Many thanks Simon for this story 
you say that few months later they started their onwn national tour, but during fall 78 they were already a "headline" band ? I mean they were touring alone, not as support act for Talking heads like they did in january 78 ? or did I miss something ?
Sorry I will explain what i tried to ssay
In those days bands used to ply their trade in a number of ways and they sort of worked their way up the ladder like a sort of apprenticeship. They would play pubs and clubs and if lucky would embark on a tour of universities and maybe bigger clubs. Then the luckier ones would get picked up my a well known band as support for their tour (often resulting in the support act not getting paid but getting the chance of exposure). Then once they bcame a 'name' and had an album to promote the bigger venues would be their target - the City Halls, the Odeons, the Appollos and the more well known clubs. When I said national tour I meant as a known band playing at the bigger (and often in those days, the biggest venues available).
Nowadays bands go from releasing a single to a major Stadium tour overnight! That is why they dont have avery long life expectancy - the longer it takes to get to the top the longer it is to fall back down that ladder
