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 (please correct me if I'm wrong!). It's only 2 songs 'North South' and 'Cool Under Heat' and I think it was recorded sometime on the 14th May. The band were in Edinburgh on the 13th, 14th and at least part of the 15th May. I know this because I saw them at La Sorbonne Club on the night of the 13th and on the 14th 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 13th.
This footage was recorded on an old style hand held camcorder outside the Gateway Exchange probably sometime on the 14th and was given to me by a friend of a friend. I've finally got the tape converted to a digital format and so here it is. Please excuse the quality, it's a bit shaky to start with - but stick with it! The band are obviously having a great time, and both songs sound fantastic - much stronger than the subsequent 'Cut The Crap' versions. I've no idea if they played any more songs (probably), but these are the only 2 songs I have. You'll see Joe singing upside down (much to Pete and Paul's amusement!) and then breakdancing (sort of) - this is the Clash live like you've never seen before!
And please, before the Clash MK2 haters all start 'it's not the real Clash without Mick Jones, blah, blah blah', just give it a rest. It's 37 years ago, get over it!
MOVERS AND SHAKERS COME ON!!
See below the recollections of Tim Keppie, whose band were supposed to be playing La Sorbonne on the night of the 13th if May…
‘May 13th 1985 says the world wide Web was the date 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 bit 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 shit 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 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 bit got up the courage and said :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 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’.
As remember by Tim Keppie 29/09/22.
37 years later !