Hammersmith Apollo
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| Venue | |
|---|---|
| Location: | Hammersmith & Fulham, London |
| Rooms: | 1 |
| Layout: | theatre style |
| Promotions: | None |
| Licensing | |
| Capacity: | 5,039 (standing), 3632 (sitting) |
| Licensing authority: | Hammersmith & Fulham |
| Business | |
| Opened: | 1932 |
| Owner: | Hammersmith & Fulham Borough Council |
| website | |
Contents |
[edit] Location
Queen Caroline Street
Hammersmith
London
W6 9QH
Rail: London Paddington
Tube: Hammersmith
[edit] History
The Hammersmith Apollo, located in Hammersmith, London, England, opened in 1932, and was known as "Gaumont Palace Hammersmith" until 1962. In this year, the venue was re-named the Hammersmith Odeon - the name many people still use for the venue, often shortened to "Hammy-O". The venue was later refurbished and re-named The Labatt's Apollo following a new sponsorship deal with the Belgian-owned Canadian brewery.
Later, it was again re-named The Hammersmith Apollo, where it played host to a number of stage productions, notably Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Doctor Dolittle, both starring Phillip Schofield. In 2002 the venue was again re-named, this time to the Carling Apollo after another brewery struck a deal with the owners, US-based Clear Channel Entertainment (spun off as Live Nation (Venues) UK Ltd in 2005).
In 2006, the venue reverted back to its former name, and is currently known as the Hammersmith Apollo.
[edit] Performances
It is as the Hammersmith Odeon that the venue is best known internationally, especially since Motörhead's 1981 live album No Sleep 'til Hammersmith. Many legends of rock have performed at the Hammersmith Odeon, including Tori Amos The Cult, Thin Lizzy, AC/DC, Guns N' Roses, The Cure, Tool, Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Iggy and the Stooges,Status Quo, Metallica, Marillion, The Who, Queen, Rush, Dire Straits, Venom, Dream Theater and Duran Duran. David Bowie also performed his final concert as Ziggy Stardust at the Hammersmith Odeon in July 1973. Not to forget Bruce Springsteen's legendary performances in 1975. Neil Young also famously gigged there in the same year, actually setting part of it on fire. Johnny Cash also performed there in 1966. In late 1964 and early 1965 the Beatles played 38 shows over 21 nights. Special guests on the bill included the original Yardbirds featuring Eric Clapton. Also, Frank Zappa recorded parts of his 1979 album, Sheik Yerbouti, at the venue.
Venom accidentally burned Hammersmith's ceiling during performance, it can be clearly seen in 7 dates of hell concert video(during Countess Bathory). Venom got banned from Hammersmith for a year.
Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour performed three sold out shows at this venue on his 1984 About Face solo tour which was documented on the concert video David Gilmour Live 1984.
Queen have played several concerts at the Hammersmith, including their legendary Christmas concerts in 1975 and 1979. In fact, the Hammersmith Odeon hosted the 4-night Concerts for the People of Kampuchea, a benefit concert to raise money for Cambodian residents who were victims of the tyrannical reign of dictator Pol Pot of which Queen played the first night.
Many bands have released live CDs or DVDs of concerts held at the Apollo. Kylie Minogue & Girls Aloud released DVDs of their concerts at the Apollo in 2004 and 2005 respectively, and a DVD of a Bruce Springsteen concert held there in 1975 was released as part of the Born to Run 30th Anniversary Edition package, and later was released the CD Hammersmith Odeon London '75. Melodic death metal band In Flames also released a DVD that featured footage of a December 2004 performance here. Comedian and actor Eddie Izzard performed his show Glorious here, also on DVD.
In the early 1960's, many of the top American stars performed at the Odeon, including Tony Bennett with Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald with Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong and Woody Herman and the Herd.
[edit] External links
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