Uncut, May 2009

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Ultimate Music Guide


UK & Ireland magazines

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Rock For Kampuchea 1979


Allan Jones

New punks met old rockers for four consecutive nights at Hammersmith Odeon: The Clash, The Pretenders and Ian Dury joined Queen, The Who and Wings for Paul McCartney's benefit show in aid of those suffering under Pol Pot's brutal regime.

Long before Live Aid and years before Bono started hanging out with presidents and pontiffs, in late 1979 Kurt Waldheim, Secretary-General of the United Nations, approached Paul McCartney and asked him to organise a benefit concert for the people of Cambodia (at the time known as Kampuchea), who were suffering grievously from the ravages of war, famine and disease under the brutal Pol Pot regime.

At the time, the only serious precedent for such an event was 1971's Concert for Bangladesh, organised by George Harrison and Ravi Shankar. Waldheim's initial request to McCartney was that The Beatles should stage a one-off reunion. That was never going to happen. But instead, McCartney put together what was billed as "the greatest gathering of British rock talent ever assembled for a single event."

Over four nights at Hammersmith Odeon from December 26-29,1979, the former Beatle corralled both old-school rockers and irreverent young punks to support the cause. Compered by Billy Connolly, those appearing included Queen, The Clash, The Pretenders, The Who, Elvis Costello, Ian Dury & The Blockheads, the Specials and Wings. Fevered speculation circulated on the last night that John, George and Ringo would make an appearance. Sadly, none of them did, but for the finale, Macca assembled a 24-piece superstar Rockestra, featuring members of Led Zeppelin, The Who, Wings and the Faces.

The Rockestra had been assembled by McCartney several months earlier to play on the Wings' final studio album, Back To The Egg. In what turned out to be their only live performance — including Pete Townshend and Robert Plant in the lineup — they closed the event with "Rockestra Theme," "Let It Be" and Little Richard's "Lucille."

Joe Strummer was annoyed The Clash were billed below Ian Dury on the second night, and the band's set crackled with tension. London Calling had only been out a fortnight and 10 of the 16 songs in their set came from the new LP. They bowled over the audience, primarily there to see Dury.

Topping the bill on the second night, Ian Dury leered and lurched his way through a ripe set of material. Mick Jones joined them half-way through "Sweet Gene Vincent," much to the annoyance of Strummer, who accused the Clash guitarist of "behaving like a rock star."

On a final-night bill that included Elvis Costello and Wings, it might have seemed that Dave Edmunds and Rockpile were there to make up the numbers. In the event, they had an ace up their sleeve when Robert Plant joined them to sing "Little Sister," a celebratory moment hardly marred by a chaotic ending when Nick Lowe sang an extra chorus, oblivious to the fact the song had ended.

Following The Who's headline slot on the third night, Pete Townshend [pictured with James Honeyman-Scott of The Pretenders] returned to join the Rockestra finale 24 hours later. Looking somewhat dishevelled, he had to be dragged out of a local pub and declined to don the top hat and tails provided by Macca.

As he took the applause after ending Wings' set with "Band On The Run," Macca had no idea that it was to be the group's final gig, for a tour of Japan was already lined up for January. In the event, he was arrested for drug possession on arrival at Tokyo airport and after he'd spent nine days in a Japanese jail, Wings never flew again.

On the final night, Elvis Costello played a frenetic set featuring material from the shortly-to-be-released Get Happy!!, his fourth album in a whirlwind two-and-a-half years.

Did you catch the Rockestra? If you were there at any of the four nights for the concert for Kampuchea, than email allan_jones@ipcmedia.com with your memories, and we'll publish the best stories.


Tags: Concerts For The People Of KampucheaHammersmith OdeonLondonThe AttractionsThe ClashThe PretendersWingsPete TownshendThe WhoPaul McCartneyThe BeatlesBilly ConnollyIan DuryThe BlockheadsThe SpecialsJohn LennonRingo StarrGeorge HarrisonLed ZeppelinRobert PlantLittle RichardLucilleJoe StrummerLondon CallingMick JonesDave EdmundsRockpileLittle SisterNick LoweGet Happy!!Live AidBono

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Uncut, No. 144, May 2009


Allan Jones recalls the Concerts For The People Of Kampuchea, Dec. 26-29, 1979, Hammersmith Odeon, London.

Images

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Page scans.

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Photo by Barry Plummer.
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Cover and contents page.
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Magazine scans thanks to Fulvio Fiore.

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