'Rock the Casbah' was released by the Clash in 1982 as the third single from their fifth album, 'Combat Rock'. The song is a fictional story of a ban on rock music by the king
being defied by the population, who proceed to "rock the casbah." The
King orders jet fighters to bomb any people in violation of the ban. The
pilots ignored the orders, and instead played rock music on their
cockpit radios. It was inspired by ban on Western music in Iran after
the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
The song reached number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the US. It is the band's highest charting single worldwide, and their biggest hit in the Netherlands until a re-release of 'Should I stay or should I go' in 1991 was propelled into the top 10 thanks to a successful ad campaign using that song.
My collection: 7" single no. 5378 Found: unknown Tracks: 'Rock the casbah' / 'Long time jerk'
