THE CLASH - ROCK THE CASBAH

Released: June 11, 1982

Charted:  UK: #15   US: #8 

"Rock the Casbah" released in 1982 as the second single from the band’s fifth album, “Combat Rock”, made a significant impact on the charts. It reached number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the US, marking their only top 10 single in that country. Additionally, the track, along with "Mustapha Dance," achieved success on the dance chart, also peaking at number eight.

This track was composed musically by Clash drummer Topper Headon, who also wrote the original lyrics. In an interview, lead singer Joe Strummer credited Headon as the "real genius" behind the song, highlighting his role in creating the drum track and contributing to the piano and bass parts. However, the song's success was bittersweet as Headon had been dismissed from the band due to his struggles with drug addiction by the time it became a massive hit in the US. The irony continued in the music video where the original Clash drummer Terry Chimes appeared at the drum kit, having returned temporarily to replace Headon.

Joe Strummer's decision to change Topper Headon's original lyrics for "Rock the Casbah" took the song in a different direction. Former Clash co-manager Kosmo Vinyl recalled that Headon's original lyrics were explicit and pornographic, centered around his girlfriend. Strummer's rewrite of the lyrics was inspired by a comment from manager Bernie Rhodes during early Combat Rock sessions, where he expressed frustration with the length of the tracks. This led Strummer to write the first line, "The King told the boogie men You gotta get that raga drop," after recalling Rhodes' remark about the length of songs being as long as a raga. Additionally, Strummer remembered a conversation about the consequences of owning a disco album in Iran, which served as inspiration for the theme of defying the Arab ruler's ban on disco music in the song's lyrics, ultimately leading to the rebellious anthem "Rock the Casbah."

"Rock the Casbah" requires some historical context such as the US and Great Britain's intervention in Iran's politics, particularly the overthrow of the democratically elected prime minister and support for the Shah's regime. The song touches on the consequences of this intervention, including the rise of Islamic fundamentalism and the Iranian Revolution of 1979, which led to the capture of American diplomats. Joe Strummer's lyrics were inspired by this Iran's post-Islamic revolution and the ban on pop music. Strummer envisioned a scenario where the people would defy this restriction and rebel against the oppressive regime by "rocking the casbah." The term "casbah" refers to a traditional and cultural center in many North African cities, but in this context, it symbolizes a place where music and freedom are suppressed, and the act of "rocking" it signifies defiance and resistance.

The music video was shot in Austin, Texas by director Don Letts over two days in June 1982. It combines footage of The Clash miming the song's performance with a narrative following two characters traveling through Texas. The storyline features a Muslim hitchhiker and a Hasidic Jewish limo driver who form an unlikely friendship on the road, eventually dancing together through the streets to a Clash concert at Austin's City Coliseum. Throughout the video, symbolic imagery is used, including appearances by an armadillo and scenes of the characters eating hamburgers in front of a Burger King restaurant. Notably, there's a scene where the Muslim character is seen drinking a beer, which Letts explained was about breaking taboos.

Joe Strummer's contemplation of leaving The Clash after "Rock the Casbah" became a hit stemmed from a sense of conflict. He struggled to reconcile the band's newfound success and wealth with their earlier sincerity and rebellious spirit. The realization that their music was becoming more commercial and potentially losing its authenticity led him to question the band's direction.  When The Clash eventually disbanded in 1985, speculation arose about their motives. Some suggested that the band's goal was to break up after achieving success in America, which was evident with hits like "Rock the Casbah" and "Should I Stay or Should I Go?". This theory suggests that once the band had accomplished their objectives, they saw no reason to continue, leading to their eventual dissolution.