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The Morning Show - with Jill Riley

Coffee Break: Top British punk songs

by Jill Riley

June 26, 2023

Promotional portrait of British punk rock group The Clash, 1983. Left to right, Paul Simonon, Mick Jones, Pete Howard, and Joe Strummer (1952 - 2002).
Promotional portrait of British punk rock group The Clash, 1983. Left to right, Paul Simonon, Mick Jones, Pete Howard, and Joe Strummer (1952 - 2002). Epic Records/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

The mighty Mick Jones, a cofounder of the Clash, was born today in 1955. On the occasion of Jones’ 68th birthday, it’s a great day to cue up some of the music that he and his contemporaries made famous. For this Coffee Break, let’s find some of the rowdiest sounds and the most-cutting commentary that ever came out of the U.K.

For today’s 9:30 Coffee Break, which British punk songs should we play?


Respond with your song ideas in the comments below.

Have an idea for a Coffee Break topic? Submit your idea for a future theme and browse past Coffee Breaks in our archive.

Songs Played
The Clash - Pressure Drop
The Adverts - Gary Gilmore’s Eyes
The Damned - New Rose
The Jam - Going Underground
X-Ray Spex - Oh Bondage, Up Yours!
The Slits - Instant Hit
Siouxsie and the Banshees - Love In a Void
Buzzcocks - Why Can’t I Touch It?
Sham 69 - If The Kids Are United (bonus)

Coffee Break: Top British punk songs