Synopsis

Shot in New York during The Clash's 1981 Bonds International Casino residency, the video mixes the band moving through the city with images of rooftops, housing blocks, subway activity, graffiti, street scenes, television reports, and live performance. Futura 2000 appears amid the urban imagery, linking the group's punk attack with New York's emerging hip-hop and graffiti culture. The quick-cut presentation mirrors the song's pirate-broadcast concept, building toward concert footage and the unfurling of a large Clash banner.

Factoids & Trivia

• The video is commonly listed as "This Is Radio Clash," the title of the A-side released in November 1981. "Radio Clash" was the related B-side, an alternate version with additional lyrics.

• Much of the footage was shot in New York for an unfinished film project called "Clash on Broadway," which documented the band's extended run at Bonds International Casino.

• The Bonds engagement expanded from eight planned concerts to 17 after the original shows were oversold and temporarily closed by city authorities.

• New York graffiti artist Futura 2000 appears in the video. He designed the single's sleeve and later created artwork for The Clash, including material associated with "Combat Rock."

• The large banner seen unfurling near the end was created by Futura 2000 and other New York artists for the Bonds shows. It had to be removed from its original position because of union restrictions in Times Square.

• MTV gave the video moderate rotation during the channel's early years and used footage of the band moving across a rooftop in a station bumper.

• The song reached No. 47 on the UK Singles Chart and later appeared on compilations including "The Story of the Clash, Volume 1," "Clash on Broadway," and "Sound System."