THE CLASH bassist Paul Simonon’s Fender Precision bass featured on the cover of the band’s iconic 1979 release ‘London Calling’ is going on display.
As can be seen on the seminal album’s cover, the instrument was smashed onstage during a September 21, 1979 show at New York’s Palladium. That moment would be captured by photographer Pennie Smith and subsequently used for the cover artwork of THE CLASH’s ‘London Calling’ album.
Well now it looks like the legendary, broken instrument will be going on permanent display at the Museum of London later this month.
The bass was previously included in THE CLASH: London Calling exhibition at the museum from November 2019 to September 2020, and is currently being featured in a world city gallery, which tells the story of London from the 1950s to today.
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. ”
