The Clash came out of the UK punk scene in the 80s and immediately shook things up. They played fast and loud but could also slow it down a bit when the song demanded it. They blended punk's relentless energy with layers of musical sophistication that showed they had listened to a broader range of music than most of their rivals. They also had a political bent that looked back to the golden age of the protest song--thanks to the late Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, and the rest of the excitable crew.

Drawing on rockabilly, reggae, ska, and even classic rock, the band scored big in the US with the album London Calling and the single “Rock the Casbah” on Combat Rock. The Clash was a favorite band for many top rock performers.