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Wire
On Tour134,489 listeners (2,428,374 plays)
post-punk, punk, new wave, post punk, alternative
Watford (1976 – present)
Wire emerged out of the British punk explosion but, from the outset, maintained a distance from that scene and resisted easy categorization. While punk rapidly became a caricature of itself, Wire’s musical identity — focused on experimentation and process — was constantly metamorphosing. Their first three albums alone attest to a startling evolution as the band repeatedly reinvented itself between 1977 and 1979. That capacity for self-reinvention, coupled with a willingness to stop recording indefinitely when ideas weren’t forthcoming, has been crucial to Wire’s longevity and continued relevance.
By the time of punk, British art schools had long been a hotbed of musical activity, spawning some of the nation’s most innovative rock acts from the ’60s onward. Like many punk contemporaries, Wire had roots in the art school tradition. At Watford Art College in 1976, guitarists Colin Newman and George Gill formed Overload with audiovisual technician Bruce Gilbert (also on guitar). Subsequently, the three recruited bassist Graham Lewis and drummer Robert Gotobed (aka Robert Grey), and the first Wire lineup was in place.
Wire began playing dates in London and, having ousted Gill, started from scratch, writing new material and taking a more pared-down, experimental approach. A gig at the Roxy in early 1977 proved auspicious. Wire met EMI’s Mike Thorne, who was recording groups for a live punk album, The Roxy, London WC2. Thorne included two Wire tracks and was then instrumental in bringing the band to EMI in September. By then, with Newman writing most of the music, they were eager to record before they lost interest in material, abandoned it, and moved on; a pattern that would define the group.
By the time of punk, British art schools had long been a hotbed of musical activity, spawning some of the nation’s most innovative rock acts from the ’60s onward. Like many punk contemporaries, Wire had roots in the art school tradition. At Watford Art College in 1976, guitarists Colin Newman and George Gill formed Overload with audiovisual technician Bruce Gilbert (also on guitar). Subsequently, the three recruited bassist Graham Lewis and drummer Robert Gotobed (aka Robert Grey), and the first Wire lineup was in place.
Wire began playing dates in London and, having ousted Gill, started from scratch, writing new material and taking a more pared-down, experimental approach. A gig at the Roxy in early 1977 proved auspicious. Wire met EMI’s Mike Thorne, who was recording groups for a live punk album, The Roxy, London WC2. Thorne included two Wire tracks and was then instrumental in bringing the band to EMI in September. By then, with Newman writing most of the music, they were eager to record before they lost interest in material, abandoned it, and moved on; a pattern that would define the group.
Similar Artists
The Fall, Gang of Four, Pere Ubu, Magazine, Minutemen, Public Image Ltd., Suicide… see all
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Shoutbox
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rjardim wrote:
Again Wire showed why they are unique, new album, love it or hate it, know them or ignore them...and the side projects...they are great....Lomo...4....all!
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offset_festival wrote:
Wire are performing with Gang of Four at Offset Festival, London this August - http://www.offsetfestival.co.uk
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zeroism wrote:
come on people, let's see some object 47 in the top tracks!
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implicaZrevo wrote:
never cease to amaze
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IanCurtis13 wrote:
the new album is great
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anderton wrote:
wow, nancykitten dumb faggot. (but yr top 50s not bad)
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Gyron5 wrote:
Why isn't Bruce on the new album?
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nicoinfurs wrote:
THERE'S GREAT DANGER *danger*
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lindadox wrote:
it's not shit, it's just.. stagnant? idk. i need to listen to it more.
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nancykitten wrote:
Wow, Wire got shit.
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Zeca_Rock wrote:
Hey, check the Live at the Roxy (London 1977) and the Live at the CBGB (NY 1978) Albums. My favourites!!!!
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username345 wrote:
New album!? Goddammit, I'm way behind the times for Wire. So many albums to get...
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please_beware wrote:
nastup je bil zakurac. bzvz.
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Rev1205 wrote:
nije baš nešto bio nastup...ok, al niš posebno... :-/
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freestylejunkie wrote:
see ya today in zagreb @ rokaj festival ;)))
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moorct61 wrote:
new album rules, so do martha and the muffins
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zeroism wrote:
in my opinion the new album is fantastic, but i will say it may require a few listens and an open mind. if you're a fan of wire as a whole and conceptually, it's likely you'll appreciate what they're doing.
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adamcooleyisdea wrote:
new album is terrible.
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owlies wrote:
oh and the new album is GREAT (dont know what spenrose is talking about). Reminds me of a fresher, dancier Ideal Copy
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owlies wrote:
no warning given = best wire song of their new era
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Events
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Aug
30
Offset
Hainault Forest, London, United Kingdom
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| 3 attendees -
Aug
30
Offset Festival
Hainault Forest Country Park, London, Southampton, United Kingdom
36 shouts
| 74 attendees
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Sep
8
Wire
Scala, London, United Kingdom
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| 12 attendees
Recent Activity
- Wafflecake, mellowdoubt, OLi7ER, babitina, dmpulp, thurston12 and skmelanie tagged Wire with ‘post-punk’. yesterday afternoon
- weasel23 added Wire to the lineup of Wire at The Mayfair. Monday evening
- skmelanie tagged Wire with ‘punk’. Monday afternoon
- alightedlamp tagged Wire with ‘older than i can remember’. Monday afternoon
- keckx tagged Wire with ‘post-punk’ and ‘sad’. Monday morning
- plaveo tagged Wire with ‘punk rock’ and ‘new wave’. Sunday evening
- SuperGeek09 tagged Wire with ‘post-punk’ and ‘alternative’. Sunday morning
- LucidAcid tagged Wire with ‘influential’. Saturday morning
- iGV added Wire to the lineup of Wire at Botanique. 7 days ago
- Besenbeisser tagged Wire with ‘post-punk’. 7 days ago
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More Information
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