by associate and sometime manager Kosmo Vinyl as “a little bit of what’s going on in London at the moment” Joe Strummer welcomes the crowd “to the casbah club” and launches into the confident battle weary stride of ‘London Calling’ before the relentless electric energy of ‘Police On My Back’ sung by Mick Jones and a Paul Simonon slurred ‘Guns Of Brixton’ take over. A jovial Strummer manages to disguise a band living out its final days surrendering hit after hit for mass consumption. Among them ‘The Magnificent Seven’, ‘Rock The Casbah’, ‘Should I Stay Or Should I Go’ and rather ironically, considering the contrast between original context and current situation ‘Career Opportunities’ before a highly accomplished, frenetic, unrelenting performance is brought to an end with the cover of Sonny Curtis and The Crickets’ ‘I Fought The Law’.

Less than twelve months later, Terry Chimes would leave the band, followed by Mick Jones and The Clash would eventually disband in 1986. Although live albums are often flawed by their very nature, ‘Live At Shea Stadium’ is up there with the best and capturing a pivotal point in their iconic career will compliment any self-respecting Clash fans collection.