The last few days I've been listening to the 25th anniversary re-release of The Clash's groundbreaking London Calling album.

The new version includes a second audio CD of studio rehearsal recordings and a video DVD with good background material on the album.

While punk, especially in the late 70s and early 80s when The Clash were out there, the music was about rebellion, and challenging the full range of what was considered "establishment", including political, economic and cultural. Certainly, they'd never have envisioned their music crossing over into mainstream, with the title track being used in a television ad for a British liquor product as well as in Die Another Day, the most recent James Bond movie.

With punk attitude and stripped down guitars, combined with some very interesting reggae influences, the album's style reverberated through the sounds of The Police, and through a whole wide range of punk and ska bands, and was one of the earliest examples of punk's independent DIY (Do It Yourself) spirit branching out beyond just punk rock itself.

Don't just take my word for it - go buy the album. Trust me - it's WORTH IT!