The Ligger Years... Part 3
Emboldened by the successes of interviews with Ian Dury and Glen Matlock, Gaye Abandon (that's me folks) cast the net wider still, and got the big one.
We blagged tickets to see The Clash at Manchester Apollo and got there early enough to catch them coming in for a soundcheck. Their tour manager - Johnny Green - told us that we could do the interview when they came back later to do the gig.
I remember it was pissing down that day and poor old Peggy or Anne R Key as she was now known had used some kind of temporary black dye on her hair. The rain showed just how temporary it was as the colour ran in rivulets down her face! We nipped into the pub that used to be next door to the Apollo - I dunno if it's still there, I'm guessing that whole area has been re-developed by now, it was like a bombsite in '78! - and she wiped the black streaks off her face and we prepared for our big interview.
The Clash were like my all-time favourite band in the punk rock days - and probably still are if the truth be told! - so the thoughts of getting to sit down with Joe Strummer and Mick Jones was incredibly exciting for me.
True to his word, when Johnny Green saw us waiting outside he slipped us in through the stage door and up to the band's dressing room. I was introduced to Joe Strummer and offered a drink. I remember only having the balls to get a Coke!
Joe was a great interview - once I'd calmed down enough to talk to him properly. I remember being impressed by his intelligence and articulacy (is that even a word?????). Anyway, it was quickly becoming apparent that none of these "punks" were illiterate yobs! After Joe, we sat down with Paul Simenon who was far less chatty, Topper had nowt to say really, and Mick Jones was second only to Joe in the chatty stakes.
Interview over, we were asked if we wanted to watch the gig from backstage, but as this was our first time seeing the Clash properly, we wanted to be out in the audience. As it turned out, we shoulda stayed backstage! We'd missed Suicide who were the support act, but as The Clash walked onstage all hell let loose. We were sat near the front, but no-one was sitting! Soon no-one had the choice, as the seats began flying over our head and landing in the orchestra pit!
The whole gig passed in a bit of a blur, but even to this day i can remember the energy that just powered the whole experience. All of us, the band, the crowd and the poor, useless security men, were on fire!
Best of all, we even made the bus back to Preston!
I saw The Clash play over 30 times and most of those gigs are still alive in my memory, so if you enjoyed this on, there's plenty more Clash stories to come, believe me!
We blagged tickets to see The Clash at Manchester Apollo and got there early enough to catch them coming in for a soundcheck. Their tour manager - Johnny Green - told us that we could do the interview when they came back later to do the gig.
I remember it was pissing down that day and poor old Peggy or Anne R Key as she was now known had used some kind of temporary black dye on her hair. The rain showed just how temporary it was as the colour ran in rivulets down her face! We nipped into the pub that used to be next door to the Apollo - I dunno if it's still there, I'm guessing that whole area has been re-developed by now, it was like a bombsite in '78! - and she wiped the black streaks off her face and we prepared for our big interview.
The Clash were like my all-time favourite band in the punk rock days - and probably still are if the truth be told! - so the thoughts of getting to sit down with Joe Strummer and Mick Jones was incredibly exciting for me.
True to his word, when Johnny Green saw us waiting outside he slipped us in through the stage door and up to the band's dressing room. I was introduced to Joe Strummer and offered a drink. I remember only having the balls to get a Coke!
Joe was a great interview - once I'd calmed down enough to talk to him properly. I remember being impressed by his intelligence and articulacy (is that even a word?????). Anyway, it was quickly becoming apparent that none of these "punks" were illiterate yobs! After Joe, we sat down with Paul Simenon who was far less chatty, Topper had nowt to say really, and Mick Jones was second only to Joe in the chatty stakes.
Interview over, we were asked if we wanted to watch the gig from backstage, but as this was our first time seeing the Clash properly, we wanted to be out in the audience. As it turned out, we shoulda stayed backstage! We'd missed Suicide who were the support act, but as The Clash walked onstage all hell let loose. We were sat near the front, but no-one was sitting! Soon no-one had the choice, as the seats began flying over our head and landing in the orchestra pit!
The whole gig passed in a bit of a blur, but even to this day i can remember the energy that just powered the whole experience. All of us, the band, the crowd and the poor, useless security men, were on fire!
Best of all, we even made the bus back to Preston!
I saw The Clash play over 30 times and most of those gigs are still alive in my memory, so if you enjoyed this on, there's plenty more Clash stories to come, believe me!
Labels: Ligger Tales
posted by JoJo Smith at Wednesday, January 13, 2010
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