a rolling stone waiting to be set in motion

Taken from here

"Their scalding self-titled 1977 debut set the tone. The songs, like "White Riot," were hard and fast. But listen closer. Through the maelstrom, Strummer and Jones dared kids to empower themselves, singing about the short shrift their generation had been given. Not content with mere provocation, they instead opened up a dialogue with their audience. Their music wasn't all punk, either. Like the hero of "(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais," they ventured into the unusual zones of reggae and rockabilly – and the sophistication of their playing hinted they were looking beyond the seething London suburbs."

"Getting into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was only a matter of time; their acceptance by an industry they once brazenly indicted is a victory, no question. But the triumphant spirit was marred by Joe Strummer's sudden death in December. The Clash had never reunited. They never cashed in. Instead, they let their music continue to speak truth to power, sending young fans to dictionaries and newspapers, prodding listeners to question authority at every level. The Clash not only changed the world, they did it without once compromising their integrity."