Paul Simonon’s “London Calling” Bass Going on Permanent Display at Museum of London

One of the most recognizable bass guitars from history will be getting a permanent spot on display at the Museum of London – or at least its pieces will. Paul Simonon’s infamous Fender Precision that he smashed on stage at the Palladium in New York will be part of the museum’s exhibition that tells the story of modern London.

The iconic moment of Simonon destroying the bass was captured by photographer Pennie Smith, and the band used the photo for the cover of 1979’s London Calling. That album became one of the most influential of all time and the photo was named best rock’n’roll photograph of all time by Q magazine.

The bass has previously been on display at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum in Cleveland, Ohio. The Museum of London also had it in an exhibit called “The Clash: London Calling” that ran from November 2019 to September 2020.

Hear more about the bass and the night it was destroyed from Simonon himself: