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Event Reports,

The Establishing Shot: Paul Oakenfold plays Clapham Common

On 24 August 2001, Paul headlined the biggest solo London gig of his career, a Channel 4-sponsored free party at Clapham Common.


“I played Wembley Stadium opening for U2, but the Clapham Common gig was arguably my biggest ever gig in London,” says Paul.

“This was my gig, and it was free. No one in their right mind expected what went on. It was meant to be people sitting watching the cricket, with a bit of a party after. I was thinking, ‘it’s a nice day, we’ll get maybe ten thousand,’ but the build-up was massive – they changed the advertising, so all over London I had these big billboard posters sup. It became not just a South London event, it became a massive free party for the whole city. The people just didn’t stop coming.”

Things go a bit out of hand at the end, however. Channel 4 had told the Clapham residents that they’d pull the plug at eight, pretty early for an outdoor gig.

“The moment they put the Channel 4 logo on to end the show, bottles and cans started flying, says Marc Marot. “Unfortunately the hospitality area was directly behind the screen – we had to hide while vodka bottles were thumping on the roof, whacking into Channel 4 executives’ cars! It was like Beirut!”



The Establishing Shot: PAUL OAKENFOLD PLAYS CLAPHAM COMMON

Craig's is a retired superhero, an obsessive hobbyist, comics fan, gadget lover & flâneur who knows an unhealthy amount about Ian Fleming's James Bond. When not watching or making films he takes pictures, eats, drinks, dives, mentally storyboards the greatest film ever made & sometimes utilises owl-themed gadgets to fight crime.  A list of his 131 favourite films can be found here! If you would still like to contact Craig please use any of the buttons below: