N.p. [Aylesbury]: N.p., N.d.[1979]

Single yellow sheet, 13 x 8 inches, printed on both sides. Very light creasing and wear to top edge, but extremely well preserved.

Handbill and news sheet advertising two forthcoming gigs by The Clash and The Ramones (tickets: £2.95) at the legendary Friars Club, Aylesbury, in January 1980.

In the 1970s the Friars Club hosted countless gigs by bands who were small(ish) at the time and went on to be massive, Fleetwood Mac, Genesis, Mott the Hoople, Black Sabbath, The Velvet Underground, King Crimson, Hawkwind, and Al Kooper. It was Kooper who suggested to a young David Bowie that he should play the Friars because of the electric audience connection Kooper had experienced when he'd played there. Bowie listened, and performed the world premiere of Hunky Dory there on 25 September 1971. Immediately after the gig he suggested to his band that evening -- Mick Ronson, Trevor Bolder and Mick Woodmansey -- that since it had gone so well they should probably form a band. On 29 January 1972 Bowie returned to Friars, band in tow, with the world premiere of The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. Thereafter, for bands and audiences alike the Friars became not just a coveted gig, but an act of pilgrimage -- as evidenced by the booking of these two early in 1980. (With thanks to liveuk.com).

It was standard Friars practice to use the reverse of their handbills to keep their clientele up to date with developments at the club. On this flyer, issued at the turn of the 70s/80s, the venue notes the re-emergence of the big brass sound ('Leading the field are Dexy's Midnight Runners from Birmingham [...] The Beat seem to be using both ska and Stax together so either way they win...') and making some shrewd predictions for the 80s: '...it wouldn't be too surprising if rockabilly and roots blues bands don't re-emerge sooner or later.' It also carries hilarious news of a John Otway tour completed in one night, with five gigs in five different Aylesbury pubs: 'Each gig was completely different and each featured different songs. The Hampden & The Kennedy were acrobatic whereas in The Green Man and the Derby there was only room for John to stand on a table.'

A wonderful survivor (much like John Otway).