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{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2012}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Complete Control
| cover = Completecontrolcover.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = [[The Clash]]
| album = [[The Clash (album)#1979 US version|The Clash]] {{noitalic|(US version)}}
| B-side = City of the Dead
| released = {{Start date|1977|9|23|df=y}} (UK)
| recorded = July 1977
| studio = A: [[Sarm East Studios]]{{sfn|Gilbert|2005|p=159}}<br/>B: CBS Studios, London<ref name=sbmc/>
| genre = [[Punk rock]]<ref name="wyman">{{cite web |last1=Wyman |first1=Bill |title=All 139 the Clash Songs, Ranked From Worst to Best |url=https://www.vulture.com/2017/10/all-139-the-clash-songs-ranked-from-worst-to-best.html |website=[[Vulture (magazine)|Vulture]] |date=11 October 2017 |publisher=[[New York (magazine)|New York]] |access-date=March 14, 2023}}</ref><ref name="Bradley 2014">{{cite book|title= The Alternative Jukebox|first=Steve|last=Lamaco|date= November 4, 2014|chapter= The 1970s: The Clash - "Complete Control|page= 89|publisher=[[Cassell (publisher)|Cassell]]|isbn=978-1-84403-789-6|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w_phoAEACAAJ}}</ref>
| length = 3:10
| label = [[CBS Records International|CBS]]
| writer = [[Joe Strummer]], [[Mick Jones (The Clash)|Mick Jones]]
| producer = [[Lee "Scratch" Perry]]<ref name=cos/>
| prev_title = [[Remote Control (The Clash song)|Remote Control]]
| prev_year = 1977
| next_title = [[Clash City Rockers]]
| next_year = 1978
| misc = {{External music video|1={{YouTube|JeTw_p_WglY|"Complete Control" (live recording) by the Clash}}}}
{{External music video|header=Official audio|1={{YouTube|u6ZWV7cCK5A|"Complete Control" (studio recording) by the Clash}}}}
{{Extra chronology
| artist = [[The Clash]] reissued singles
| type = single
| prev_title = [[Train in Vain]]
| prev_year = 1991
| title = Complete Control
| year = 1999
| next_title =
| next_year =
}}
}}

"'''Complete Control'''" is a song by [[The Clash]], released as a [[Single (music)|7" single]] and featured on [[The Clash (album)#1979 US version|the U.S. release of their debut album]].<ref name="Westway_to_the_World"/>

==Background==
{{Listen
|type=music
|filename=Clash-Complete Control.ogg
|title=The Clash "Complete Control" (1977)
|description=Sample of "Complete Control" taken from ''[[The Clash Hits Back]]''
}}
The song is often cited as one of punk's greatest singles and is a fiery [[polemic]] on record companies, managers and the state of punk music itself, the motivation for the song being the band's label ([[CBS Records International|CBS Records]]) releasing "[[Remote Control (The Clash song)|Remote Control]]" without asking them, which infuriated the group.<ref name=straight/> ''[[Stereogum]]'' described it as "this extraordinary airing of grievances, a desperately catchy cataloguing of the many ills visited upon a young band experiencing its first forays into corporate culture".<ref name=stereogum/>

The song also refers to managers of the time who sought to control their groups–[[Bernie Rhodes]] (of [[The Clash]]) and [[Malcolm McLaren]] (the [[Sex Pistols]])–the song's title is derived from this theme. Bernie Rhodes had arranged a band meeting at the Ship, a pub in [[Soho]]'s [[Wardour Street]], where he said he wanted "complete control".

{{quote|He said he wanted complete control. I came out of the pub with [[Paul Simonon|Paul]] collapsing on the pavement in hysterics over those words.|author=[[Joe Strummer]]{{sfn|Salewicz|2006|p=178}}}}

The track also refers to the band's run-ins with the police, their practice of letting fans into gigs through the back door or window for free and a punk idealism seemingly crushed by the corporate reality they had become part of and the betrayal and anger they felt.

This message was scorned by some critics as naïveté on the part of the band – the DJ [[John Peel]] was one of those, suggesting that the group must have realised CBS were not 'a foundation for the arts' – while others were strong in their support of the single.

{{quote|Instead of a piece of cynicism, Complete Control becomes a [[hymn]] to Punk [[autonomy]] at its moment of [[eclipse]].|author=[[Jon Savage]]|source=England's Dreaming{{sfn|Savage|2002|p=399}}}}

The track was recorded at Sarm East Studios in [[Whitechapel]], engineered by Mickey Foote and produced by [[Lee "Scratch" Perry]]. Perry had heard the band's cover of his [[Junior Murvin]] hit "[[Police and Thieves]]" and was moved enough to have put a picture of the band (the only white artist accorded such an honor) on the walls of his [[Black Ark Studios]] in [[Jamaica]]. When the Clash learned that Perry was in London producing for [[Bob Marley|Bob Marley & the Wailers]], he was invited to produce the single. "Scratch" readily agreed.

During the tracking session, some Clash and Perry biographies claim, Perry blew out a studio mixing board attempting to get a deep bass sound out of [[Paul Simonon]]'s instrument, while a 1979 ''[[New Musical Express]]'' and ''[[Hit Parader]]'' article penned by Strummer and Jones stated that Perry had complimented Jones' guitar playing, saying he "played with an iron fist". Perry's contribution to the track, however, was toned down – the band went back and fiddled with the song themselves to bring the guitars out and played down the echo Perry had dropped on it. The song was also [[Topper Headon]]'s first recording with the band, following the departure of [[Terry Chimes]].

"Complete Control" reached number 28 on the singles chart,<ref name=chart/> making it the Clash's first Top 30 release. It immediately became one of The Clash’s most popular songs. Listeners to the [[John Peel]] show voted "Complete Control" number 2 in 1978’s [[Festive Fifty]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Whitby|first=Mark|title=The Festive Fifty|publisher=CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform|year=2015|isbn=9781511860376}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Keeping It Peel - Festive 50s - 1978|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/johnpeel/festive50s/1970s/1978/|website=BBC Radio 1}}</ref>

In 1999, [[CBS Records International|CBS Records]] reissued the single with a live version of "Complete Control". In 2004, ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' rated the song as No. 361 on its list of the [[Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time|500 Greatest Songs of All Time]].<ref name="rs" /> The song is featured as a playable track in the video games ''[[Guitar Hero: Aerosmith]]'' and ''[[Rock Band (video game)|Rock Band]]''.<ref name="joystiq" /> ''[[The Guardian]]'' described it as "the high [[watermark]] of the Clash’s punk period".<ref name="guardian" />

In 1980, guitarist [[Chuck Berry]] was asked to review some modern records by the [[St. Louis]] ''[[Jet Lag]]'' fanzine. After reviewing the [[Sex Pistols]]' "[[God Save the Queen (Sex Pistols song)|God Save the Queen]]", the next song to be reviewed was "Complete Control", his review read: "Sounds like the first one. The rhythm and chording work well together. Did this guy have a sore throat when he sang the vocals?"<ref name=spin/>

==Track listing==
All tracks written by [[Joe Strummer]]/[[Mick Jones (The Clash)|Mick Jones]].
;7" vinyl
# "Complete Control" – 3:15
# "City of the Dead" – 2:22

==Personnel==
==="Complete Control"===
* [[Joe Strummer]] – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
* [[Mick Jones (The Clash)|Mick Jones]] – lead and rhythm guitars, backing vocals
* [[Paul Simonon]] – bass guitar
* [[Topper Headon]] – drums

==="City of the Dead"===
* [[Joe Strummer]] – lead vocal, backing vocal, organ, rhythm guitar
* [[Mick Jones (The Clash)|Mick Jones]] – backing vocal, lead guitar
* [[Paul Simonon]] – bass guitar
* [[Topper Headon]] – drums
* [[Gary Barnacle]] – saxophones

==Charts==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ Chart performance for "Complete Control"
! Chart (1977)
! Peak<br />position
|-
{{single chart|UK|28|date=19771008|rowheader=true|refname=chart}}
|}

==Notes==

{{reflist|refs=
<ref name=straight>{{cite news
| first = John
| last = Lucas
| title = Five Songs About: the music industry
| date = 2019-01-04
| newspaper = [[The Georgia Straight]]
| url = https://www.straight.com/music/1183246/five-songs-about-music-industry
| access-date = 2019-05-07}}</ref>
<ref name=rs>{{cite magazine
| title = The RS 500 Greatest Songs of All Time
| date = 2004-12-09
| magazine = [[Rolling Stone]]
| quote = 361. Complete Control, The Clash
| url = https://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/500songs/page/4
| url-status = dead
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071120033613/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/500songs/page/4
| archive-date = 2007-11-20
| access-date = 2007-11-22}}</ref>
<ref name=guardian>{{cite news
| first = Dave
| last = Simpson
| title = The Clash: 10 of the best
| date = 2015-09-23
| work = [[The Guardian]]
| url = https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/sep/23/the-clash-10-of-the-best
| access-date = 2019-05-15}}</ref>
<ref name=spin>{{cite news
| first = Dale
| last = Eisinger
| title = Chuck Berry's Reviews of The Clash, The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, and More
| date = 2017-03-19
| publisher = [[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]
| url = https://www.spin.com/2017/03/read-chuck-berrys-reviews-of-the-clash-the-sex-pistols-the-ramones-and-more/
| access-date = 2019-05-15}}</ref>
<ref name=cos>{{cite web
| first = Kenneth
| last = Partridge
| title = How The Clash Can Lead to a Great Record Collection
| date = 2017-04-10
| website = [[Consequence of Sound]]
| url = https://consequenceofsound.net/2017/04/how-the-clash-can-lead-to-a-great-record-collection/
| access-date = 2019-05-15}}</ref>
<ref name=stereogum>{{cite web
| title = The 10 Best Clash Songs
| date = 2002-12-07
| quote = #6
| website = [[Stereogum]]
| url = https://www.stereogum.com/1216562/the-clashs-10-best-songs/franchises/10-best-songs/
| access-date = 2019-05-09}}</ref>
<ref name=joystiq>{{cite web
| first = Alexander
| last = Sliwinski
| title = The Clash, The Police and The Ramones
| date = 2008-02-11
| website = [[Joystiq]]
| url = http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/11/rock-band-weekly-the-clash-the-police-and-the-ramones/
| access-date = 2008-02-13}}</ref>
<ref name="Westway_to_the_World">{{cite AV media
| first = Don
| last = Letts
| author-link = Don Letts
| date = 2001
| title = [[Westway to the World|The Clash: Westway to the World]]
| publisher = [[Sony Music Entertainment]]
| time = 11:45
| medium = Film
| language = en
| isbn = 0-7389-0082-6
| oclc = 49798077
| asin = B000063UQN}}</ref>
<ref name=sbmc>{{cite AV media
| author = The Clash
| date = October 1980
| title = Super Black Market Clash
| work = album sleeve notes
| publisher = [[Epic Records]]
| url = http://urbanaspirines.blogspot.com/2011/08/clash-super-market-clash-collective.html
| language = en
| asin = B00004C4L1}}</ref>
}}

==References==
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite book |last=Gilbert |first=Pat |title=Passion Is a Fashion: The Real Story of The Clash |orig-year=2004 |edition=4th |year=2005 |publisher=[[Aurum Press]] |location=London |isbn=1-84513-113-4 |oclc=61177239 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=dz_LAgAAQBAJ }}
* {{cite book |last=Gray |first=Marcus |title=The Clash: Return of the Last Gang in Town |orig-year=1995 |edition=5th revised |year=2005 |publisher=Helter Skelter |location=London |isbn=1-905139-10-1 |oclc=60668626 }}
* {{cite book |last=Green |first=Johnny |author2=Garry Barker |title=A Riot of Our Own: Night and Day with The Clash |orig-year=1997 |edition=3rd |year=2003 |publisher=Orion |location=London |isbn=0-7528-5843-2 |oclc=52990890 }}
* {{cite book |last=Gruen |first=Bob |author-link=Bob Gruen |author2=Chris Salewicz |title=The Clash |orig-year=2001 |edition=3rd |year=2004 |publisher=Omnibus |location=London |isbn=1-903399-34-3 |oclc=69241279 }}
* {{cite book |last=Needs |first=Kris |author-link=Kris Needs |title=Joe Strummer and the Legend of the Clash |date=2005-01-25 |publisher=Plexus |location=London |isbn=0-85965-348-X |oclc=53155325 |url=https://archive.org/details/joestrummerlegen00need }}
* {{cite book |last=Salewicz |first=Chris |author-link=Chris Salewicz |title=Redemption Song: The Ballad of Joe Strummer |date=2006-01-31 |publisher=[[Farrar, Straus and Giroux]] |isbn=978-0571211784 |url=https://archive.org/details/redemptionsongba00sale }}
* {{cite book |last=Savage |first=Jon |author-link=Jon Savage |title=England's Deaming |date=2002-01-18 |publisher=[[St. Martin's Press]] |isbn=978-0312288228 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hf2DBAAAQBAJ&q=%22Instead+of+a+piece+of+cynicism%2C+Complete+Control+becomes+a+hymn+to+Punk+autonomy+at+its+moment+of+eclipse%22&pg=PA399 }}
* {{cite book |last=Topping |first=Keith |author-link=Keith Topping |title=The Complete Clash |orig-year=2003 |edition=2nd |year=2004 |publisher=Reynolds & Hearn |location=Richmond |isbn=1-903111-70-6 |oclc=63129186 }}
{{Refend}}

{{The Clash}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:1977 singles]]
[[Category:The Clash songs]]
[[Category:1977 songs]]
[[Category:Songs written by Joe Strummer]]
[[Category:Songs written by Mick Jones (The Clash)]]
[[Category:CBS Records singles]]

Complete Control - Revision history

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