"Police on My Back" was written by Eddy Grant and recorded by his band The Equals for their second studio album Explosion in December 1967.
[4] Their version featured guitarist Mick Jones on lead vocals.
Their version of the song was only released in Australia, and was described as a "punk anthem at a time of political and social repression", and as their "most full-throated rock song since I Fought The Law.
"[5][6] The song was also covered by Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day in 2020, during the coronavirus lockdown.
[8][9] The song has been covered a number of times over the years, including Zebda in 2003, Asian Dub Foundation,[9] Lethal Bizzle in 2007,[9] and more recently, Culture Abuse in 2018.