The Clash Live @ Shea Stadium

This sounds very cool, but imagine, how awesome would it have been to see them in their heyday? I regret not taking Joe Strummer seriously when he was still alive and when he was playing with the Mescaleros.

The Clash-Spanish Bombs [mp3]

Recorded at New York’s Shea Stadium in 1982, Live at Shea Stadium – released on October 7^th – 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 (12^th & 13^th 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.”

‘Live at Shea Stadium’ track listing:

Kosmo Vinyl Introduction

London Calling

Police On My Back

Guns Of Brixton

Tommy Gun

The Magnificent Seven

Armagideon Time

The Magnificent Seven (return)

Rock The Casbah

Train In vain

Career Opportunities

Spanish Bombs

Clampdown

English Civil War

Should I Stay Or Should I Go

I Fought The Law

The Clash released their fifth album ‘Combat Rock’ prior to the US tour. The album contained the single ‘Should I Stay or Should I Go’, which received heavy airplay in the US. The following single, ‘Rock the Casbah’ was a Top 40 hit in the US, with heavy rotation on MTV. Original Clash drummer Terry Chimes, who appeared on the band’s eponymously-titled debut album, plays on ‘Live at Shea Stadium’.

Shea Stadium, home of the New York Mets baseball team since its unveiling in 1964, has hosted some truly legendary shows. The Beatles were the first band to perform at the venue in 1965 and the success of that concert proved for the first time that stadiums could hold shows on such a large scale. Other acts that have appeared at Shea over the years include the Rolling Stones, The Police, Bruce Springsteen and Simon & Garfunkel. Sadly, the stadium has reached the end of its life and will be demolished around the time ‘Live at Shea’ is released.

‘Live at Shea Stadium’ will be available in deluxe ltd edition and standard CD formats.