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This is the latest in curated books by Nick Smash of Smash It Up zine. This book follows up all the speaking engagements about the CLASH at the Rex Danforth Theatre. This book is a collection of stories and artifacts about all four of the CLASH shows in Toronto.
Nick outlines the tour details of the ones that brought the CLASH through Toronto - i) "Pearl Harbour" tour at the Rex Danforth Theatre in February 1979, ii) "Take the Fifth" tour at the O'Keefe Centre in September 1979, iii) "Combat Rock" tour at the CNE Grandstand in September 1982, and iv) "Out of Control" tour at Maple Leaf Gardens in April 1984.
Nick covers events from the Clash's itinerary that were effecting at the band at the time. Important context.
A collection of newspaper articles with pulled out quotes usually misunderstanding the CLASH.
And then the photographers recollect their thoughts. Brother Simon has some choice nuggets about the Rex Theatre. Don Pyle explains how he got those shots at the O'Keefe. Some of the photographers talk about technical details of cameras, lenses, and aperture speeds. But the stories and reflections are the gold to be mined out of this book. Ivor Levene even transcribes a back stage interview with Joe Strummer and Paul Simonon from memory. And Mike Coffey recollects the stories from his departed brother Joe. Joe had told these stores to his family with a lot of proud about shooting the Clash at the Rex Danforth.
Good attempt at a CLASH exhibit in the Smash museum of music for the T. Dot.
On December 21st, Nick Smash hosted a talk on the impact that the Clash had on Toronto with radio hosts Alan Cross and Ivar Hamilton. But think of it as metaphor for the impact that the Clash had on Toronto in general.
Nick starts out with some thoughts on the importance of the Clash. This is backed up by Allan Cross experience of finding out about the Clash on Winnipeg radio. That's where he first heard them and how they stood out. And then trying to find them at the local record store. It was a behind the counter purchase (in other words the special records were not in the regular racks).
Ivar Hamilton had some stories about a variety of punk shows that happened back in the day. the crowd got involved as a hive mind experiment with people sharing stories about shows and the particulars. Nick's brother Simon told the back story to the infamous New Music interview with the Clash at the O'Keefe Centre. And then the piece de resistance was an interview that Ivor Hamilton did with Joe Strummer in '86(?). Could have been the last interview with Joe Strummer in Toronto and he talked about the number of projects he was involved with. There was also a great story about Joe Strummer trying to play the CFNY studio that was on Yonge Street. Something happened where he could not play and he retreated to the street to do a busking session.
The event was a launch party for a new book that Nick Smash has curated called "Clash in Toronto: A selection of photographs 1979-1984". Photographers who made contributions include Simon White, Don Pyle, Erik Christensen, Joe Coffey, Carm Ferrari, Randy Johnston, Ivor Levene, and Paul Till. The book argues that in the absence of a rock and roll museum, publications like this have to collect these moments. Nick's thoughts along with those of the photographers collect memories for the four times that the Clash played Toronto. I am not sure of there are any copies left, but f you are interested in one reach out to Nick Smash on facebook. Proceeds for this book are going to Strummerville.
Download the show here.
STIFF LITTLE FINGERS – At the Edge
NICK SMASH, one of Toronto's earliest documentarians on the punk scene,is back with a look at the Club called The Edge. 40 years earlier, The Edge started booking shows thanks to the Garys. Nick has put together an issue of Smash It Up to collect stories and unseen photos on the shows that took place there. Nick presented on the edge in recent appearance in his Library series and he agreed to come in and do a supplementary piece for his Alone and Gone series on EXD. You can get a copy of Smash It Up #40 through Nick Smash on facebook for $10.00 ppd. Here is the playlist that we used in the airing of this interview.
NICK SMASH – The Edge
MARTHA AND THE MUFFINS – Echo Beach (Dindisc)
NICK SMASH – The Edge
BB GABOR – Soviet Jewellery (Anthem)
NICK SMASH – The Edge
CHELSEA – Right to Work (Step Forward)
NICK SMASH – The Edge
PENETRATION – Don’t Dictate (Virgin)
NICK SMASH – The Edge
THE SLITS - Difficult Fun (CBS)
NICK SMASH – The Edge
ULTRAVOX – He’s a Liquid (Live in Philadelphia)
NICK SMASH – The Edge
THE MODS – Reactions (Ugly Pop)
NICK SMASH – The Edge
XTC - Life Begins At The Hop (Virgin)
NICK SMASH – The Edge
BLUE PETER – Do The Robot (Ready)
NICK SMASH – The Edge
KINETIC IDEALS - Life in Shadow (Mannequin)
NICK SMASH – The Edge
PROTEX - I Can't Cope (Polydor)
NICK SMASH – The Edge
THE GOVERNMENT - Flat Tire (The Modern World Incorporated)
NICK SMASH – The Edge
NASH THE SLASH–Dead Man's Curve (Cut Throat / Dindisc)
NICK SMASH – The Edge
BATTERED WIVES - Angry Young Man (Bomb)
NICK SMASH – The Edge
THE SPOONS – Nova Heart (Ready)
NICK SMASH – The Edge
DOA – Nazi Training Camp (Friends)
NICK SMASH – The Edge
999 - Feeling Alright with the Crew (PVC)
NICK SMASH – The Edge
TYRANNA - Back Off Baby (Rave Up)
On January 24th of this year, Nick Smash of the RENT BOYS INC. was in town to do an exhibition on the CLASH and to promote his new book "What You Don't Want is What You Get", which outline his time in England with the RENT BOYS INC. and THE DAVE HOWARD SINGERS. He arranged to meet up with Dave Howard to go over the details of that adventure. THE DAVE HOWARD SINGERS are an important part of the Toronto post punk scene. This story reflects the flight that creative types undertook to make a go of it. This is a conversation between Nick Smash and Dave Howard telling something akin to road stories which talk about some of these exclusive recordings, stories behind them, influences, and people in the scene that they were apart of in the mid-80s. We get stories about the squats, the rehearsal spaces, folks in the scene. You can download the show here.
THE DAVE HOWARD SINGERS - Baby Come Back (live at the Rock Garden on July 4, 1986)
THE DAVE HOWARD SINGERS - The Murder of your Smile (live in Manchester on July 26, 1986)
THE DAVE HOWARD SINGERS - I Feel Good (live in Manchester on July 26, 1986)
THE DAVE HOWARD SINGERS - Just Another (live in Manchester on July 26, 1986)
THE DAVE HOWARD SINGERS - Camberwell (live on the BBC, Janice Long)
THE DAVE HOWARD SINGERS - Nothing to Say (live in Valencia, Spain)
THE DAVE HOWARD SINGERS - Nothing to Say (produced by JJ Burnell of the Stranglers)
THE DAVE HOWARD SINGERS - Plastic Horse ()
THE DAVE HOWARD SINGERS - How Was I to Know ()
THE DAVE HOWARD SINGERS - Pleasure of Pain (live in the Netherlands)
THE DAVE HOWARD SINGERS - Shakin' All Over (live in the Netherlands)
THE DAVE HOWARD SINGERS - The Killing Time
THE DAVE HOWARD SINGERS - Rock On
THE DAVE HOWARD SINGERS - Road Warriors