The term 'Rock the Casbah' is a hit song by the British punk rock band The Clash. It was released in 1982 as the third single from their fifth studio album, Combat Rock. The song was written by lead vocalist Joe Strummer and bassist Paul Simonon. The title of the song is a reference to the Casbah, a type of fortress found in North Africa. The song has become one of the band's most popular songs and has been covered by many other artists.