On this day, 20 April 1977, mod-inspired punk band The Jam played the Roundabout Club in Newport, the band’s first ever concert in Wales.
Their appearance was just 9 days before the release of their first single In The City and 6 days before recording their first John Peel session where they played In The City, Art School, I’ve Changed My Address, and The Modern World.
The band had signed to Polydor Records that February and Chris Parry from the company recalled that after handing over the cheque for the band’s advance, the band’s manager, Paul’s father John Weller, Weller revealed they didn’t have a bank account.
“John exclaimed I can’t take a cheque, so we went across Oxford Street to the bank where Polydor banked.
“The money came across the counter in ten pound notes. John stuffed them in his pockets and went home a happy man”.