Last week’s raucous NME Awards bash at Brixton Academy came as the much-loved venue celebrates its 30th anniversary. Having witnessed everything from The Smiths’ last ever show, Kylie duetting with Nick Cave and Pete Doherty dangling Kate Moss out a backstage window, it’s now surprise that Pete’s erstwhile Libertines sparring partner Carl Barat has admitted: “Brixton was always the one.” Former owner Simon Parkes was just 23 when he launched the Academy as a venue, and as he publishes his memoir of three riotous decades, Live At The Brixton Academy, he guides us through 5 moments that made the Academy what it is today.
Full piece in NME, 8 March 2014.
The Collected Works of Kevin EG Perry 