London's famous Astoria theater which has played host to legendary gigs by Nirvana, Radiohead, The Rolling Stones and U2 is set to be bulldozed by January after Crossrail applied for compulsory purchase orders.

The Tottenham Court Road venue has been under threat for years but it seems the fight to save the cultural music hall is now over despite petitions from thousands of gig-goers and appeals from bands.

13 other buildings will be knocked down to make way for the new expanded Crossrail station that will link east and west London. Work is set to start in the new year.

Other threatened venues

The 1927 arena has regularly been named as London's best live music venue and comes fresh off the heel of The Spitz and Hammersmith Palais closing their doors - let alone the chasm that has opened up in clubland.

Turnmills, The End, the Cross, the Key, the Egg, and Canvas, have all gone the way of the dodo.

There have also been repeated attempts to knock down the Electric Ballroom by Transport for London in the redevelopment of Camden Town Underground station.

While new venues like the Roundhouse, Matter and 229 at Great Portland Street have impressed music fans - others like Indigo at the O2 and Rich Mix have failed to replace unique and celebrated venues.

New venue?

Earlier in the year former Mayor Ken Livingstone promised that a new music venue would take the Astoria's place saying:

"I understand the historics but it wasn't at the cutting edge of modern comfort.

"Where you demolish something, you have to replace it with something better."

A spokesperson for the Mayor says:

"London is known around the world for its contribution to popular music and is home to many iconic music venues that are an important part of the fabric and character of our city. These Compulsory Purchase Orders mark a milestone in the development of Cross rail, which will bring a massive improvement to a key central London intersection and be a vital part of the capital's future success. Unfortunately, the existing Astoria building cannot be saved, but the Mayor is committed to working with all parties to re-establish a new venue within the development to add to the range of venues that exist across London."