Originally conceived as a double album, Combat Rock was edited down to a single together with legendary producer Glyn Johns.

Recorded in New York, this album soaked up the atmosphere of the city's vibrant hip-hop and graffiti art scenes, mixing funk, rock, hip-hop and reggae.

Combat Rock featured a cameo from beat poet Allen Ginsberg and paid homage to the Scorsese film Taxi Driver.

This record was the last to feature the classic Strummer-Jones-Simonon-Headon line-up.