The Who and The Clash

The Who and The Clash, September 25, 1982

JFK Stadium, Section WJ Row 45

The old horseshoe stadium in South Philadelphia. The stadium was leveled in the early 1990's to make way for the Flyers new home, The CoreState Center/First Union Center/Wachovia Center.

I ended up with a brick from the old stadium (home of Live Aid) which now serves as a doorstop in my sports bar.

This was a daytime concert with locals The Hooters kicking off the morning. They were followed by Santana. The sound during Santana sucked, it was barely audible.

A huge "opening" act was The Clash. A relatively short lived band which did not tour extensively in the US. By the time they hit the stage the overheated crowd was irritable and began throwing shit at the stage. The Clash responded with their usual cocky swagger.

Joe Strummer was hit right between the eyes with an apple. Mick Jones was hit by a soda bottle while in mid-leap. He picked it up and drank from it.

A known setlist from the day:

London Calling
Rock the Casbah
Guns of Brixton
Police on My Back
Career Opportunities
Magnificent Seven
Should I Stay or Should I Go
White Man in Ham Palais
Brand New Cadillac
This is Radio Clash
Somebody Got Murdered
Clampdown **
I Fought the Law


The place had over 100,000 in attendance. More than Live Aid, which would be held at the same stadium some 3 years later. The Live Aid stage was much larger.

The Who show was billed as a "farewell" tour and this was their only date scheduled in Philly.
It was a hot early fall day.

The Who arrived on stage around 3:30 in the afternoon. Pete Townsend slipped and fell during Punk Meets the Godfather, knocking his Telecaster out of tune. He got up and tossed it to someone off stage. He strapped on another and carried on. Someone set a small fire in the photographer's pit, but it was quickly extinguished. Roger was hit by a roll of toilet paper, which he promptly picked up and threw back. Moments later, he looked at who it bounced off of and said "sorry". At one point Pete asked the crowd to move back. "A lot of very good looking girls are getting crushed," He said. After Magic Bus, Roger said "Thank you Philly we've had some pretty good gigs here." The show ended with a rollicking cover of Twist and Shout. Pete smacked his Telecaster on the stage a few times and the show was over.

The Who setlist:

Substitute;
I Can't Explain;
Dangerous
Sister Disco;
The Quiet One;
It's Hard;
Eminence Front
Behind Blue Eyes
Baba O'Riley;
I Am One
The Punk Meets The Godfather;
Drowned; A Man Is A Man;
Cry If You Want
Who Are You;
Pinball Wizard;
See Me Feel Me
5.15;
Love Reign O'er Me;
Long Live Rock
Won't Get Fooled Again
ENCORE
Magic Bus
Twist & Shout

Ironic? 5:15 was played at 5:15 in the afternoon.

Another bit on irony; The post below for the Flyers hockey game was played in the arena built on the site of the old JFK Stadium.