A guitar once set alight by Jimi Hendrix during a show at the Finsbury Park Astoria has sold at an east London auction for £280,000. Following a gig in 1967, the Seattle-born singer doused the instrument, a Fender Stratocaster, in lighter fuel and torched it before, in a moment less celebrated of by rock 'n roll historians, retiring to a nearby hospital and getting treatment for minor burns. The guitar's charred body remained at a......

This Week In London’s History Monday – 28th January 1807: The gas lamps on Pall Mall are lit, making it the first street in the world to be illuminated in such a fashion. Tuesday – 29th January 1976: Twelve IRA bombs explode in the area around Oxford Street, injuring a taxi driver and starting several small fires. Wednesday – 30th January 1969: The Beatles perform live for the last time ever, on the roof......

Arguably the best city in the world for a music fan to live, pop legends come to play in London all the time. Often not only do they come for just one gig, but they stay for a while when they could easily make haste for the comforts of their own homes to eat biscuits and play video games. Prince recently played the O2 for three full weeks, Sonic Youth resided at the Roundhouse......

Part 1: Introduction Mods. Rockers. Teds. Punks. Ravers. Swingers. Skinheads. Suedeheads. Hippies. Yuppies. Rudeboys. Indie kids. Emo kids. Beats. Glam kids. Tribes. Subcultures. Neo-tribes. Groups. Bands. Movements. All of the above, and more, have - despite their points of origin - been magnetically attracted to the capital. To attempt to cover all of the ages of London’s youth might seem an exhausting task worthy of Peter Ackroyd who wrote of his biography of London......

We first heard of Uptight earlier this week when the great Retro To Go blog mentioned it. Checking it out, the music policy sounded great, and the clubnight is celebrating it's 7th birthday this weekend so if there's ever a time to try it out, this Saturday would be it! We took 5 with DJ and promoter Wayne Gooderham. When and why did you set Uptight up? Uptight was born in the summer of......

It's the time of year that sends compulsive list makers in to a frenzy, and this girl is no exception. It's the Notes From The City Official 2006 End Of Year Things-That-Laura-Liked Summary - catchy! It's as much a list of things I really think everyone should check out as a list of my favourite things from the year, so follow the links at will... Top 10 Albums 1. The Eraser - Thom Yorke 2.......

Just two gigs to tell you about this week because we're still pissed that we're going to miss both The Shins on Thursday at Koko and Radiohead at Hammersmith on Thursday and Friday. If you can get tickets to either show, then we highly recommend them both. They may be worth remortgaging your house for. Tonight: Shoegazers amongst you unite, you have nothing to lose but your paisley pattern shirts at the return of......

YouTube is great for many reasons, but we really like the time travel possibilities. Check out this interview with Robert Plant & John Bonham from 1970 as it a) begins like a Monty Python sketch and b) gives those idiots The Beatles a good kicking: Anyone know anything about "the final and tragic conclusion to the case of the missing Enfield children"?......

Some photographs of the "chisleing little crook" avoiding the congestion charge have appeared online. The Nigerian police reform committee are coming over on a six day tour to "investigate British policing models and facilities." Probably best we say no more at this point. The London Stock Exchange is expecting an excellent year. Well how nice. Let's hope we all have one. The Beatles and Apple (the company, not Chris Martin's daughter) go head to......

Ahh The Beatles... overrated crap. Quite enjoyed the movies though. And they did give a leg up to Beatallica, without a doubt one of the best bands in the world today. Ringo was always the best one simply because he had the good taste to hang out with Frank Zappa, but alas it's one of the lesser scousers in the news today. Harrison. AN ex-seaman has revealed how he is still owed £20 by......

This day in London’s History Jan 30 1969: The Beatles get back to their live roots for an impromptu rooftop performance at Apple Records, Savile Row. The long and winding arm of the law quickly intervenes. London fact of the week Chelsea’s football ground, Stamford Bridge, is built on rubble excavated when the Metropolitan Line was constructed in the 1860s. London person of the week It’s got to be ‘gorgeous’ George Galloway after finally......

West End musicals - big shows with huge casts, flashy costumes, breath-taking sets and... music! Music that challenges you! Music that stirs your soul! Music that tells you a story in its melodies and soaring, swooping notes! Music that lifts drama to sublime heights and makes a mundane play into a glorious aural, visual journey into the unknown, where every nerve in your body is set alight and your very being is inspired and......

As a website that is sometimes confused by those of little brain with an American product (yes we are part of the Gothamist network, no we are not an American website) we were amused yesterday to see that some of the worst home-grown telly ideas from the last couple of years have found new life on American television networks. The Guardian reported yesterday: Over 40 years since the Beatles touched down at JFK, America......

The Clash's performance at the Rainbow Room in 1977 has been voted the Best London Gig Ever by Time Out. The Finsbury Park gig, which also included The Jam, Buzzcocks, Subway Sect and The Prefects as support, came top of the 100 strong list compiled by "journalists and contributors". The 'middle aged journos reminiscing about their youth' factor may have contributed to the Clash wining, but second place went to a much more recent......

Hard to know whether to put this story in the 'cinema' or 'music' category, as Abbey Road studios hosts a film season to take place 19th March to 3rd April. The studio will temporarily become a fully-functioning cinema and will screen a selection of films scored at Abbey Road studios in the past 25 years. The Beatles connection is represented through A Hard Day's Night, Yellow Submarine and Backbeat. Other highlights are Raiders of the......

Tonight sees the inaugural UK Music Hall Of Fame ceremony at the Hackney Empire theatre. The UK Music Hall Of Fame is a lot like the US Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame except it's British...but includes US artists such as Elvis, and Madonna who are two of the chosen 'founding members' along with U2, The Beatles, and Bob Marley. Of course, if you've been watching the Jamie Theakston fronted series on Channel 4......