What's the story behind The Clash's Rock The Casbah?

[Hawkee]

I was listening to music and found Rock The Casbah by The Clash and I wondered how that song came about? I first noticed it when Will Smith sampled it in his song Will 2K and it's a fun song
Bestie

[GentlemanJim]

Originally Posted by LaBestia

I was listening to music and found Rock The Casbah by The Clash and I wondered how that song came about? I first noticed it when Will Smith sampled it in his song Will 2K and it's a fun song
Bestie

After the fundamentalist revolution in Iran in 1979, western music was banned by the Ayatolla. So, this is a protest song against that ban.

Unlike most other Clash songs, the melody was entirely composed by the drummer sitting alone in the studio, who then recorded the drum, keyboard and bass parts all by himself.

Later playing it for his band mates, they decided the song was perfect as-is, and only needed lyrics to be complete.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_the_Casbah