TheHammersmith Apollo, called theEventim Apollo[1] for sponsorship reasons, previously and still commonly known as theHammersmith Odeon, is a live entertainment performance venue opened in 1932 as a cinema named theGaumont Palace.[2][3] Located inHammersmith, London, it is anart deco Grade II*listed building.[4]
Designed by Robert Cromie, who also renovated thePrince of Wales Theatre,[1] in theArt Deco style, it opened in 1932 as theGaumont Palace, with a seating capacity of nearly 3,500 people, being renamed the Hammersmith Odeon in 1962. It has had a string of names and owners, most recentlyAEG Live andEventim UK.[5][6] It became a Grade IIlisted building in 1990. The venue was later refurbished and renamedLabatt's Apollo following a sponsorship deal withLabatt Brewing Company (1993 or 1994).
In 2002, the venue was again renamed, this time toCarling Apollo afterCarling brewery struck a deal with the owners, US-basedClear Channel Entertainment, nowIHeartMedia. The event was marked by rock bandAC/DC playing a one-off concert. All 5,000 tickets sold out in 4 minutes. In 2003, the stalls seats were made removable and now some concerts have full seating whilst others have standing-only in the stalls. In the latter format, the venue can accommodate around 5,000 people. The venue's listing was upgraded to Grade II* status in 2005. In 2006, the venue reverted to its former name, the Hammersmith Apollo. In 2007, the original 1932 Compton pipe organ, still present from the building's days as a cinema, was restored. The building was then bought by the MAMA Group.
On 14 January 2009, a placing announcement byHMV revealed that by selling additional shares, the company would raise money to fund a joint venture with the MAMA Group, to run eleven live music venues across the United Kingdom, including the Hammersmith Apollo. As a result, the venue was namedHMV Apollo from 2009 until 2012. Other venues purchased include The Forum in London's Kentish Town, the Birmingham Institute and Aberdeen's Moshulu.[7] The venue was sold by HMV Group in May 2012 toAEG Live andCTS Eventim.[8] In 2013, the venue was closed for an extensive refurbishment which was carried out by architect Foster Wilson.[9] The venue reopened as theEventim Apollo on 7 September 2013, with a concert performance bySelena Gomez.[1][10]
The original 1932Comptonpipe organ remains installed at the Apollo and was fully restored to playing condition in 2007.[11] It has a four-manual console which rises through the stage on a new lift and about 1,200 organ pipes housed in large chambers above the front stalls ceiling. Having fallen into disrepair, the organ was disconnected in the 1990s and the console removed from the building. At the insistence ofEnglish Heritage and the local council, however, it was reinstated and the entire organ restored. At a launch party, on 25 July 2007, an invited audience and media representatives witnessed a recital by Richard Hills.[12]
Kylie Minogue performed aone-off concert in the venue in 2003 and released aDVD of the performance in 2004. Minogue also performed the last show of herAnti Tour in the venue on 3 April 2012.Girls Aloud released a DVD of their concert at the Apollo in 2005. A DVD of a Bruce Springsteen concert held there in 1975 was released as part of theBorn to Run 30th Anniversary Edition package; later the CDHammersmith Odeon London '75 was released.Melodic death metal bandIn Flames also released a DVD that featured footage of a December 2004 performance there. Comedian and actorEddie Izzard's showGlorious was also released as a DVD.Rush recorded their 1978 performance and later included it in their three-disc set,Different Stages. American musicianTori Amos released a series of six live albums in 2005 known asThe Original Bootlegs, one of which was recorded at the Apollo. Photographs ofThe Who outside the Hammersmith Odeon appear on their 1973 albumQuadrophenia.Pink Floyd guitaristDavid Gilmour performed three nights at the venue in April 1984 which was documented on theDavid Gilmour Live 1984 concert film. These shows are of note asRoy Harper guested on "Short and Sweet" and Gilmour's Pink Floyd bandmateNick Mason played drums on "Comfortably Numb". In 1984 the London-based band Iron Maiden recorded side 4 of their double live album 'Live After Death' at the venue. Iron Maiden's affection for the Hammersmith Odeon previously resulted in the filming of a 1982 performance which was subsequently released asBeast over Hammersmith.[13]
Other acts have made music videos featuring clips from performances at the Apollo;Kelly Clarkson made a special version of her "Breakaway" video using clips from her concert at the Apollo in 2006.
The Hammersmith Apollo is seen in the American romantic comedy filmJust My Luck whereMcFly perform. In the movie, the venue stands-in for the Hard Rock Café. It is also the location inThe Football Factory where the Chelsea fans board the bus for Liverpool. It is mentioned in the poem "Glam Rock: The Poem" by the poetRobert Archambeau. The exterior of the (then) Gaumont Palace was used as the "Grand" cinema in the 1957 British filmThe Smallest Show on Earth.
On 25 March 1958,Buddy Holly performed two shows at the venue. An altercation after the first withJoe B. Mauldin saw Holly lose the caps to two of his front teeth; he effected a temporary repair with chewing gum and performed the second show with the gum in place.[14] These were his last shows in the United Kingdom.
The photo booklet that forms part ofThe Who'sQuadrophenia album features pictures of the venue (particularly within the centre spread;) the photos of the main character (Jimmy) waiting, kneeling beside his GS Scooter outside the venue as the members of the band take their groupies to a limo were taken during a photo shoot.
In July 1973,David Bowie performed his final concert asZiggy Stardust at the venue. The concert was filmed by American documentary filmmakerD. A. Pennebaker, who intercut scenes of fans outside the venue, Bowie in the dressing room, with the concert footage. The film was not released until 1979, and is now available on DVD asZiggy Stardust & The Spiders From Mars.
On 14 April 1976 Steve Harley and the Cockney Rebels recorded live at the Hammersmith Odeon. Some performances are available on their "The Best Years Of Our Lives" triple album.
On 15–16 May 1976,KISS made their first UK appearances, supported by UK rockers Stray; tickets sold out in 2 hours for their two-night stay.
Genesis featured in a 6-night run, 09-14 June 1976, making the UK debut of their "A Trick of the Tail" tour. This was the band's first post-Peter Gabriel album and tour, with Phil Collins stepping out from behind his drum kit to front the vocals. Bill Bruford, formerly of YES, stepped in on drums for this tour before giving way to Chester Thompson on subsequent tours.
In 1976, much ofThin Lizzy's live albumLive and Dangerous was recorded at the Hammersmith on the Johnny The Fox Tour. Again in 1981, Lynott and his gang appeared in the venue for the recording of the BBC'sIn Concert. The disc are released as a part of the Box SetAt The BBC, in 2011. Some of this tracks also appeared in the deluxe editions ofChinatown andThunder and Lightning. Finally, the double live albumLife/Live was recorded in the venue in 1981 and 1983, with the participation of guitaristsEric Bell,Brian Robertson andGary Moore. The guitaristSnowy White participated on three tracks recorded in 1981 in the same venue.
The progressive rock bandCamel recorded some tracks in 1976 for the release of a future live album. The album was released in 1978, and is calledA Live Record. The entire concert was released and made part of the deluxe edition ofMoonmadness. The same concert was broadcast by the BBC and released in DVD format. The DVD was calledMoondances.
In November 1977,The Tubes played 10 shows and recorded the live double albumWhat Do You Want from Live at the Hammersmith. The album was released in February 1978.
In 1978,Black Sabbath, withOzzy Osbourne still a member, held concerts celebrating 10 years of career in the venue. The opening band wasVan Halen. The concert was recorded and released on video and later on DVD, with the nameNever Say Die: A Decade of Black Sabbath. In 30–31 December 1981, the band now with Dio recorded their concerts at this venue. The gig was released on disc and vinyl in 2007, and later as part of the Deluxe edition ofMob Rules. In 1994 the show in Apollo was recorded and released one year later titledCross Purposes Live.
On 24 February 1978,Sweet played their first concert at Hammersmith Odeon. It was to be their last British show featuring singerBrian Connolly.
On 20 February 1978,Rush recorded 11 tracks from their "A Farewell to Kings" tour, including tracks from all of their first five albums. These tracks were not released at the time. They were included as a bonus disc on their 10 November 1998 release ofDifferent Stages Live which included recordings from both their 1994Counterparts and 1997Test for Echo tours.
Whitesnake recorded tracks for their live albumLive...in the Heart of the City on 23 November 1978. The album also included tracks that were later recorded (also at the Hammersmith Odeon) on 23 and 24 June 1980.[18] Years later, David Coverdale and this gang appears in Hammersmith for the recorded ofLive... In the Still of the Night album and DVD set.
The albums461 Ocean Boulevard andSlowhand of the guitaristEric Clapton were reissued in double CD deluxe format accompanied with a live album recorded at the venue, depicting tours of 1974 and 1976.
In 1980, the rock bandUFO, withoutMichael Schenker, recorded the BBC programmeIn Concert. In 1981, they again played in the venue for the same programme. These two discs are in theUFO on Air: At the BBC, released in 2013.
In May 1980, the English/Australian instrumental bandSky played two nights (19th & 20th) at the Hammersmith Odeon during the tour of their popularSky 2 album. The concert was filmed and later broadcast (in two parts) on BBC TV's "Rhythm on Two" on 24 & 31 July 1980. The concert is nowavailable on DVD. The venue's Compton organ was played briefly by keyboardistFrancis Monkman for their encore of the Toccata.
British heavy metal group,Iron Maiden, played at Hammersmith Odeon 24 times between 1980–2005. In 1980, Iron Maiden played two consecutive nights opening forJudas Priest. In 1981 the band played here their a very first headline show with French band Trust as the support act.[19][20] Iron Maiden show from 1982 was recorded and published as theBeast over Hammersmith double live CD being a part ofEddie's Archive box released in 2002.[21] The clips from that night were used as a part of12 Wasted Years (1987) documentary andThe History of Iron Maiden – Part 1: The Early Days DVD released in 2004. Between 1983 and 1988, the band played multiple sold out nights, including six shows in 1986 as a part ofSomewhere on Tour 1986/87.[22][23] The fourth side of double live albumLive After Death was recorded during the four nights played by the band as a part ofWorld Slavery Tour.[24][25] In 1990, Iron Maiden played here their first show in London with a new member, guitaristJanick Gers.[26]
Miles Davis played in 1982 with his Jazz fusion band. The concert was released some years later in DVD.
Def Leppard recorded the videos ofLet It Go,High & Dry (Saturday Night), andBringing on the Heartbreak at the venue.
In 1983,Dire Straits recorded the concerts for a future release. Finished launching in 1984 the double albumAlchemy and a video with the same name. The video was remastered and released on DVD and Blu-ray in 2009, in its full version.
The black metal bandVenom released a double album in 1985 calledEine Kleine Nachtmusik. One of the discs was recorded in the venue. The band was banned in 1984 because they ruined the ceiling of the theatre with a show of fireworks (during the track Countess Bathory). The show was recorded and released on video in 1984 with the name Seven Dates to Hell, with opening by the young Metallica. The following year, the band recorded the concert at this venue for a television special, named Live from London. Both shows were released on DVD during the 2000s.
In 1980,Blondie performed one of their most famous shows.Robert Fripp joined them on guitar, and their live cover of "Heroes" (which was later used as a B-Side) was recorded there. In addition, some more live tracks recorded were later used as bonus tracks on the 2001 rerelease of theEat to the Beat album.
In 1982,Duran Duran performed during promotion for theirRio album. The concert was filmed and released asLive at Hammersmith '82! in 2009, as a CD-DVD combo pack.
On 25 October 1982,Depeche Mode performed there as part of their A Broken Frame Tour. The concert was filmed and parts were released asLive at Hammersmith Odeon London in 2006, as a DVD included in the remastered album,A Broken Frame.
In 1982,Japan played a six-night residency from 17 to 22 November. These were the band's final performances in the UK and the final night's performance was recorded and then released in 1983 on VHS and audio asOil on Canvas.
On 21 September 1986,Metallica performed at the Odeon during their Master of Puppets Tour. This is one of the band's last performances with bassistCliff Burton, who was killed in a bus crash, six days later and also featured guitaristJohn Marshall as James Hetfield was recovering from a skateboard accident. This performance formed the basis for the Hammersmith Apollo's appearance in video gameGuitar Hero: Metallica in 2009, complete withMaster of Puppets-themed stage.
Between 15 and 20 December 1986, theNorwegian banda-ha held 6 concerts at the Hammersmith Odeon.[27]
At the start of the seminalPublic Enemy album,It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, they are heard addressing the Hammersmith Odeon crowd at a concert there in 1987. Due to trouble outside the venue before and after the show, the Hammersmith Odeon refused to host any rap groups for several years afterwards.
On 10 July 1987, the first Soviet rock musicians ever to perform in BritainAutograph andDialogue atRussian Rock Gala duringCapital Music Festival.
In early 1982, British pop groupHaircut One Hundred performed in Hammersmith Odeon playing songs from their albumPelican West.
Following 4 sold out shows on their 'Slippery When Wet' UK tour in November 1986,Bon Jovi returned to the venue on 10 January 1990 during their second visit to the UK on theirNew Jersey Syndicate Tour to play a special one-off show, in aid of Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy.
In summer of 1992,Erasure played 8 consecutive nights at the Hammersmith Odeon on the opening of their "Phantasmagorical Entertainment Tour".
Megadeth Recorded their Performance on 30 September 1992, for a Concert DVD in support for their albumCountdown to Extinction
Dio Recorded their previously unreleased "Live in London-Hammersmith Apollo 1993" Performance on 12 December 1993, a Blu-ray Disc released in 2014 in support for their then recent albumStrange Highways.
Musical theatre starMichael Ball has performed at the Hammersmith Apollo on nine occasions—each time selling out.[citation needed] His concerts in December 1993 and 1994, were recorded byBBC Radio 2. He also recorded his 2003, 2007 and 2013 concerts for DVD release.
In July 1995,Riverdance made its UK debut at the Apollo, selling out its initial four-week run and returning in the fall for another 19 weeks, breaking box office records in the process.
In November 1997, Scottish comedian Billy Connolly performed five sold out nights.
On 14 December 1999,Blast! a new musical based on American Drum and Bugle Corps premiered at the Hamersmith Apollo. A PBS special of the London production aired on 5 August 2000.
On 21 October 2003, rock bandAC/DC performed at the Apollo. The event sold out online in just four minutes. The lead singerBrian Johnson was suffering from a lung infection on the night of the gig.[28][29]
On 15 November 2003,Kylie Minogue launched her studio albumBody Language with a press conference and a one-off show entitledMoney Can't Buy, no tickets were offered for sale publicly and only invited guests and competition winners attended the show.
In 2004, the venue was part of theCarling Live 24 event, which sawFeeder play their only date of that year. The venue also spawned theBBC television seriesLive at the Apollo, originally titledJack Dee Live at the Apollo
On 25 November 2006,Video Games Live presented the first ever UK video game concert at the Hammersmith Apollo as part of their 2006 World Tour. A parody of the Hammersmith Odeon was made forGuitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, calledYe Olde Royal Odeon. The gameGuitar Hero: Metallica features the real Hammersmith Apollo as a playable venue.
On 19 June 2007, OMD filmed their Architecture & Morality and more comeback-tour in this theatre.
In September 2008, comedianMichael McIntyre performed shows around theatres in the UK and his filmed performance at the Hammersmith Apollo became the best selling debut comedy DVD of all time.
On 11 July 2009,Thunder played their last concert in a sold out Hammersmith Apollo, as being the last stop on their20 Years & Out tour. The show was also filmed and recorded for a last Thunder live DVD.
On 29 November 2009, British Christian rock bandDelirious? played their farewell concert at the venue. The show was sold out and was recorded for a live album and DVD.[30]
On 15 December 2009, the Apollo hosted the UK premiere ofIt Might Get Loud, a documentary film that covers the careers of guitaristsThe Edge,Jimmy Page, andJack White. Page was the only star of the film to attend the UK premiere.
On 8 April 2010,The Infidel, a comedy film directed byDavid Baddiel and starringOmid Djalili, was premiered. The organ was played by Richard Hills as the audience arrived and in the interval. This was the first film premiere at the Apollo for more than 20 years.
On 4 May 2010, the Italian songwriterVasco Rossi, had a sold-out concert during his "Tour Europe indoor". The whole concert was recorded and issued on 22 June under the nameVasco London Instant Live 4 May 2010.
On 14–18 July 2010, American magicians and comediansPenn & Teller performed, their first UK performance in more than 16 years.[citation needed]
Bob Dylan performed three concerts, ending his2011 Never Ending Tour withMark Knopfler. These three dates brings to total of Dylan performances at the venue to twenty-four. He performed there six times in 1990, eight times in 1991, six times in 1993, once in 2003 and three times in 2011.[citation needed]
On 21 December 2012,Brian Cox andRobin Ince hosted a show containing performances by scientists, comedians, actors and other apocalypse sceptics for a show to coincide with the predicted Mayan apocalypse entitled "The End of the World Show".[citation needed]
On 23–24 February 2013,Kanye West played two shows as a part of a small European tour which tested a new setup which featured surround vision visuals. The shows featured West wearing a white sci-fi straitjacket, a glittering, skin-tight crystal bondage mask obscuring his face. The theme of the shows centered on icy, glacial environmental visuals.[31]
On 26 February 2013, as part of thefirst series of theITV2 music showThe Big Reunion, seven chart-topping groups who were big names in theUK pop music scene between the 1990s and early 2000s -Five,911,Atomic Kitten,B*Witched,Blue,Honeyz andLiberty X - performed in a comeback concert. Portions of the concert were shown during the last episode of the series on 28 March 2013, and the full concert itself was released on DVD in April 2013.[32]
On 15–16 March 2013, the original line-up ofStatus Quo played two sold-out shows on their Reunion Tour, after being apart for 32 years. These concerts were released on CD.[33]
On 7 September 2013,Selena Gomez opened the newly renovated theatre on herStars Dance Tour, the only performance in the UK for the tour. The date also commissioned the venue's new name, Eventim Apollo.
On 21 February 2014, as part of thesecond series ofThe Big Reunion, six pop groups -3T,A1,Damage,Eternal,Girl Thing and newly-formed supergroup5th Story - performed in a comeback concert. Portions of the concert were shown during the last episode of the series on 27 March 2014, and the full concert itself was released in segments on the show's YouTube channel.
From August to October 2014,Kate Bush undertook a 22 date residency calledBefore the Dawn at the Apollo. These performances were her first live shows in nearly 35 years.[citation needed]
On 17 February 2018, Cumbrian indie bandWild Beasts played their final "farewell" show dubbed "End Come Too Soon".
In April 2018, it was confirmed that the venue would host the live shows ofBritain's Got Talent that year. The live shows returned to the venue in 2019 and again since 2022.[citation needed]
On 9 July 2022, the 90th anniversaryGang Show special is performed here.[41]
On 25 July 2023,Blur performed a one-off performance, playing their album,The Ballad of Darren, in its entirety, along with some rarely or previously never played songs.[42]
^Iron Maiden 'Live After Death' – released 1985 on EMI records. Iron Maiden 'The Early Days DVD – disc one: Beast over Hammersmith released by EMI records 2004
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