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Wire (band)

From Alfawiki
Wire
Company typeBand
IndustryMusic
FoundedOctober 1976 in London, England
FounderColin Newman, Graham Lewis, Bruce Gilbert, George Gill, Robert Grey
Headquarters
London
,
England
ProductsRock music albums and performances

Wire is a rock group from Britain that originated in London in October 1976. The founding members included Colin Newman (vocals, guitar), Graham Lewis (bass, vocals), Bruce Gilbert (guitar), George Gill (lead guitar), and Robert Grey (drums). Initially associated with the punk rock movement and featured on The Roxy London WC2, they significantly contributed to the emergence of post-punk. Their first album, Pink Flag, played a pivotal role in influencing the development of hardcore punk.

Widely regarded as a seminal and impactful band within the art punk and post-punk genres, Wire is distinguished by their intricate, atmospheric soundscapes and atypical lyrical themes. Their musical style transitioned from an initial noise rock influence to a more sophisticated blend incorporating guitar effects and synthesizers, particularly evident on 1978’s Chairs Missing and 1979’s 154. Throughout their career, the band consistently experimented with unconventional song structures.

1976 to 1980

Wire was established as a quintet in October 1976. George Gill initially served as the primary songwriter; however, after he suffered a broken leg and departed in February 1977, most of his compositions were abandoned by the band. Their debut album, Pink Flag (1977), is renowned for its stripped-down punk aesthetic and innovative song formats, standing out as one of the most distinctive debuts during the early British punk era. Songs such as "Field Day for the Sundays" demonstrate this style with their concise and intense arrangements.

Their sophomore release, Chairs Missing (1978), marked a shift toward lengthier, more atmospheric tracks enriched by synthesizer layers contributed by producer Mike Thorne. The single "Outdoor Miner" achieved moderate success, reaching number 51 on UK charts. This experimental direction was further expanded on their third album, 154 (1979).

Creative promotional concepts for 154 generated tension with their record label EMI. Newman recounted that plans including a week-long theatrical event and unconventional video advertisements were misunderstood by EMI, which was undergoing staff changes and consequently offered limited support. Newman's solo effort A-Z, originally intended as Wire’s fourth album, was ultimately scrapped following EMI’s decision to drop the band.

Facing the loss of their recording contract and internal artistic disagreements, Wire dissolved in 1979. The Document and Eyewitness LP released in 1981 predominantly featured new material captured during live performances but was critically received as fragmented and challenging to listen to. This album also contained an EP of additional live recordings. Several tracks from this era later surfaced on Newman's solo albums (5/10, We Meet Under Tables) or through Dome—the main post-Wire project led by Gilbert and Lewis (And Then...,Ritual View).

Between 1981 and 1985, Wire ceased recording and live shows to concentrate on individual and collaborative ventures such as Dome, Cupol, Duet Emmo, alongside Colin Newman's solo career.

1985 to 1992

The band reassembled in 1985 as a "beat combo", focusing heavily on electronic instrumentation. Wire declared that they would no longer perform their earlier material and enlisted Ex-Lion Tamers—a Hoboken-based Wire tribute band—as their opening act during a 1987 U.S. tour; while Ex-Lion Tamers played older Wire songs, Wire showcased new compositions.

In June 1988, Wire performed as support for Depeche Mode at the Pasadena Rose Bowl before an audience exceeding 60,000 people, sharing the stage with Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark and Thomas Dolby. The following year saw the release of IBTABA, a live album featuring reimagined versions of tracks from The Ideal Copy and A Bell Is a Cup. The single "Eardrum Buzz" reached number 68 on the UK singles chart.

Following the release of Manscape, Gotobed departed in 1990. Subsequently, the group abbreviated its name to "Wir" and issued The First Letter in 1991. During this timeframe, Newman launched the swim ~ label and later formed Githead with his spouse Malka Spigel. Wire continued sporadic collaborations until returning to full-time activity in 1999.

1999 to present

Following the return of Gotobed (now known as Robert Grey), Wire revisited and reinterpreted much of their earlier work for a performance at the Royal Festival Hall in 2000. The favorable response they received during tours across the US and UK encouraged them to maintain their momentum. In 2002, they released two EPs, Read & Burn 01 and Read & Burn 02; the subsequent 2003 album Send included seven tracks from these EPs alongside four previously unreleased songs. Their collaborations during this period extended to stage designer Es Devlin and visual artists Jake and Dinos Chapman. Live recordings from this timeframe were compiled into the 2005 release The Scottish Play: 2004.

In 2006, Wire’s albums from the 1970s underwent remastering and were reissued with their original track sequences intact. The 2007 EP Read & Burn 03 saw minimal contributions from Bruce Gilbert, who left the band soon after. The 2010 compilation Send Ultimate gathered tracks from the initial Read and Burn EPs along with unreleased material. As a trio, Wire released their full-length album of new compositions, Object 47, in July 2008.

January 2011 brought forth Red Barked Tree, an album noted for its revitalized lyrical depth and dynamic live performances, featuring new guitarist Matt Simms, who had been touring with the band since April 2010. Their thirteenth studio album, Change Becomes Us, was released in March 2013 to widespread critical praise. This was followed by their self-titled fourteenth album, Wire, in April 2015.

The fifteenth studio album, Nocturnal Koreans, arrived in April 2016 via their Pinkflag label. This collection consisted of eight previously unreleased tracks from earlier recording sessions and earned the distinction of Album of the Week by Stereogum. Celebrating their 40th anniversary in 2017, Wire unveiled their sixteenth studio album, Silver/Lead, and took center stage at the Los Angeles DRILL : FESTIVAL.

In 2018, comprehensive multi-disc special editions of their first three albums were issued, featuring remastered original recordings alongside non-album singles and demo tracks. Additionally, the nine-disc vinyl box set titled Nine Sevens, which compiled early singles and an EP, was released; it later saw a reissue as a double vinyl set for Record Store Day in April 2025.

January 2020 marked the release of Mind Hive on Pinkflag. The band appeared on the cover of Wire magazine’s January issue, accompanied by an interview reflecting on their sustained relevance. For Record Store Day in June 2020, Wire issued 10:20, an eight-track album combining limited edition EP material with unreleased recordings from the Mind Hive sessions.

In June 2021, also for Record Store Day, Wire released PF456 Deluxe, an eighteen-track vinyl compilation encompassing early Read and Burn EPs along with unreleased tracks from the Send era. A CD edition of the prior vinyl-only compilation PF456 Redux was simultaneously made available.

April 2022 saw another Record Store Day release with Not About to Die, originally a bootleg featuring early EMI demo recordings intended for the albums Chairs Missing and 154. These recordings had been previously included in special editions of those albums issued in 2018.

Musical style and influences

Although Wire is frequently described as trailblazers of post-punk, Colin Newman has consistently dismissed a strict punk classification. He explained: "Wire was never truly a punk band... we just happened to emerge during that era. While the Ramones were among our influences, we never aimed to confine ourselves to that style. (...) Essentially, there are two perspectives on Wire: either we weren’t a punk band at all, or we were the ultimate punk band precisely because we defied every punk convention."

In addition to the Ramones, Wire found creative inspiration in German krautrock and kosmische musik groups like Neu!, Can, and Kraftwerk. Other significant influences comprised Roxy Music, Brian Eno, the Velvet Underground, Captain Beefheart, Patti Smith, Television, Syd Barrett-era Pink Floyd, Talking Heads, the Stooges, the New York Dolls, Jonathan Richman, and Teenage Jesus and the Jerks. The band prioritized art-driven music from these artists as fundamental to their sound and artistic vision.

Legacy

Wire's impact extends far beyond their relatively limited commercial success. During the 1980s and 1990s, influential acts such as Big Black, Minutemen, and Sonic Youth openly expressed deep admiration for the band. Mike Watt of Minutemen credited Pink Flag as a cornerstone for their musical approach, emphasizing how Wire’s unconventional song structures and poetic lyrics provided a freeing influence.

Wire played a pivotal role in shaping American hardcore punk, with enthusiasts including Ian MacKaye of Minor Threat and Henry Rollins of Black Flag. Minor Threat covered "12XU" on the Flex Your Head compilation, while Rollins recorded "Ex Lion Tamer" for Drive by Shooting. Remarkably, at Minor Threat’s second live show, every performing band played Wire covers.

Robert Pollard described Wire’s album 154 as "the greatest album ever," acknowledging its enduring inspiration. Additional artists citing Wire’s influence include Soundgarden, Manic Street Preachers, Hüsker Dü, Quicksand, Mission of Burma, Mary Timony, and A Certain Ratio.

Big Black recorded two versions of "Heartbeat," while R.E.M. covered "Strange" on their Document album. My Bloody Valentine contributed "Map Ref 41°N 93°W" to a tribute album honoring Wire. The band Low included a rare rendition of "Heartbeat" in one of their box sets. Ampere and New Bomb Turks both covered "Mr. Suit." British electronic group Ladytron featured "The 15th" on Softcore Jukebox, with member Reuben Wu acknowledging Wire’s influence.

A legal dispute arose between Wire’s publisher and Elastica over similarities between Wire’s "Three Girl Rhumba" and Elastica’s hit "Connection," which was resolved through an out-of-court settlement. Additionally, two other Elastica tracks heavily borrowed from Wire’s "I Am The Fly."

In 1996, Alternative Press ranked Wire among the top 100 underground inspirations over the previous two decades, underscoring their lasting legacy through powerful riffs and bold experimentation.

Artists influenced by Wire include Fischerspooner; Britpop bands such as Elastica and Menswe@r; and post-punk revival groups like Bloc Party, Futureheads, Blacklist, and Franz Ferdinand. Johnny Marr from The Smiths credits Wire with inspiring him to confidently release solo material.

The chorus of Ministry’s “Thieves” was inspired by Wire’s “Mr. Suit.” Page Hamilton of Helmet counts Wire among his top five bands and recognizes them as a major influence on his musical development.

Band members

  • Robert Grey – drums (1976–1980, 1985–1990, 1999–present)
  • Graham Lewis – bass guitar, vocals (1976–1980, 1985–1992, 1999–present)
  • Colin Newman – vocals, guitar (1976–1980, 1985–1992, 1999–present)
  • Matthew Simms – guitar (2010–present)

Past members

Timeline <timeline> ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:20 PlotArea = left:130 bottom:80 top:0 right:10 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1976 till:01/01/2023 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:3

ScaleMajor = increment:5 start:01/01/1980 ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:01/01/1977

Colors = 

 id:vocals      value:red          legend:Vocals
 id:guitar      value:green        legend:Guitar
 id:bass        value:blue         legend:Bass
 id:drums       value:orange       legend:Drums
 id:album       value:black        legend:Studio_release
 id:bars        value:gray(0.95)

BackgroundColors = bars:bars

LineData = 

layer:back
color:album
 at: 10/01/1977
 at: 08/01/1978
 at: 09/01/1979
 at: 04/01/1987
 at: 05/01/1988
 at: 05/01/1989
 at: 05/01/1990
 at: 04/01/1991
 at: 10/01/1991
 at: 05/01/2003
 at: 07/07/2008
 at: 12/20/2010
 at: 03/25/2013
 at: 04/13/2015
 at: 04/22/2016
 at: 03/31/2017
 at: 01/24/2020
 at: 06/19/2020

BarData = 

 bar:Colin       text:"Colin Newman"
 bar:George      text:"George Gill"
 bar:Bruce       text:"Bruce Gilbert"
 bar:Margaret    text:"Margaret Fiedler McGinnis"
 bar:Matthew     text:"Matthew Simms"
 bar:Graham      text:"Graham Lewis"
 bar:Robert      text:"Robert Grey"

PlotData= 

 width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)
 
 bar:Colin   from:start till:end color:vocals width:11 anchor:center align:left shift:(10,-4) 
   from:start till:end color:guitar width:3
 
 bar:Graham   from:start till:end color:bass width:11 anchor:center align:left shift:(10,-4)
   from:start till:end color:vocals width:3
 
 bar:Bruce   from:start till:end color:guitar
 
 bar:Robert   from:start till:end color:drums
  1. Specific periods for each member
  1. Initial period (1976-1980)

bar:Colin from:start till:"12/31/1980" color:vocals width:11 bar:Graham from:start till:"12/31/1980" color:bass width:11 bar:Bruce from:start till:"12/31/1980" color:guitar width:11 bar:Robert from:start till:"12/31/1980" color:drums width:11

  1. Second phase (1985-1992 for most; Robert ends in '90)

bar:Colin from:"01/01/1985" till:"12/31/1992" color:vocals width:11 bar:Graham from:"01/01/1985" till:"12/31/1992" color:bass width:11 bar:Bruce from:"01/01/1985" till:"12/31/1992" color:guitar width:11 bar:Robert from:"01/01/1985" till:"12/31/1990" color:drums width:11

  1. Current era (from '99 onward; Bruce leaves in '06)

bar:Colin from:"01/01/1999" till:end color:vocals width:11 bar:Graham from:"01/01/1999" till:end color:bass width:11 bar:Bruce from:"01/01/1999" till:"12/31/2006" color:guitar width:11 bar:Robert from:"01/01/1999" till:end color:drums width:11

  1. Touring and later additions with thinner bars for clarity

bar:Margaret from:"01/01/2008" till:"12/31/2009" color:guitar width:3 bar:Matthew from:"04/01/2010" till:end color:guitar width:11 bar:George from:start till:"03/10/1977" color:guitar width:11

</timeline>

Discography

Studio albums

External links

  1. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  2. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named mhv
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