Rare footage has resurfaced showing what is believed to have been the only video footage of the Clash’s Busking Tour from May 1985.
The clip, which was shared by Neil Hughes who digitised the film for Youtube after it was gifted to him by a friend of a friend, shows the iconic British band in a new light.
It is believed that the video, which was shot on a handheld camcorder, was taken outside of the Gateway Exchange in Edinburgh at sometime on May 14.
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Joe Strummer, Pete Howard, Vince White, Paul Simonon and Nick Sheppard are all visible performing two songs ‘North South’ and ‘Cool Under Heat’ to starstruck onlookers.
The quality is a touch shaky but the footage is still incredible as it shows frontman Strummer singing upside down whilst throwing out some rather questionable dance moves as his bandmates look on in hysterics.
Neil states that the band were in the capital from May 13-15 and that they played at least two gigs with the first taking place at the La Sorbonne Club on the 13 and the second at Coasters nightclub at Tollcross on the 14.
On his YouTube video, Neil said: “I know there are various dodgy audio recordings of the Clash's Busking Tour from May 1985, but I think this may be the only video footage. It's only two songs 'North South' and 'Cool Under Heat' and I think it was recorded sometime on the May 14.
“The band were in Edinburgh on the 13, 14 and at least part of the 15. I know this because I saw them at La Sorbonne Club on the night of the 13 and on the 14 at Coasters nightclub without a PA in front of 1300 people!
“The gig at La Sorbonne was amazing, I'll never forget the moment they walked in the door - leather jackets, red scarfs and guitars on their backs - the coolest thing 19 year old me had ever seen and still one of the greatest nights of my life - I even managed to buy Joe a pint! They also played outside BHS on Princes St and then outside the old St James Centre on the 13.”
Arthur Mag, who shared an extract from the book ‘Passion Is a Fashion: The Real Story of The Clash’ by Pat Gilbert, explores the motivation behind the Busking Tour.
It said: “In May 1985, Bernie Rhodes, Kosmo and Joe Strummer devised the Clash’s last hurrah—a busking tour of Britain. The idea was that the group would assemble at guitarist Vince’s flat, leave their wallets on the table and hitch to Nottingham with a few acoustic guitars.
“They’d then see where the wind would take them. Over the next two-and-a-half weeks, Britain’s provincial towns and cities were thus treated to the extraordinary sight of The Clash popping up under railway bridges and in subways to entertain them with Monkees, Chuck Berry, Eddie Cochran and Cramps songs.
“The group kipped on fans’ floors and in cheap B&Bs. They survived on the money thrown into their hats. It was a genuinely exciting and unpredictable experience. Joe described it as ‘the best tour we ever did.’”
Neil also shared the unbelievable recollection of Tim Keppie whose band were supposed to perform at La Sorbonne on the night of May 13 in Edinburgh.
Incredibly he said that Joe Strummer agreed to play before his band took to the stage, borrowing instruments from the members before they raised the roof of the venue that was filled with young punks.
He told Neil in 2022: “The Clash performed at the shady Edinburgh music club La Sorbonne. The Heights, my band, had played there regularly around that period and even got paid £40 each time we did.
“We were booked that evening to play again but something was very different this time when we arrived. We could hardly get in the door.
“It was rammed with young punks. We manoeuvred ourselves and our gear through to the backroom as usual.
“Next thing I know the head barman comes to our table asking who is the leader of the band. I sang and played guitar so I answered it was me.
“He then said ‘Joe Strummer wants to talk to you out front.’ So off I went, excited and also apprehensive, I met Joe who appeared wired and fairly intense.
“‘What do you wanna do, go on first or last?’ So grabbing the opportunity I said ‘you go on before us.’
“Joe put up no argument and I followed him through the back and onto the stage where they borrowed our drummer's snare drum and then to a huge roar from the crowd proceeded to blow the roof off this sh*t hole with acoustic guitars and no mics. A greatest hits set with all the classics thrown in.
“They finished, we went on and thankfully a few punters had hung around and put up with it for about an hour. I headed through to the front where Joe was sitting and Paul was posing in front of the mirror.
“I was nervous to approach Joe but got up the courage and asked: ‘Why are you doing this?’
He answered ‘To get back to the kids man.’ It was one hell of a night for a 19 year old kid who loved The Clash and had seen them the year before fully electrified at the Playhouse and been blown away.
“They hung around Edinburgh the next day and performed another gig at Coasters in Tollcross to a full on capacity crowd and now both these nights have gone down in local history and RnR legend.”
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