On this day, 11 February 1980, punk legends The Clash played Cardiff’s Sophia Gardens on their 16 Tons Tour with support provided by The Xcerts and Mikey Dread.
The band had recently released their classic album London Calling.
London Calling was released in December 1979; it peaked at number 9 on the British album chart and at number 27 in the United States, where it was issued in January 1980. The album's cover photograph by Pennie Smith became one of the most-recognisable images and Q magazine later cited it as the "best rock 'n roll photograph of all time".
During this period, The Clash began to be regularly billed as "The Only Band That Matters". Musician Gary Lucas, who was employed by CBS Records' creative services department, has said he coined the tagline. Fans and journalists soon widely adopted the epithet.
The Clash had planned to record and release a single every month in 1980. CBS dismissed this idea and the band released only one single—an original reggae song called "Bankrobber", in August. It featured Mikey Dread and reached number 12 in the UK Singles Chart. In October, the band's US record company released a B-side compilation EP called Black Market Clash, which was later re-released in expanded form as a full-length album.
Setlist
Clash City Rockers
Brand New Cadillac
London Calling
(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais
I Fought the Law
Police and Thieves
Complete Control
Armigedeon Time
White Riot
