Uses
The Clash turned down a request from British Telecom to use the song for an advertising campaign in the early 1990s. In 2002, the band incurred criticism when they sold the rights to Jaguar for a car advertisement. In an interview posted on his website, Strummer explained the reasons for the deal. "Yeah. I agreed to that. We get hundreds of requests for that and turn 'em all down. But I just thought Jaguar... yeah. If you're in a group and you make it together, then everybody deserves something. Especially twenty-odd years after the fact." In 2008, the song appeared in trailers for The Bank Job. The song is also used in the trailer for London Boulevard.
The song appeared during the civil disorder scenes in Billy Elliot.
"London Calling" was featured in the 2002 James Bond film Die Another Day. "London Calling" is played in scene where James Bond is flying to London from Hong Kong via British Airways.
A version of London Calling was used as part of the countdown coverage to the 2012 Summer Olympics, to be held in London. There was some commentary, given the song's dystopian lyrics, of its appropriateness.
The song was used for a 2012 British Airways advert, picturing a jet aeroplane taxiing through the streets of London passing numerous landmarks and parking outside the Olympic Stadium.
The song is usually played at Stamford Bridge before Chelsea FC home matches, as well as Loftus Road Stadium before Queens Park Rangers games.
The song was used by various TV stations including Sky Sports in the build-up to the 2011 UEFA Champions League Final which was played at Wembley Stadium.
The song was also used in "The One with Ross' Wedding" in Friends during overhead shots of London upon the characters' first arrival.
The song made available to download on 1 February 2011 for use in the Rock Band 3 music gaming platform in both Basic rhythm, and PRO mode which utilizes real guitar / bass guitar, and MIDI compatible electronic drum kits / keyboards in addition to vocals.
The song was also used in the 2012 stop-motion movie The Pirates! Band of Misfits.
The song was used in the London 2012 opening ceremony, as well as in the 2012 Summer Olympics NBC commercial, and in hourly reports from the Olympics on CBC Radio.
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