In 1981 an intriguing collaboration took place between New York Graffiti icon Futura 2000 and British punk band ‘The Clash’. It would lead to the artist joining the Clash on tour and even performing his own song. Traveling with the band to London Futura 2000 then created a piece underneath the Westway. It is a piece often described as London’s first graffiti.
Clash on Broadway
Between May and June 1981 The Clash were in New York to promote their fourth studio album ‘Sandinista’. They had scheduled to play a series of concerts at the Bond’s International Casino on 45th and Broadway. Called ‘Clash on Broadway’ there were 17 dates in total. These were an important series of gigs for the band given the importance of New York in the American market. At the time Bonds had just been converted from a department store to an 1800 capacity nightclub. It was prime New York and a key location on Times Square.
The Clash: Live at Bonds
The Clash playing at Bonds in 1981
Melting Pot
New York was a melting pot of cultural innovation. The band were already well aware of the cities Punk and emerging Hip Hop scenes. Local band ‘Blondie’ had just had a number one with Rapture. It was a record that featured rap, graffiti and which referenced several cultural icons. It was a homage to the emerging culture of hip hop in the city. Yet despite this the scenes were still quite separate.
Hip Hop Opening Acts
Known for their rebellious sound and individualism. The band was keen to immerse themselves in what was happening in the city. One way of doing that was to connect with local groups to act as openers for the shows. A different act for each performance. Futura 2000 describes hanging out with them at the time. “(they) were finding out about the current thing in New York. Which was hip hop, and all these young artists coming up“. They decided that because they liked rap music they’d have these artists open for them. Acts like ‘Cold Crush Brothers‘, ‘Double Trouble‘ and ‘Funky Four plus One‘. Despite this The Clash’s traditional punk crowd took a while to warm up to this different style of music. “They had all these rap acts to open for them. Which was like, really weird and none of their crowd was feeling it” recalls Futura.
Futura 2000 and The Clash
Leonard Hilton McGurr aka Futura 2000 had only just met the band when they came to New York. Without really knowing too much about who they were he thought he’d create a banner for the show. Getting help at the time from fellow artists ZEPHYR, Kiely Jenkins and REVOLT. “It was massive, like the biggest thing we’ve ever painted” he said. The Clash loved the work and wanted to meet the artist. They mentioned that besides the shows they were also making a documentary. It was going to be called ‘Clash on Broadway‘ and would Futura like to be a location scout? “I was like, yeah of course”.
The Banner at Bonds
That banner didn’t last long. Originally it was unfurled over the large Bonds sign but it soon had to be removed. Futura remembers that it was forced to be taken down. Explaining that “the union people who run the operation in Times Square were like… you can’t go up and hang this thing and do that. It’s a union. You know if that’s going to happen. We have to do it“. So the banner came down and was used elsewhere. The actual unfurling can be seen at the end of the ‘This is Radio Clash‘ video. All of which was filmed whilst in New York. Much of the footage and locations used in that video were shot for the documentary.
This is Radio Clash
This is Radio Clash Video (the banner unfurling can be seen at the end)
Art Performance
Over the next few years, Futura 2000 would become a key part of The Clash’s visual identity. He was invited to join them on their tour to Europe. Live painting in the background as the band performed. Over the course of the set the artwork would take shape. Always instinctive, the work would often be underlain with political messages of the time. It was something that had always been present in his work. “Before I saw tags on subways and stations and random tags on walls in New York. I would see more political messages” he said in an interview with Uproxx. “So my approach comes from more of like a political era than anything really“.
Art and Lyrics
This led to working more with the band. He designed the lyric sheet for their upcoming Combat Rock album. He also designed the poster for their residency at the Lyceum Theatre in London. Most recently he worked with the band on art for the 2022 Combat Rock People’s Hall Special edition. It even led to him writing and performing a song. One that was written whilst on the road touring with the band.
The Escapades of Futura 2000
That song was a rap about graffiti. Called the Escapades of Futura 2000. He remembers how The Clash got together and laid down a rhythm track. Eventually they convinced him to perform the song live. Speaking to Fab 5 Freddy for Art on the Streets he remembers the time well at a show in Paris. “Joe Strummer called me over and said, ‘Hey FUTURA, how about performing your song?’ I told Joe, “Listen, I’m back there painting, I’m no performer!” Joe then asked me, “Don’t you believe in the words you wrote?” Of course, I said yes, and after a bit more of Joe’s passionate prodding, I agreed“.
The Escapades of Futura 2000
Homage to New York Graffiti
Those words were a homage to New York graffiti. Talking about his own history on the graffiti scene from his start in 1972. Referencing the painting of trains and an acknowledgment of those artists that didn’t come back. He also name checks a host of others. “CRASH, DAZE, NOC and ALI the boys are bad and they’re down with me. Graffiti what’s it gonna be. ZEPHYR, ADBUL, DONDI and LEE“. TAKI 183, Fab 5 Freddy, Keith Haring, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Charlie Ahearn, Henry Chalfont, Wild Style and the Fun Gallery all get mentions too.
Westway
It was whilst performing at the Lyceum Theatre in London that Futura 2000 created his famous piece under the Westway. The city was no stranger to graffiti. He told Fab 5 Freddy “I noticed that graffiti was happening there. But it was political and radical slogans about the IRA. I also noticed a lot of band graffiti. But none done with a lot of style. So I got some cans, and I did what they say is the first graffiti in London”.
Graffiti with Style
So not really the first graffiti. But as Fab 5 Freddy clarified in the interview, it was “the first New York style graffiti“. The piece simply said FUTURA and it soon got around the local London scene. British writer Tizer has spoken about the importance of that piece. As kids, he and his brother ‘Shucks’ had heard about it. Traveling there especially from South London just to see it. “After that we starting looking at graffiti” he told Inspiring City. “We started trying to read it and realised that people were traveling the city to put their tags up or to write their graffiti“.
Out in the World
The time that Futura 2000 spent with The Clash was a small but key moment. One when graffiti and hip hop was starting to get out in the world. The introduction of Hip Hop culture to Punk audiences was new. It helped to introduce what was an underground movement in New York to a wider culture in Europe. The live spray painting, the Graffiti Rap and of course the piece on the Westway. It all helped with the wider introduction of a culture that soon would spread… and there would be no going back!
For more Inspiring City articles you will like, take a look at…
- Interview with Graffiti Artist Tizer
- Before Massive Attack – 3D and the beginnings of Bristol Graffiti
- How Wild Style helped to spark a Global Graffiti Revolution
- Blondie’s Rapture – The song that brought graffiti to the World
- Operation Anderston – The Graffiti Bust that tried to break Bristol
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