“You know, they pick songs out for Elvis and when he'd go in to record he'd review them, and if he liked them he'd do it. So anyway, he recorded it, and it was by far the biggest thing that had ever happened to me in my life.” »read more
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This is inspired by the Notting Hill riots. On August 30, 1976, black youths clashed with Police at a carnival in the English town. Clash members Joe Strummer, Paul Simonon, and their manager Bernie Rhodes were there and got caught up in the riots, taking a stand against the police. Strummer felt that young white people should express their outrage over oppressive government just as blacks were, through direct action and protest.
The Clash's first single. It became one of their signature songs and was an indication of things to come. The Clash spent the next 8 years speaking out for the lower class and against the establishment. Targets of their scorn included the British government and their record company.
The back cover of the album is a photo of the Notting Hill riots.
The album wasn't released in the US until 1979. Over 100,000 copies were sold there as an import in 1977.
Clash members Mick Jones and Joe Strummer played this together for the last time in November, 2002. Jones was in the audience for one of Strummer's solo shows and came onstage to join him. Strummer usually didn't like to play this, but he turned to Jones and said, "This one's in 'A', you know it." Strummer died of a heart attack a month later.
More songs by The Clash
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Comments:
This song being one that they played at the Anti-Nazi League/Rock Against Racism festival of course!
- ross, Leicester, United Kingdom
At first I thought this song was a white pride song! Oi, Oi, Oi!
- Kane, Vancouver, WA
The Clash perform two different versions on their first lp. The import (green) cover has a much rawer take of the song. The later (blue) lp version is a little cleaner. Both versions are fab!
- Don, Newmarket
This was the only song I listened to on THU for about the first half of the game. This song is their own.
- Mike, Richmond, VA
yup its on underground but is it the clash doing it or a cover
- DALE, MILTON KEYNES, England
This song was on the soundtrack to one of the Tony Hawk Pro Skater games, I'm pretty sure it was Tony Hawk Underground. It is a great song.
- Jeff, Warwick, RI