Wire
Wire are a Long Runner Post Punk band formed in Watford, England in 1976 by Colin Newman (vocals, guitar), Graham Lewis (bass, vocals), Bruce Gilbert (guitar), and Robert "Gotobed" Grey (drums). [1]
 |
"I never know which version I'm going to be —Wire, "40 Versions"
|
 |
Wire are best known for their 1977 debut album Pink Flag and specifically the B-side "12XU", which, in a roundabout way, pretty much started the entire genre of Hardcore Punk; to a lesser extent, they are also well-known in certain circles for their next two albums (1978's Chairs Missing and 1979's 154), both of which, while quite different, helped define what we now know as Post Punk. All three are universally regarded as classics of the New Wave period, and each set the trend that Wire would later become notorious for: Every album a New Sound Album, every tour a showcase of new material, regardless of fan or critic's opinion.
It was this incorrigibility, as well as internal tensions, that lead the band to leave EMI in late 1979, then go on hiatus in 1980, each member retreating to various solo projects. Lewis and Gilbert formed Dome (a.k.a. Cupol, Duet Emmo, Gilbert & Lewis...) and experimented with confusing the hell out of everyone whilst wearing awesome hats; Newman, Gotobed and producer Mike Thorne, on the other hand, made eccentric, punk-inflected pop music under Newman's name.
And then, in 1985, without warning, Wire resurfaced, playing sets consisting solely of new material.
From 1986 to 1989, the band released three albums of darkly satirical Synth Pop, to the chagrin of many of their punk-minded fans and varying critical opinion. Undeterred, the band soldiered on, experimenting with drum machines, early MIDI technology and remixing, their interests culminating in the 1990 releases of The Drill (consisting of numerous, wildly different versions of their '80s Signature Song "Drill") and the much-derided Manscape.
Seeing himself as irrelevant to the band's new sound, Robert Gotobed quit in 1991; in acknowledgement of his departure, the band changed their name to Wir (pronounced either as "wire" or "veer") and released The First Letter, which produced a Black Sheep Hit in the mournful dance number "So And Slow It Grows". The success was short-lived, and Wir dissolved in 1993.
Aside from the occasional remix project and an epic performance of "Drill" commemorating Bruce Gilbert's fiftieth birthday in 1996, Wire remained silent until 1999, at which point they reformed for a series of retrospective shows. Soon, they began to perform and release new material again, starting with the release of the Read & Burn EP series and culminating with 2002's Send. The new releases saw a return to the raw ferocity of Pink Flag married to the lyrical and technological advancements of their '80s releases and production influences taken from modern drum'n'bass and Noise Rock, and were greeted with massive enthusiasm from fans and critics alike.
In 2003, Bruce Gilbert, grown bored of playing guitar and interested in pursuing his solo work, amicably left the group; Margaret Fiedler McGinnis of Laika was recruited to replace him as touring guitarist. Subsequent albums, such as 2007's Object 47, have been more subdued and widely spaced, though the band's touring schedule remains formidable. For their 2010 tour, McGinnis was replaced by Matt Simms of It Hugs Back.
- Pink Flag (1977) — Arguable Trope Maker for Hardcore Punk; contains "12XU".
- Chairs Missing (1978) — One of several Trope Codifiers for Post Punk.
- 154 (1979)
- Document & Eyewitness (1981) — Live album, recorded 1979-1980; notoriously difficult.
- Snakedrill EP (1986) — Begins Wire Mk. II; also, the first appearance of "Drill"
- The Ideal Copy (1987)
- A Bell Is A Cup... Until It Is Struck (1988)
- It's Beginning To And Back Again a.k.a. IBTABA (1989) — A "live" album consisting mostly of new versions of older songs based on portions of live performances. There are also a couple studio recordings of new material on the album, and one of those songs, "Eardrum Buzz", is the band's most successful single.
- The Drill (1990) — Multiple remixes (by the band) of "Drill", some bearing no resemblance to the original.
- Manscape (1990) — Fanon Discontinuity / Love It or Hate It.
- The First Letter (1991, as Wir) — Without Robert Gotobed; produced "So And Slow It Grows".
- Read & Burn 01 (2001) — Begins Wire Mk. III.
- Send (2002)
- Read & Burn 03 (2004) — First release without Bruce Gilbert.
- Object 47 (2007)
- A Red Barked Tree (2011)
- ↑ There was also George Gill (lead guitar), who was thrown out before their first release and henceforth rarely spoken of.