Punk rock innovators the Clash were the first group to bring this style of high-energy music to the top of the charts. Their songs were explosive acts of defiance that combined the sounds of rockabilly, reggae, funk, and hip-hop. This engaging book examines how the group used music, art, and fashion to deliver a strong political message. Through full-color photographs, fascinating direct quotations, and informative sidebars, readers will discover how in the band's short history, the Clash created exciting and brand-new sounds and spoke out against racism and consumerism. Moving beyond hits such as "Rock the Casbah" and "Should I Stay or Should I Go?" this text reveals why some called the group "the only band that matters."