Thief steals Glasgow bar’s tribute to punk legends The Clash

A plaque commemorating a famous trip by The Clash to Scotland has been stolen.

The tribute was ripped off a wall outside a pub in Glasgow where the punk legends played during a two-day busking tour of the city in 1985.

The rockets played a series of word-of-mouth gigs, including acoustic sets at the Glasgow School of Art and three pubs – the Rock Garden, Fixx, and Dukes.

Dukes, near the city’s famous Kelvingrove Art Galleries in the West End, commissioned a special plaque to remember the gig, which started inside the bar and ended with the band led by singer Joe Strummer, who died in 2002, and bassist Paul Simonon on the pavement outside.

Last week, bar manager Jake Beveridge appealed for the return of the metal plaque. “No real fan of The Clash would steal it,” he said.

“The plaque was there for almost 10 years and people would regularly comment on it, from regulars who were at the gig 35 years ago to 18-year-olds who have heard about The Clash from their parents.

“It must have taken a lot of effort to remove it was it is quite heavy and was screwed to the wall. The person who helps return it will be met with free drinks and eternal gratitude.”

The group, along with the Sex Pistols, led the punk rock explosion in 1976 and went on to record classics including London Calling and Bankrobber. Nine years later, they went on tour busking in a bid to get back to their roots after losing key members, drummer Topper Headon and guitarist Mick Jones.

But the band split shortly afterwards.