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 - Remote Control - P/S - UK - 7" vinyl - £30.00, $38.70, €35.70 (Back In Stock) (arrived 01-Apr-2025 16:00)on April 2, 2025 at 2:13 am
THE CLASH Remote Control (1977 UK solid centre 7" single, also including a live version of London's Burning recorded in Dunstable [in mono], picture sleeve CBS5293)
- The Clash - English Civil War - P/S - UK - 7" vinyl - £25.00, $32.25, €29.75 (New Item) (arrived 26-Mar-2025 10:04)on April 2, 2025 at 2:13 am
THE CLASH English Civil War (1979 UK solid centre 7" vinyl single, also including Pressure Drop, picture sleeve with lyrics on the reverse)
- The Clash - Combat Rock - UK - vinyl LP - £25.00, $32.25, €29.75 (Back In Stock) (arrived 11-Mar-2025 17:00)on April 2, 2025 at 2:13 am
THE CLASH Combat Rock (1982 UK 12-track vinyl LP, picture sleeve with illustrated lyric inner. The sleeve shows a little light edgewear and a small sticker mark & the vinyl remains in Excellent condition with few signs of play FMLN2)
- The Clash - The Clash - Punk Art Sleeve - UK - 7" vinyl - £75.00, $96.75, €89.25 (New Item) (arrived 13-Mar-2025 11:32)on April 2, 2025 at 2:13 am
THE CLASH The Clash - Punk Art Sleeve (2023 UK limited edition vinyl 7" from London artist & musician MAL-ONE featuring his 'Punk Rock Fanzines' track in an exclusive Clash decollage picture sleeve, using the original classic debut album artwork imagary of the band from MAL-ONE's own personal punk vinyl collection. The Giclee printed spined cover on 315gsm Heritage paper is one of a collection of original punk albums reworked into an exclusive limited edition ofjust 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 blind stamped with his Punk Art safety pin motif MAL-ONE-009)
- The Clash - The Clash - Punk Art Sleeve - UK - 7" vinyl - £75.00, $96.75, €89.25 (New Item) (arrived 13-Mar-2025 17:00)on April 2, 2025 at 2:13 am
THE CLASH The Clash - Punk Art Sleeve (2023 UK limited edition vinyl 7" from London artist & musician MAL-ONE featuring his 'Punk Rock Fanzines' track in an exclusive Clash decollage picture sleeve, using the original classic debut album artwork imagary of the band from MAL-ONE's own personal punk vinyl collection. The Giclee printed spined cover on 315gsm Heritage paper is one of a collection of original punk albums reworked into an exclusive limited edition ofjust 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 blind stamped with his Punk Art safety pin motif MAL-ONE-009)
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