The Clash – London Calling Exhibition

The Clash – London Calling Exhibition

Paul Simonon's Guitar

“London Calling” by The Clash was released 40 years ago today. Considered by many to be a seminal album in the history of modern music, with a sound & message that defined a particularly turbulent period in London’s history and yet still resonates with the mindset of the capital’s youth today.  Songs themed around social displacement, racism and unemployment were expressed via a politicised punk band who also uniquely incorporated the wider musical influences of West London where they lived.

Mick Jones shirt & Paul Simonon's leather jacket

To celebrate this 40th anniversary, the Museum of London have gathered together more than 100 personal items from The Clash’s personal archive, including instruments played by the band, images, handwritten notes any more, many of them previously unseen.  Surely the most iconic artefact is Paul Simonon’s fender precision bass that he smashed on stage at the Palladium New York in 1979 and was then featured on the sleeve of London Calling itself.

The exhibition continues until 19th April 2020 and it’s free to get in.