Wessex Sound Studios

Many renowned popular music artists recorded at the former Wessex Sound Studios, including Sex Pistols (Never Mind the Bollocks), King Crimson, The Clash (London Calling), Theatre of Hate, XTC, Queen (We Will Rock You), Talk Talk, The Rolling Stones, Pete Townshend, and The Damned. Here’s where Johnny Rotten threw up into the piano…

Rock Garden

Opened in 1976, a basement venue in this Covent Garden corner – back then called the Rock Garden – hosted a wide variety of new wave and indie bands including U2, XTC, Adam and The Ants, and Suede. The Smiths played their first London gig here in March 1983.

The Venue

The Venue, owned by Virgin Records, was active on 160-162 Victoria Street, between the 1st of November 1978 and August 1984.

Captain Beefheart, Bauhaus, Duran Duran, Iggy Pop (with Nico), the Ramones, XTC, The Smiths, U2, The Fall, John Cale, Devo, and Depeche Mode played here in those years.