Brixton Academy
Brixton Academy (originally known as the Astoria Variety Cinema, previously known as Carling Academy Brixton, currently named O2 Academy Brixton as part of a sponsorship deal with the O2 brand) is a mid-sized concert venue located in South West London, in the Lambeth district of Brixton.
Former names
Astoria Variety Cinema (1929–39)
Odeon Astoria (1939–72)
Sundown Centre (1972)
Fair Deal (1982)
Brixton Academy (1983–2004)
Carling Academy (2004–09)
4,921
- General admission: 4,300
- Reserved: 3,820
- Theatre: 2,315
19 August 1929 (1929-08-19)
- 1983
- 2006
- 29 July 1972 (1972-07-29)
- January 1973
- April 1982
- December 2022
- September 1972
- 12 March 1982 (1982-03-12)
- 7 October 1983 (1983-10-07)
£250,000
(£14.5 million in 2019 pounds)[2]
- Thomas Somerford
- Edward Albert Stone
Opening in 1929 as a cinema, the venue was converted into a discotheque in 1972, then reborn as a concert hall in 1983. It is owned by the Academy Music Group (AMG), and has become one of London's leading music venues,[3] hosting over 50 live albums,[4] and winning the NME Best Venue 12 times since 1994.[5] It has been home to several notable performances, including The Smiths' last gig (December 1986),[6] Leftfield's June 1996 concert which set a decibel record for a live gig at 137db,[7] and Madonna's gig in 2000, which was watched by an online audience of 9 million.[8]
In December 2022, two people died and others were seriously injured following a crowd crush at the door. As a result the venue was closed, with reopening subject to meeting council licensing conditions. It reopened on 19 April 2024.
, a 1972 live album by Hawkwind, recorded in 1972 at Brixton Sundown and Liverpool Stadium.
Space Ritual
Live at the Academy, Brixton, an album by , recorded in May 1984.
Gregory Isaacs
Pete Townshend recorded at Brixton Academy on 1/2 November 1985.
Deep End Live!
A New Decade: Live From Brixton Academy, a 1990 live album by , was recorded in the summer of 1990.
Soul II Soul
, a 1991 live album by Faith No More, recorded in 1990.
You Fat Bastards: Live at the Brixton Academy
Weird's Bar & Grill, a 1993 live album from the band , recorded in 1992.
Pop Will Eat Itself
Live at the Brixton Academy, a live album released by on 29 August 2000
Sizzla
recorded his concert on 16 December 2000 as the album Live at Brixton Academy December 2000.
David Gray
recorded their 25th Anniversary concert on 20 October 2000 at Brixton Academy entitled 25 & Alive Boneshaker, released as DVD music video in 2001 and as an audio album later in 2003 under the Live at Brixton Academy title, the latter featuring the façade of Carling Academy Brixton on the cover.
Motörhead
Turning Rebellion into Money. Recorded 18 April 1987 during The Gathering of the 5000.
Conflict
, live album by Sepultura released in 2002, but recorded in 1996. Last concert featuring founding member and vocalist Max Cavalera, that left the band shortly after the show, following an argument in the backstage.
Under a Pale Grey Sky
recorded their live CD Hellalive at the Brixton Academy on 8 December 2001. This CD was released on 11 March 2003.
Machine Head
Scarred: Live at Brixton Academy, a 2003 live album by , recorded in 2001.
Gary Numan
Live at Brixton Academy, a 2003 live DVD by the .
Inspiral Carpets
A live album was released immediately after all four 2004 concerts.
Pixies
The album Satan's Circus was released as a limited edition double pack including a live CD recorded at Brixton Academy.
Death in Vegas
Rumble in Brixton, a 2004 live album and DVD by .
Stray Cats
Live at Brixton Academy, a Limited Edition DVD recorded in 2004 for 's album Lovebox, released for their Best Of album.
Groove Armada
Part of Rammstein's DVD was recorded at the venue between 3 and 5 February 2005.
Völkerball
recorded his concert on 19 May 2005 and a double CD of the recording was available to buy at the venue after the show.
Moby
, a live CD and DVD by the Queens of the Stone Age on 22 August 2005
Over the Years and Through the Woods
recorded the album Damian Marley, Live at the Brixton Academy in 2006
Damian Marley
Live at Brixton Academy London, UK 11/13/07, a Limited Edition CD recorded by Concert Live for , and distributed after the show
Alexisonfire
Live in the UK 2008 at Brixton Academy 1 February 2008, a Limited Edition CD recorded by Concert Live for , and distributed immediately after the show
Paramore
Live in the UK at Brixton Academy 3 May 2008, a Limited Edition CD recorded by Concert Live for , and distributed after the show
The Wombats
, a live recording from the band Kasabian, available only from some digital download services and encumbered with DRM. It was recorded at Brixton Academy on 15 December 2004. This was the band's final show of their momentous breakthrough year, and band member Sergio Pizzorno's birthday.
Live from Brixton Academy
recorded their concert on 18 February 2008 and a double CD of the recording was available to buy at the venue after the show and also online. The show was a sell-out despite not having a major hit in the UK.
Jimmy Eat World
released a DVD of a 26 June 2009 concert entitled Across the Pond as a part of a box-set Europe 2009 on 22 December 2009.
Dave Matthews Band
recorded his concert on 5 February 2010, which was sold at the venue the next day.
Jamie T
recorded live album Live at Brixton Academy in 2012
Chase and Status
recorded their "Passing The Baton" album live at Brixton Academy in 2012.
Faithless
recorded a live album as part of a two-disc deluxe set for the 2012 album Beacon.
Two Door Cinema Club
recorded their show at Brixton Academy in January 2013, it was released in December 2014 in DVD format on Live From Brixton And Beyond.
Asking Alexandria
recorded their show at Brixton Academy on 14 November 2009. This recording was released as part of the two disc ' The Drum Machine Years' release which also included a recording of the previous night's gig at London (HMV) Forum.
Carter USM
"The Final Comedown" Live CD & DVD was recorded in November 2014. Said to be as the best live film & audio recording of the band that has ever been made & a fitting end to the band's live career.
Carter USM
J-pop/death metal phenomenon Babymetal recorded their 8 November 2014 performance at the Brixton Academy, and released the performance under the title Live in London: Babymetal World Tour 2014 in 2015.
YouTube
recorded their show at Brixton Academy in March 2015. Made a live DVD called, Live at Brixton Released on 27 May 2016.
Of Mice & Men
recorded their show at Brixton Academy in November 2015. Made a live album called, 'NOMC15' Released on 26 May 2017.
New Order
recorded their show at Brixton Academy on 29 October 2018. They made a live album called, Meet You There Tour Live which was released 21 December 2018.
5 Seconds of Summer
recorded their album: "Live at Brixton" at Brixton in 2016
Public Service Broadcasting
recorded their Brixton show on 11 February 2012, releasing the Live at Brixton album of the recording in 2014.
Mastodon
recorded their show at Brixton Academy on 24 March 2013, later releasing it on 11 March 2014 as Les Enfants Sauvages.
Gojira
recorded their show at Brixton Academy on 7 December 2018. They made a live album called, Deaf Havana Live at Brixton Academy’which was released in 2019.
Deaf Havana
recorded their show at Brixton Academy in 2019, playing their debut album in full. They released the recording in January 2021.
Bombay Bicycle Club
Queen guitarist Brian May performed at the venue in 1993
has the entire performance from 3 November 2002 at the Brixton Academy on the second disc of their DVD, The Complete Masterworks.
Tenacious D
recorded three videos here: "Women in Uniform", "Run to the Hills" and "The Trooper"
Iron Maiden
had their performance filmed at The Brixton Academy in 1990. The performance was released on VHS and subsequently to DVD and is titled You Fat Bastards: Live at the Brixton Academy.[39][40]
Faith No More
In Bed With Carter was filmed at Brixton Academy. It features a live gig of Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine ().
Carter USM
The movie features numerous performances (e.g., Franz Ferdinand) all shot at Brixton Academy.
9 Songs
and Culture Club filmed the video for their 1986 top-ten hit "Move Away" at the Brixton Academy. The video has extensive footage of the venue, including the entrance hall, the staircase and the circle. The band is also seen as silent film-stars racing cars across the venues former film-screen.
Boy George
Video shoots for were held at the venue.
Wham!
Billy Ocean's video for "" on the soundtrack for The Jewel of the Nile was shot in Brixton Academy.
When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going
, the 2005 DVD from Machine Head featured material recorded at the Brixton Academy while on tour the previous year.
Elegies
DVD was recorded at the Brixton Academy in 2006.
The Mighty Boosh Live
recorded a live DVD: 11,000 Clicks at The Brixton Academy on 22 November 2003. It was the last show of a long tour for Moloko and was likely their final performance as a band.
Moloko
recorded their second single "Spaz" from third album Seeing Sounds at The Brixton Academy on 14 June 2008.
N.E.R.D.
recorded their gig for the DVD The Poison: Live at Brixton at Brixton on 28 January 2006.
Bullet For My Valentine
Flavor of Entanglement tour was televised in the UK.
Alanis Morissette
On 26 June 2009, filmed the music video for their second single, "Why I Am".
Dave Matthews Band
A concert in 1992 by at Brixton Academy was recorded for the VHS Going Blank Again – Live at Brixton Academy (also known as Brixton).
Ride
filmed the music video for their song "Underdog" and "Reckless" at Brixton Academy.
You Me At Six
's Over the Years and Through the Woods DVD was partly recorded at Brixton Academy. It also features a live CD.
Queens of the Stone Age
recorded 5 videos off 2010 album 4×4=12
Deadmau5
DJ Shadow, In Tune and On Time.
's 23 February 1985 show was recorded and released as the video Bad Attitude Live!
Meat Loaf
Placebo – .
We Come In Pieces
– Brixton Academy (13–14 December 2002) – available with The Best of Groove Armada: Limited Edition CD+DVD set
Groove Armada
recorded their live DVD British Invasion at the Brixton Academy in 2010, and was released in late 2012.
Steel Panther
recorded their performance in 1996, selective songs from the performance appears on DVD which is on their recent reissue of Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness.
The Smashing Pumpkins
The music video for the song "Run Free" by was filmed at Brixton.
Asking Alexandria
's performance at Brixton in January 2013 was recorded and is set to be released as a live DVD with bonus extras on 15 December 2014.
Asking Alexandria
– Live in London – Includes performance recorded 8 November 2014. Released 20 May 2015.[41]
Babymetal
– F.E.E.L.I.N.G.C.A.L.L.E.D.L.I.V.E. recorded 21 December 1995. Reissued on ultimate live DVD
Pulp
recorded 4 songs performed at Brixton in February 2005 (Sonne, Ohne dich, Rein Raus and Feuer Frei) and released on Völkerball.
Rammstein
launched a short documentary titled "Brixton at Night", that featured fan interviews and live performance clips from the band's sold-out headline show at Brixton Academy in 2021.[42]
Sea Girls
recorded a concert on 20 December 1997 which is featured on the DVD edition of Their Law: The Singles 1990–2005.