Hammersmith Odeon – London

Hammersmith Odeon – As per the name once a cinema. Possibly the largest venue at the time and seated. All yer main rock bands would pass through here in the Seventies including Thin Lizzy ( who recorded the legendary Live & Dangerous album here), AC/DC, Rainbow, Rush, Black Sabbath etc and prior to that The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Bob Marley all played. The latter played for an amazing 6 consecutive nights in 1976.

In 1976/1977, when most UK punk bands were forming, the venue was more suited to the more established larger US punk acts like Patti Smith & The Ramones. The Fulham Greyhound, which was round the corner was smaller and the regular place for UK bands. Also at Hammersmith was the Palais, immortalised in The Clash’s White Man In Hammersmith Palais single and later the Clarendon. To get back to the Tube however meant negotiating a couple of pubs that were frequented by Teds, and so potential violence, which happened to Tim Smith of The Adverts.

Still going but through numerous name changes and currently the Hammersmith Apollo. Also now hosts numerous musicals interspersed with Rock. Scene of the extraordinary Iggy & The Stooges comeback gigs in 2004.

For you architecture buffs the Hammersmith Odeon is full of art deco features and is a grade 2 listed building.

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