Rare photos of the Clash’s final North American tour uncovered at the University at Buffalo

BUFFALO, N.Y. – By the end of 1983, the Clash had lost two key members: drummer Nicky “Topper” Headon and guitarist/singer Mick Jones.

Nevertheless, founding members Joe Strummer and Paul Simonon added three musicians and hit the road the following year for what would be the seminal punk band’s final North American tour.

Now, archivists have uncovered rare photos from one of those shows.

The images show Strummer and Simonon, as well as Pete Howard (drums), Nick Sheppard (guitar) and Vince White (guitar) as they perform at the University at Buffalo’s Alumni Arena on April 28, 1984.

Tickets to that show, according to a flier, were $9 for students and $11 for non-students. Adjusted for inflation, that would be $20.64 and $25.22, respectively, today.

The Clash photos, taken by David S. Ottavio, are part of UB Libraries’ latest exhibit, Prominent Visitors, which examines some of the most influential people (Muhammad Ali, Allen Ginsberg, Robert F. Kennedy and others) to visit UB in the past 50 years.

Curated by Joseph Patton, a graduate assistant in University Archives, the exhibit also features The Police and XTC, Talking Heads, Peter Gabriel, the B-52s and other music acts that performed at UB.

Prominent Visitors, which includes a companion digital collection, is on display from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays at UB Libraries’ Special Collections, 420 Capen Hall, North Campus in Amherst, N.Y.

Researchers must contact the University Archives to obtain reproductions of images and to request permission to use any image. Persons who publish or use these materials in any manner assume all responsibility for identifying copyright holders and meeting any requisites for use.

University Archives is available at 716-645-2916 or lib-archives@buffalo.edu.