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 - White Riot - 2nd - P/S - EX - UK - 7" vinyl - £20.00, $25.20, €24.20 (Back In Stock) (arrived 21-Feb-2025 13:36)on February 22, 2025 at 5:41 am
THE CLASH White Riot (1977 UK second issue solid centre 7" vinyl single with 'the CLASH' on labels, the groundbreaking debut single from the punk legends, also including 1977, picture sleeve. The sleeve has only minor wear and creasing, whilstthe vinyl shows just light signs of play - an excellent copy CBS5058)
- The Clash - London Calling - Punk Art Sleeve - UK - 7" vinyl - £75.00, $94.50, €90.75 (New Item) (arrived 12-Feb-2025 14:34)on February 22, 2025 at 5:41 am
THE CLASH London Calling - Punk Art Sleeve (2020 UK limited edition vinyl 7" from London artist & musician MAL-ONE featuring his '430 Kings Road' track in an exclusive Clash decollage picture sleeve using original classic artwork images and ephemera of the artist. The Giclee printed spined cover on 315gsm Heritage paper is one of a collection of original punk 45 releases reworked into an exclusive limited edition of just 20 hand-numbered copies per release (the lowest number in stock at the time of order will be sent), each signed and authenticated by the artist MAL-ONE and franked with his Punk Art safety pin motif. The Second Series of 14 x Punk Art 7" sleeves designed from using the artists own personal punk collection and mixing the 7” single and iconic images from the punk rock era into a modern art form)
- The Clash - Tommy Gun - 'Taken From' Label - UK - 7" vinyl - £15.00, $18.90, €18.15 (New Item) (arrived 29-Jan-2025 18:00)on February 22, 2025 at 5:41 am
THE CLASH Tommy Gun (1978 UK solid centre 7" single, also including 1-2 Crush On You, with the label showing 'Strummer / Jones' & 'Taken from' text below the titles, picture sleeve CBS6788)
- The Clash - Rock The Casbah - Australian - 7" vinyl - £40.00, $50.40, €48.40 (New Item) (arrived 30-Jan-2025 14:13)on February 22, 2025 at 5:41 am
THE CLASH Rock The Casbah (Rare 1991 Austrailian solid centre 7" vinyl single, with "Long Time Jerk" on side B. Housed in a die-cut company sleeve. The sleeve has some light storage wear, whilst the vinyl looks to be in Excellent condition with very few signs of play)
- The Clash - Sandinista! + Insert - VG - UK - 3-LP vinyl set - £30.00, $37.80, €36.30 (New Item) (arrived 31-Jan-2025 13:58)on February 22, 2025 at 5:41 am
THE CLASH Sandinista! (Original 1980 UK 36-track triple LP, featuring The Magnificent Seven, Hitsville UK & The Call Up, housed in the wide spined single pocket picture sleeve complete with 'The Armagideon Times No.3' fold-out lyric insert. The sleeve is Very Good with some minor creases and ring wear & the vinyl is Excellent with minimal signs of play but has a single manufacturing bubble on disc 1 for the tracks Junko and The Call Up. An advantageously priced copy FSLN1) #Top 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time
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