Information/Write-up
Ultra-limited edition (300 copies) live "official" bootleg of Hammersmith Holocaust, recorded at The Hammersmith Odeon opening for Gary Numan. All three hundred copies are hand-stamped by Nash and Mike Dent, his sound tech. This is the rarest of Nash recordings.
In September, 1980, Gary Numan called up for Nash to do tour of U.K. The call came on a Thursday night. Gary wanted Nash to come to England to start the tour on the following Monday! Needless to say it was chaotic. Nash had two roadies but could only take one with him due to costs. He chose the stage/sound tech, Mike Dent. That left the problem of passports.
With connections in Ottawa, both passports were issued within 48 hours. The next problem was getting there as Nash didn't have the $2,000 for airfare and equipment. A quick call to Laurie Dunn at Virgin Publishing in London and Nash had an immediate advance and the first flight out on Monday morning. The first show was in Birmingham that night, but due to delays and the long drive up from London, Nash didn't make it. The first performance of Nash The Slash in England would be the next night in Manchester. The tour arrived London on September 16 for two nights at the Hammersmith Odeon. This is a very old building in the heart of London and not very secure. While equipment is left set up on stage overnight, thieves break in and steal two of Numan's keyboards and both of Nash's mandolins, which are in one case that resembles a guitar case. The loss is devastating. Unlike a keyboard or guitar, electric mandolins are hard to find, and Nash's instruments were custom made. The famous "Skull" mando might be gone forever. Scotland Yard is called in to investigate and a police drawing of the Skull mando is shown on a TV show called Crime Search. This show is usually dedicated to jewelry heists in Knightsbridge, but being a foreign visitor, Nash is given special attention. As Russell Bell (Numan's guitarist) said to Nash at the time, "I once had my stereo stolen and it didn't get on Crime Search!"
On the second night at the Hammersmith, Nash does a shortened set, playing just violin. Before the tour continues in Portsmouth, Nash must find another mandolin. After searching all over London, Nash settles on a cheap Japanese model, and with some serious alterations, it becomes a functional instrument. This instrument will be used for the rest of the tour, as well as on the upcoming recording sessions for the Children of the Night LP. Nash calls back home to Canada for a new mandolin to be made. Vladomir Bosnar, the maker of all Nash mandos, goes to work on another black model. The first of the two nights at Hammersmith was recorded on a cassette machine at the board. The last-known performance of the Skull mando had been preserved for posterity. This tape would come in handy very soon.
Later that year, Nash signed with Dindisc, a sub-label of Virgin. Dindisc wanted to put out some promo records to the media, but Nash didn't have anything recorded yet. Oh yes, he does. Released in a limited edition of 300 copies live "official" bootleg of Hammersmith Holocaust, recorded at The Hammersmith Odeon, opening for Gary Numan. All three hundred copies are hand-stamped by Nash and Mike Dent, his sound tech. It takes three days of sitting on the floor of their apartment to stamp all the labels and jackets as well as number each one. The LP's are distributed to radio and music journalists. They are not for sale. This is the rarest of Nash recordings.
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