Simonen Takes Center Stage

Former Clash bassist Paul Simonen literally took center stage at Hammersmith Palais when he wielded an axe to it and chopped off a bit as a memento.

Simenon was playing with Damon Albarn’s supergroup The Good, The Bad & The Queen at the second-last show the legendary London venue hosted.

It’s being knocked down to make way for a new property development.

"Before I go I think I’ve done enough to deserve a piece of the stage," Simenon told the audience, having helped immortalise the venue in The Clash’s "(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais."

The last act to play the venue was The Fall, although its April 1st show was a little marred by an altercation the act’s Mark E Smith had with a member of the audience.

Apparently feeling that Smith wasn’t paying due deference to the historic occasion, the fan jumped on the stage and launched into a tirade of criticism, and then jumped back into the crowd before security could get to him.