Skip to main content Skip to footer
FREE ENTRY Docklands open Monday-Sunday, 10am-5pm Plan your visit For families For schools Collections
Menu
Museum of London

London Calling: iconic rock objects on display

We're celebrating 40 years since the release of the groundbreaking album London Calling by The Clash in a free show at the Museum of London. Come behind the scenes with 'The Only Band That Matters' and explore how London Calling changed music history. Here's a sneak peek of just 10 of the amazing objects on display.

13 November 2019

Simonon’s Fender Precision Bass was damaged on stage at The Palladium in New York City on 21st September 1979, as Simonon smashed it on the floor in an act of spontaneous and complete frustration.

Paul Simonon's broken bass guitar

Simonon’s Fender Precision Bass was damaged on stage at The Palladium in New York City on 20 September 1979, as Simonon smashed it on the floor in an act of spontaneous and complete frustration.

Simonon’s Fender Precision Bass was damaged on stage at The Palladium in New York City on 21st September 1979, as Simonon smashed it on the floor in an act of spontaneous and complete frustration.

Preliminary sketch of the London Calling cover, 1979

A preliminary sketch by Ray Lowry for the cover artwork of the 1979 album London Calling by The Clash, circa September 1979.

Simonon’s Fender Precision Bass was damaged on stage at The Palladium in New York City on 21st September 1979, as Simonon smashed it on the floor in an act of spontaneous and complete frustration.

Mick Jones's guitar

A 1950S GIBSON ES-295. The guitar was used by Mick Jones during recording of the London Calling album and in the music video for the title track of the album, released as a single in December 1979.

Simonon’s Fender Precision Bass was damaged on stage at The Palladium in New York City on 21st September 1979, as Simonon smashed it on the floor in an act of spontaneous and complete frustration.

Topper Headon’s drum sticks

Stamped ‘Topper’s Boppers’. Used by the drummer during various performances with The Clash in the late 1970s/early 1980s. One of the few remaining items of Headon’s from this time.

Simonon’s Fender Precision Bass was damaged on stage at The Palladium in New York City on 21st September 1979, as Simonon smashed it on the floor in an act of spontaneous and complete frustration.

Joe Strummer's guitar

The 1950S Fender Esquire used by Joe Strummer during the recording of the London Calling album and on stage for various live and televised performances between 1979-1981. © Lola and Jazz Mellor

Simonon’s Fender Precision Bass was damaged on stage at The Palladium in New York City on 21st September 1979, as Simonon smashed it on the floor in an act of spontaneous and complete frustration.

Page from Ray Lowry's sketchbook

Ray Lowry's sketch book from The Clash's 1979 Take the Fifth tour, showing a scene at one of their gigs. © Samuel Lowry

Simonon’s Fender Precision Bass was damaged on stage at The Palladium in New York City on 21st September 1979, as Simonon smashed it on the floor in an act of spontaneous and complete frustration.

At the London Calling video shoot

Photograph of The Clash taken on the River Thames, December 1979, by Pennie Smith. © Pennie Smith

Simonon’s Fender Precision Bass was damaged on stage at The Palladium in New York City on 21st September 1979, as Simonon smashed it on the floor in an act of spontaneous and complete frustration.

Handwritten album sequence note by Mick Jones

Handwritten list of songs, placed here in correct order for the 4 sides of the double album London Calling. © The Clash

Simonon’s Fender Precision Bass was damaged on stage at The Palladium in New York City on 21st September 1979, as Simonon smashed it on the floor in an act of spontaneous and complete frustration.

White shirt and leather jacket worn by The Clash, 1979

Shirt worn on stage by Mick Jones during a performance by The Clash at the Agora Ballroom, Atlanta, 2 October 1979. Lords of Flatbush leather jacket worn by Paul Simonon circa 1979.

Simonon’s Fender Precision Bass was damaged on stage at The Palladium in New York City on 21st September 1979, as Simonon smashed it on the floor in an act of spontaneous and complete frustration.

Ticket to a 1979 gig by The Clash

Ticket for the New York Palladium, 20 September 1979. Paul Simonon smashed his bass on stage at this show. © Casbah Productions Ltd

All of these objects, and many more exploring the year 1979 and the creation of a musical masterpiece, were showcased in The Clash: London Calling, a free display at the Museum of London. The display closed on 6 September 2020.

13 November 2019

Share this

Enjoy reading that? you might also like...

A lion looks out from a stylised London background. London now

Quiz: Which Beast of London are you?

Discover your animal spirit with our beastly fun personality quiz!
Krio airman Johnny Smythe. Black History

From Sierra Leone to Stalag Luft I: Remembering Johnny Smythe

Celebrating the extraordinary life of a Krio airman who flew against the Nazis and changed history aboard the SS Windrush.
Notting Hill couple Charlie Phillips Black History

Black British photography: Charlie Phillips

A groundbreaking photographer who documented the lives of black Londoners in North Kensington.
Group shot of 9 of Una Maw's cloth vegetable dolls. Hidden London

Inside the Vegetable Kingdom

Lucie Whitmore, curator of fashion, tells us the story of a collection of vegetable-themed cloth dolls and their maker, writer and illustrator, Una Maw.