Friday, 14 December, 1979 – Hope Street Hall, Los Angeles, California , United States 

A big question remains unanswered at this stage in the gig history. The gig before this one was in San Francisco on Friday 7th December . Although something was organised for the 13th December  at Al’s Bar that is reported as not happening, despite there being a flier (which inaccurately describes the event as the only Los Angeles show).  This then begs the question what were they doing for a week? Are there any missing gigs in that period?

Extensive research by Dannyno indicates the following:

  • The San Francisco gig seems likely to have been the last one scheduled. But having hooked up with Claude Bessy, they organised the last LA gigs in DIY fashion.
  • Two sources make this scenario pretty clear.
    • One is in The Big Midweek   section “Afterwards” (which means after the “Fab Mab” gig)…. Steve Hanley explains the decision to stay after the Bessy meeting and the group stayed in a “beach hut”. Aside from some leisure time the group were kept busy getting radio promo and doing fliers.
    • And Slash magazine, vol 3 (1), Jan/Feb 1980 pp28-29: “The extremely low-key tour (by the time they reached L.A. the record company support had dwindled down to nothing and the last two gigs had to be worked out with sympathetic local bands and promoters).”

Friday 14th December was therefore the last gigging date on the first United States tour with two gigs on the day. The first was at Hope Street Hall where the group were first on the bill with X, The Germs and Suburban Lawns.

There  is no known recording or set list.