Song Clearance Sheet
3 sources citedThe Guns of Brixton
Post-Punk1970s96BPM
G majKey
More around 100 BPM → · More in G major →
Tempo/key via GetSongBPM →, Deezer →
The verdict
Documented Sampling History
Confirmed songwriter of record (Paul Simonon), no dispute found — connects to “Police and Thieves” (this batch) and “Armagideon Time” via The Clash’s reggae influences.
Quick Facts
Released1979
AlbumLondon Calling
GenrePost-Punk, Reggae
LabelCBS Records
ProducerGuy Stevens
Recorded atWessex Studios, London
More infoWikipedia → · Discogs →
Who you need to ask
The songwriter of record — Paul Simonon
Wikipedia → · checked Jul 2026
The current administrator — Not confirmed — originally CBS; needs a Songview/Discogs lookup
Unknown · checked Jul 2026
Has it been reused?
A much-covered/sampled reggae-punk landmark; connects to “Police and Thieves” (this batch) and “Armagideon Time” via The Clash’s reggae influences.
Do they allow reuse?
No standalone policy found; confirmed songwriter of record and no dispute found.
Related Songs
Same album, answer records, and songs worth knowing about
The reggae record The Clash covered, feeding this song’s style (this batch)
Another reggae record The Clash famously covered (already in this catalogue)
Who Owns It
Licenses explained →The two permissions you need, and who holds them
The song itself (the writing)Paul Simonon
The recording (current administrator)Not confirmed
Receipts
Every public mention of terms, policy, or past deals we've found
“They’re your lyrics, you sing them”
Simonon was reticent to sing his own lead vocal, but Joe Strummer told him “they’re your lyrics, you sing them,” and the band agreed. The song was inspired by the Jamaican film “The Harder They Come” (naming its protagonist), and its lyrics depict Brixton’s discontent — heavy-handed policing, recession — predating the actual 1980s Brixton riots. No lyrics reproduced.
Songfacts / Grokipedia · read it →
The Paul Simon typo
A typo on a CD release’s sleeve notes misspelled Simonon’s name as “Paul Simon,” causing some confusion — though the actual Paul Simon (of Simon & Garfunkel) had nothing to do with it. Live, Simonon and Strummer would swap instruments on stage for this song.
Songfacts · read it →
Can You Use It for Free?
How to check PD →Is it public domain?No
Sample History
—
Times sampled
A reggae-punk landmark from “London Calling”
Covers
—
First flip
Who to Contact
GB
Paul Simonon / The Clash (CBS)
The confirmed songwriter of record
What they'll chargeNobody's shared numbers yet
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Page history · 2 updates
Jul 2026Page created — full research (Research Queue Batch 16)
Jul 2026BPM/Key pending the automated GetSongBPM/Deezer pass