The Hammersmith Palais is immortalized not for a great gig, but for a disappointing one. In The Clash's "(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais," Joe Strummer recounts visiting June 5, 1977, for an all-night reggae showcase.
Expecting radical "roots rock rebel" music, Strummer was dismayed to find a pop-oriented performance lacking "punk spirit." This disillusionment inspired one of the genre's most sophisticated lyrics, critiquing the commercialization of rebellion. Building demolished.
London, United Kingdom
Nashville, United States
Austin, United States
Austin, United States
New York, United States
Austin, United States
We're collecting stories from musicians who performed at Hammersmith Palais