Located at 126 East 14th Street in Manhattan, The Palladium was a historic 3,400-capacity venue originally opened in 1926 as the Academy of Music before operating as one of New York City’s premier rock halls through the 1970s and 1980s.
On September 21, 1979, during the final moments of The Clash's performance at the venue, bassist Paul Simonon grew frustrated with the seated, passive crowd and the overzealous venue security. Channeling his anger, he smashed his Fender Precision Bass into the stage floor. Tour photographer Pennie Smith stepped back just in time to capture the split-second, motion-blurred shot.
Despite Smith's initial hesitation over the focus, Joe Strummer and designer Ray Lowry selected the image for the cover of London Calling, paired with pink-and-green typography paying homage to Elvis Presley's debut album to create one of rock's most celebrated covers.