Because of its more remote location in the East Village, this work didn't receive the same love as Joe Strummer on Seventh Street and Avenue A. I liked it just the same, of course.
Anyway, I'm sad to say, it's gone. Painted over. Black.
Well, Ezo's Clash mural had been tagged. And it was starting to chip away in spots... Couldn't it have been touched up like the Strummer mural earlier this year? In any event, we're hopeful something equally inspired goes up in its place.
The Daily News had this brief today (and I see Brooklyn Vegan had the item yesterday...). Anyway, here's part of a press release on the opening of the the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ANNEX NYC in Soho next month:
This November, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ANNEX NYC will open its doors for the first time. The highly anticipated ANNEX will take visitors beyond the typical museum experience in a dynamic and immersive journey that recalls some of the most defining moments in rock and roll history. When the ANNEX opens on November 24th, visitors will journey through multiple galleries to discover the moments ignited by hundreds of music revolutionaries like John Lennon, Madonna, Jimi Hendrix and Bob Dylan. Additionally, The ANNEX will open its first special exhibit in true punk rock style, honoring the Clash. The Clash exhibit, which debuted at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, OH in 2006 will now appear at the ANNEX for a limited run. As the first of its rotating featured exhibits, The ANNEX will open its doors with an exhibit dedicated to the Clash, entitled Revolution Rock: The Story of the Clash. This exhibit will allow visitors to get an in-depth look into how the band’s politicized lyrics, musical experimentation, and rebellious attitude have helped shape rock history. As rebels with a cause, The Clash took the manic anger of British punk and transformed it into a political and aesthetic agenda. Album after album, as they railed against the status quo of corporate rock and safe middle-class values, The Clash was a burning reminder of why punk mattered. The exhibit will examine the music and lives of the band with artifacts including well-known instruments, stage clothing, rare posters, set-lists and original manuscripts. Highlights include Joe Strummer’s Fender Telecaster and Mick Jones’ Gibson Les Paul Jr. guitars and handwritten lyrics for “London Calling,” “Know Your Rights” and “Clampdown.” The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ANNEX NYC is proudly supported by official sponsors Citi, Best Buy, Diesel for Bloomingdale’s, and Gibson.
On June 2, 1981, the Clash were on show No. 5 of the 17 concerts they eventually played at Bond's International Casino in Times Square -- 1530 Broadway, between 44th and 45th. (A few nitpickers have mentioned that Bonds often went without the apostrophe. Noted!) Bad Brains and the Slits opened show No. 5.
Here's the set list from the June 2 show:
London Calling Safe European Home The Leader Somebody Got Murdered White Man In Ham Palais The Guns Of Brixton This Is Radio Clash The Call Up Complete Control Junco Partner Lightning Strikes Ivan Meets GI Joe Charlie Don't Surf Bankrobber The Magnificent Seven Wrong 'Em Boyo Train In Vain Career Opportunities Clampdown One More Time Brand New Cadillac Washington Bullets Janie Jones Police and Thieves Armagideon Time New Yorks Burning
For pretty much everything you'd ever want to know about the show (and everything related to the Clash), go here.
A little background on all this for people who may to new to this, via Wikipedia:
The site of the concerts was formerly Bonds department store which had been converted into a large second-floor hall. Promoters kept the name because there was a large Bonds sign on the outside of the building. As The Clash had not yet broken out into mass popularity, eight shows were originally scheduled: May 28, 29, 30, 31 and June 1,2, 3, and 5, 1981. However, given the venue's legal capacity limit of 3,500, the series was blatantly oversold right from the first night, leading fire marshals for the New York Fire Department to cancel the Saturday, May 30 performance. In response, the band condemned the brazen greed of the promoters while demonstrating unprecedented integrity to each and every ticketholder by doubling the original booking with a total of 17 dates extending through June.
Meanwhile, here's how Channel 7 covered the event:
The next year, the band was back in town promoting Clash On Broadway...and look who Sue Simmons had on at "Live at 5":
