Complex of recording studios located in Londons Chiswick district in the former tram power plant building “Powerhouse” from 1901 (used until around 1920).
Metropolis was created by Gary Langan, Carey Taylor and Karin Clayton. It was opened in May 1989 and currently has other owners.
The building houses five recording studios, and since 1993 there has been a separate mastering department.
Many famous artists have used Metropolis: DJ Shadow, Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds, Björk, The Rolling Stones, Madonna, INXS, Amy Winehouse, George Michael and others.
Queen used the studio on the occasion of recording sessions for the albums Innuendo and Made in Heaven. In 1989 Brian May and Roger Taylor recorded the song Smoke on the Water as part of Rock Aid Armenia.


The videoclip for the Queen song Headlong was recorded in the building (on 23th November 1990) and shots from the outside of the building were used in the Innuendo videoclip.

Queen’s photo session at the end of November 1990 took place in Metropolis.


address: 70 Chiswick High Rd, Chiswick, London W4 1SY
GPS: 51.49348 N 0.249504 W
access tube station Turnham Green or Stamford Brook
Photo by daga, Michal Maron, Ola Kazana and Marek Kaczmarzyk – 2016