From Loudersound.
Paul Simonon’s Fender Precision bass, smashed onstage during a September 21, 1979 Clash gig at New York’s Palladium, a moment in time which was caught on film by photographer Pennie Smith and subsequently used as the cover artwork for the The Clash’s London Calling album, is to go on permanent display at the Museum of London later this month.
Previously included in The Clash: London Calling exhibition at the museum from November 2019 to September 2020, the bass guitar is now being featured in a world city gallery, which tells the story of London from the 1950s to today. Other artefacts chosen for the exhibition, which will open from July 23, include a Vespa scooter, the Bill and Ben string puppets from the popular kids’ TV show, and swimming trunks which diver Tom Daley wore at the 2012 London Olympics.
Speaking of his memories of smashing the instrument in New York, Simonon has said, “The show had gone quite well, but for me, inside, it just wasn’t working well, so I suppose I took it out on the bass. If I was smart, I would have got the spare bass and used that one, because it wasn’t as good as the one as I smashed up. ”
Smith’s iconic photograph was once cited as the best rock ’n’ roll photograph of all time by the now defunct Q magazine.
“It wasn’t a choice to take the shot,” Smith told The Guardian in 2019. “My finger just went off. You can’t really tell it’s Paul. But I guess that’s the point.”
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- The Clash - The Story Of The Clash Volume 1 - stickered - EX - UK - 2-LP vinyl set - £50.00, $63.00, €60.00 (New Item) (arrived 13-Nov-2024 18:00)on November 17, 2024 at 12:06 am
THE CLASH The Story Of The Clash Volume 1 (1988 UK first press 28-track double vinyl LP compilation, housed in the original fully textured picture sleeve with the red & black hype sticker attached & complete with both illustrated narrative inners. This is the full British pressing with 'Made In England' on both the labels & back cover. The sleeve is Excellent with just some minor edgewear and the vinyl have a few cosmetic marks but few signs of play. An Excellent copy)
- The Clash - Sandinista! + Insert - EX - UK - 3-LP vinyl set - £45.00, $56.70, €54.00 (Back In Stock) (arrived 22-Aug-2024 07:39)on November 17, 2024 at 12:06 am
THE CLASH Sandinista! (1980 UK first press 36-track triple LP, complete with 'The Armagideon Times No.3' fold-out lyric insert & thick edged single pocket picture sleeve. The sleeve [VG+] reveals some light creasing to the front & back, whilst the vinyl is clean & in Excellent condition with just the odd faint sign of play FSLN1) #Top 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time
- The Clash - Tommy Gun - solid - UK - 7" vinyl - £10.00, $12.60, €12.00 (New Item) (arrived 21-Jun-2024 11:51)on November 17, 2024 at 12:06 am
THE CLASH Tommy Gun (1978 UK solid centre 7" vinyl single, also including 1-2, Crush On You, CBS company die cut paper sleeve CBS6788)
- The Clash - Cut The Crap - Japanese - CD album - £29.99, $37.79, €35.99 (New Item) (arrived 28-Jun-2024 09:32)on November 17, 2024 at 12:06 am
THE CLASH Cut The Crap (Deleted 2005 Japanese exclusive issue limited edition 12-track CD album, originally released in 1985, presented in a mini LP-style pasted card picture sleeve complete with fold-out Japanese/English lyric insert and obi-strip, housed in stickered re-sealable bag)
- The Clash - Sandinista! - Japanese - 3-CD set - £49.99, $62.99, €59.99 (New Item) (arrived 28-Jun-2024 09:40)on November 17, 2024 at 12:06 am
THE CLASH Sandinista! (Deleted 2005 Japanese exclusive issue limited edition 36-track 3-CD album set, originally released in 1980, the band's 4th long-player and certainly their most ambitious project, presented in replica mini LP-stylecard slipcase complete with fold-out Japanese/English text lyric sheet and mini replica of the 'Armagideon Times' insert + obi-strip) #Top 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time
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