Year Zero – 40th Anniversary of the Clash’s historic concert at Trinity
Posted on: 20 October 2017
When The Clash played in Trinity College Dublin on 21 October 1977 they were fresh from a cancelled show and mini riot at Belfast’s Ulster Hall the night before. Bringing the white heat of UK Punk Rock to an Irish audience, The Clash played two sets of 35 minutes, inspiring attendees and kick-starting dozens of careers in the process.
The Trinity gig was a seminal moment in the Irish music scene. The Clash were the first internationally recognised Punk band to play in Ireland; up until then, Irish venues had banned Punk acts for fear of violence. Despite some opposition within Trinity at the time, the shows went ahead, organised by the then Students’ Union.
Year Zero is a symposium celebrating the 40th anniversary of The Clash’s two shows at Trinity College.
Tomorrow [Saturday, 21 October 2017], a full day symposium will take place, featuring talks, Q&As, readings and screenings by original members of The Clash’s touring party, former Trinity Student Union Officers involved in promoting the shows, filmmakers and close associates of the band. The event will be held in the Examination Hall at Trinity – the original venue for the 1977 shows.
One of the highlights will be the participation of filmmaker, legendary DJ and Clash associate Don Letts, who won a Grammy for his Clash documentary Westway to the World and wrote the autobiography Culture Clash: Dread Meets Punk Rockers in 2007. The day’s celebrations will culminate with his DJ Set at The Grand Social, Dublin.
Martin Bradley, Chris Heaney and Robert Gordon McHarg III of Year Zero said: “The Clash shows in Dublin in 1977 created ripples throughout the fields of music, art and film – many of those who attended went on to significant creative careers and cite this gig as a pivotal moment in understanding the possibility of following such a path. We’re delighted to be able to work with Trinity College Dublin in shining a light on this often overlooked aspect of Irish cultural history.’’
Former Trinity SU President at the time, and current RTÉ; radio producer, Ian Wilson said: “The College had no idea what was about to happen, and to a lesser extent neither did we. A tidal wave of punk swept over the place. The event itself – the two shows – was like a bombshell to TCD. The shows were short, manic and full on and the enduring memory was of a whole lot of us having to form a human barrier across the stage to prevent The Clash being mobbed.”
Forty years on the symposium is now being hosted by the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. Commenting on its significance, Faculty Dean, Professor Darryl Jones said:
“The riotous energies of punk changed twentieth-century culture, and wholly for the better. Punk emphasised the politics of obnoxiousness and ugliness. It was rebarbative, confrontational, and dangerous, deliberately setting out to alienate large sections of the public. It didn’t care about conventional values. It was music from, for, and about, troubled times. It was fantastic. Trinity College is proud to have played its small part in bringing punk to Ireland, as the venue for concerts by the Clash in October 1977. Forty years later, we’re excited to be revisiting this event – and, we hope, rekindling some of those energies.”
Take this opportunity to attend screenings, Q&As and readings featuring filmmaker, Julien Temple, DJ and filmmaker, Don Letts, Clash friend and associate, Robin Banks, Clash Tour Manager, Johnny Green, former SU President at the time, Ian Wilson, SU Ents Officer, Paul Tipping, gig attendee & brandenewretro editor, Brian McMahon and John Fisher, who ran the infamous punk stall and gigs at Dublin’s Dandelion Market. (Full programme below)
Tickets are available at https://clashtrinity.eventbrite.com
Programme Schedule:
Saturday 21 October 2017 – Examinations Hall
10.00 Welcome
10.30 – 11.30 The Gig – Organising / Attending / Significance – Paul Tipping / Brian McMahon / Ian Wilson / John Fisher
12.00- 1.00 Don Letts – screening excerpts from Westway to The World / Q&A
2.00 – 3.00 Robin Banks – screening excerpts from The Rise and Fall of The Clash / Q&A
3.00 – 4.00 Johnny Green – screening excerpts from Rude Boy / Book Reading / Q&A
5.00 – 6.00 Julien Temple – screening excerpts from The Clash New Year's Day '77 / Q&A
Saturday 21 October 2017 – The Grand Social
8.00 – 9.00 Screening of Clash Film
9.00 – late Don Letts DJ Set