Before the Revolution: The Clash’s Road to London Calling
Formed in London in 1976, The Clash—Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, and Nicky Headon—released their self-titled debut the following year.
The album reached #12 in the U.K., though the singles didn’t perform as well. Still, tracks from The Clash have since become punk classics, arguably influencing other punk bands more than they resonated with the mainstream at the time.
In 1978, they returned with Give ‘Em Enough Rope, which climbed to #2—The Clash’s highest-charting album in the U.K. Although it lacked hit singles, its release coincided with the peak of punk, which may have helped its success. The album’s two singles, Tommy Gun and English Civil War, didn’t chart particularly well, but that would soon change.
In July 1979, the band released the EP The Cost of Living, which featured a cover of I Fought the Law. This became their first U.S. single and helped lay the groundwork for what came next.
That December, the legendary London Calling was released. Building on the EP, this double album showcased a more mature Clash, incorporating ska, reggae, and broader new wave influences. This eclectic style aligned with the musical climate of the time, with bands like The Police also blending genres to great success.
The title track reached the U.K. top 20, and the album sold over a million copies in the U.S. London Calling would later be ranked by Rolling Stone as the 8th greatest album of all time. By now, The Clash had truly arrived.
The Clash: From Punk Pioneers to Mainstream Icons
The cover of London Calling definitely deserves a mention. It pays homage to Elvis’s debut album with a similar font and colour scheme, but instead of Elvis singing and playing an acoustic guitar, The Clash’s image features Paul Simonon smashing an electric bass on stage. This iconic cover was voted the best album cover of all time by Q Magazine.
By 1980, The Clash were back with their next release, Sandinista!—a triple album. Unlike their previous work, this one featured contributions from the entire band, not just Joe Strummer and Mick Jones. With 36 tracks, the album was ambitious, but none of the songs had much commercial success. While radio and the public weren’t fond of it, critics and fellow musicians praised it, setting a trend that would eventually shift.
In 1982, Combat Rock arrived, and by then, tensions within the band were mounting. Drugs were becoming a problem, and the band’s new, more commercial sound didn’t sit well with their original fans. However, this release finally won over the general public, yielding two of The Clash’s most iconic tracks—Should I Stay or Should I Go and Rock the Casbah. Combat Rock became their best-selling album, reaching two million sales in the U.S. alone.
By the time of their tour the following year, The Clash was falling apart, and their final album was released in 1985. The album, which received harsh reviews, marked the band’s downfall. The press called it “one of the most disastrous albums released by a major artist.” Less than a decade after their formation, The Clash were no more.
The Clash Tunes | Related Pages
I Fought The Law | Chords + Lyrics
You can learn how to play I Fought The Law by The Clash using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| D5 | G5 D5 | D5 | A5 D5 |
Breakin’ rocks in the hot sun, I fought the law and the law won…
Should I Stay Or Should I Go | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play Should I Stay Or Should I Go by The Clash using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| D N.C | D G5 |
Darlin’ you got to let me know…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: Should I Stay Or Should I Go (The Clash) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
The Clash on the web
