Brixton Academy

The Story

Brixton Academy, officially known as O₂ Academy Brixton, is a historic venue in Brixton, South London. It opened in 1929 as the Astoria cinema and, after a brief stint as a discotheque, was reborn as a concert hall in 1983 when entrepreneur Simon Parkes bought the virtually abandoned building. Revered for its Art Deco design and massive stage, it became one of the UK's most celebrated live music venues, hosting global stars such as The Clash, U2, and Madonna, and staging historic moments like The Smiths' last show in 1986. In December 2022, tragedy struck its recent history. A crowd surge outside resulted in the deaths of two of the venue's security guards, leading to its temporary closure until its reopening, with new security rules, in April 2024.

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