41-497: He Said was the name used by Wire member Graham Lewis for his solo record releases in the 1980s. The first He Said album titled Hail was released by Mute Records in October 1986. It was produced by Graham Lewis and John Fryer and recorded at Blackwing Studios in London . Collaborators on the album included fellow Wire member Bruce Gilbert and musician Brian Eno , who played
82-456: A Dadaist cabaret including a moving 6'x12' sheet behind which the band performed, assorted headdresses and props, and an MC , Wire's manager Mick Collins, who tried to keep control of proceedings. The show was performed before a restive punk crowd who were little appeased by a version of " 12XU " (edited down to a 15-second fragment for this release) and reacted with a thrown bottle during the unnamed instrumental. The Electric Ballroom recording
123-451: A Yamaha DX7 synthesiser on the track I Fall into Your Arms . Two singles were released from the initial album, including Pump and Only One I . The CD release included the September single release, Pulling 3g's / Pale Feet . In July 1988 Mute released the single Could You , again produced by Lewis and Fryer . This single was included on the last He Said album titled Take Care which
164-622: A July 1979 show at the Notre Dame Hall in London, along with one track from a March 1979 gig at Le Pavillon in Montreux , Switzerland . The Electric Ballroom show records Wire after the release of 1979's 154 album, tired of playing the same old songs and continually moving forward. Of the seven songs from the Notre Dame Hall show, three were never recorded in-studio by Wire and the rest were captured as B-sides and other ephemeral recordings. Nine of
205-444: A bonus disc, this disc also including the original CD bonus tracks. The release was remastered from the original tapes. In a 1982 review for Trouser Press , Alec Ross said, "there are high spots," but "[t]his live stuff...is just boring–a meandering parody of what made Wire intriguing." Robert Christgau , in his "Consumer Guide" column , wrote, "At first I diagnosed the grungy sound and semipro execution of this live LP-plus-EP as
246-563: A different performance of more new material. Some of these songs, along with others performed but not included on the album, were included on Newman's post-Wire solo albums ( 5/10 , We Meet Under Tables ), while others were released by Gilbert's and Lewis' primary post-Wire outlet Dome ( And Then... , Ritual View ). Between 1981 and 1985, Wire ceased recording and performing in favour of solo and collaborative projects such as Dome , Cupol, Duet Emmo and several Colin Newman solo efforts. In 1985,
287-469: A fondness for the group. Minutemen bassist Mike Watt described their influence as key saying of Pink Flag "I don't know what we would have sounded like if we didn't hear it." "And the sound was incredible," he continues. "It was like that NYC band Richard Hell and the Voidoids without the studio gimmickry, but Wire was way more 'econo' with the instrumentation and the radical approach to song structure. And
328-519: A lineup that included Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark and Thomas Dolby supporting Depeche Mode at the Pasadena Rose Bowl where they played to over 60,000 people. In 1989, Wire released IBTABA , a "live" album of mostly reworked versions of songs from The Ideal Copy and A Bell Is a Cup , heavily rearranged, edited, and remixed. A new song from the album, "Eardrum Buzz", was released as
369-515: A punk band, or that we were the best punk band ever because we broke every single rule of punk." In addition to the Ramones, the band have also cited Neu! , Can , early Roxy Music , Captain Beefheart , Patti Smith , and Television as influences. Wire's influence has outshone their comparatively modest record sales. In the 1980s and 1990s, Big Black, Minutemen , and Sonic Youth all expressed
410-535: A reputation for experimenting with song arrangements throughout their career. Wire began as a five-piece band in October 1976. Initially, the band's main songwriter was guitarist George Gill but after he broke his leg and was unable to perform, the band moved on without him in February 1977. They dropped most of the songs written by Gill, although many of these early songs have been released as demos or on compilation albums. Wire's debut album Pink Flag (1977) – "perhaps
451-563: A single and peaked at number 68 in the UK singles chart. Gotobed left the band in 1990, after the release of the album Manscape . After his departure, the band dropped one letter from its name, becoming "Wir" (still pronounced "wire"), and released The First Letter in 1991. There followed a further period of solo recordings, during which Newman founded the swim ~ label, and later Githead with his wife (ex- Minimal Compact bassist Malka Spigel ), while Wire remained an occasional collaboration. It
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#1733093616391492-747: A studio version that was released as a single (also included on The Rich Man's Eight Track Tape compilation) and also as a live version, featuring Bruce Gilbert and Graham Lewis, included on the VHS version of the live album Pigpile . R.E.M. covered "Strange" on their album Document . My Bloody Valentine covered "Map Ref 41°N 93°W" for the Wire tribute album Whore. The slowcore band Low included an early, previously unreleased cover of "Heartbeat" on their career-spanning box set in 2007. Ampere and New Bomb Turks have both covered Wire's "Mr. Suit". The British electronic band Ladytron included Wire's "The 15th" on
533-541: Is a cut-up version of a poster made by Bruce Gilbert for two shows that Wire played at Notre Dame Hall on 19 and 20 July 1979. Recordings from the first of these two shows make up most of sides three and four of Document and Eyewitness . The original vinyl release by Rough Trade was a double with the Electric Ballroom tracks on sides one and two, and the Notre Dame Hall and Montreux tracks on sides three and four. The 1991 compact disc reissue by Mute Records switched
574-425: Is a fan of the band and has acknowledged that seeing Wire live helped give him the confidence to release his first solo album in 2013. The chorus of Ministry's "Thieves" was influenced by the Wire song "Mr. Suit". Helmet guitarist Page Hamilton cites Wire as one of his "top five bands" and as an influence on his music. Former members Timeline Document and Eyewitness Document and Eyewitness
615-513: Is the first live album by the post-punk band Wire , released in July 1981 by Rough Trade Records . It marked the end of the first period of Wire's activity (1977–1980) and the end of their association with EMI . Recorded in February 1980 at the Electric Ballroom in London – at the final gig of Wire's first period – the original release came with a 45 rpm 12" EP that featured recordings from
656-739: The Flex Your Head compilation, as did Boss Hog on their I Dig You EP. Rollins, as Henrietta Collins & The Wife-Beating Childhaters, covered "Ex Lion Tamer" on the EP Drive by Shooting . Michael Azerrad reported, in the book Our Band Could Be Your Life , that at Minor Threat's second gig, each of the seven bands on the roster performed a version of a Wire song. Numerous other bands and artists have cited Wire as an influence, including Soundgarden , Manic Street Preachers , Hüsker Dü , Quicksand , Mary Timony , and Mission of Burma . Big Black covered Wire's "Heartbeat" twice, once as
697-504: The Mind Hive sessions but not released until their appearance on 10:20 . In June 2021, in conjunction with Record Store Day, Wire released PF456 Deluxe an 18-song vinyl-only compilation of the first two Read and Burn EPs, the "Twelve Times You" single, and the four unreleased tracks from Send . Concurrently, Wire released a CD version of PF456 Redux , a 16-song vinyl-only compilation, originally released in 2003, of edited versions of all
738-513: The Los Angeles edition of their DRILL : FESTIVAL. In 2018, Wire released multi-disc special editions of their first three albums. Each album was house in a book containing lyrics and other information about the album. The three releases collected non-LP singles and the demo sessions from this era along with remastered versions of the original albums. In January 2020, Wire released Mind Hive on their own Pinkflag label. The band appeared on
779-594: The Wire song "I Am The Fly". Alternative Press included Wire in their 1996 list of 100 underground inspirations of the past 20 years, stating that "as long as there are listeners equally lured by tough, intelligent riffs and fearless experimentalism, Wire will remain a crucial benchmark." Fischerspooner (who covered " The 15th " on their album #1 ), Britpop bands like Elastica and Menswe@r and post-punk revival bands like Bloc Party , Futureheads , Blacklist and Franz Ferdinand have cited Wire as an influence. The Smiths ' Johnny Marr has confirmed that he
820-406: The album was consequently not presented as a standard live album, that the band was "undercutting the illusion of the live moment with after-the-fact commentary and observations on the night's occurrences." The spoken commentary between selected tracks by two Wire fans, Adrian Garston and Russell Mills, constitutes the "eyewitness" in the album title. The album's sleeve art, created by Graham Lewis,
861-1305: The band's worst case of arty-farty yet. But for all the chatter and false starts and extended instrumental nothings, it packs real momentum–you could even say it gets wild." The album is included in The Quietus ' 2013 list of its writers' "40 Favourite Live Albums". All tracks are written by Bruce Gilbert , Robert Gotobed , Graham Lewis and Colin Newman , except where noted. Side one Side two Side three Side four Sides one and two recorded 29 February 1980 at Electric Ballroom , London . Sides three and four recorded 19 July 1979 at Notre Dame Hall, London, except "Heartbeat", recorded 9 March 1979 at Le Pavillon, Montreux . Tracks 21 and 22 recorded December 1979 at Magritte Studio, Harmondsworth . Produced by Wire; engineered by Dan Priest. Disc one Disc two Tracks 1 and 2 recorded December 1979 at Magritte Studio, Harmondsworth; tracks 3 and 4 recorded April–May 1980 at Scorpio Sound , London; track 5 recorded January 1979 in Cadaqués , Spain ; tracks 6–14 recorded in 1979 and 1980 in rehearsal rooms in London. Tracks 1–4 produced by Wire; 1 and 2 engineered by Dan Priest; 3 and 4 engineered by Steve Parker. Credits adapted from
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#1733093616391902-502: The day of the release, Newman introduced as "a new boy" guitarist Matt Simms (from It Hugs Back), who had been a touring member with the band since April 2010. In March 2013 the band released Change Becomes Us , their 13th studio album, which was very well received. Their fourteenth album, eponymously titled Wire , was released in April 2015. The following year, in April 2016, the band's 15th studio album, entitled Nocturnal Koreans ,
943-492: The development of post-punk , while their debut album Pink Flag was influential for hardcore punk . Wire are considered a definitive and highly influential art punk and post-punk band, due to their richly detailed and atmospheric sound and obscure lyrical themes. They steadily developed from an early noise rock style to a more complex, structured sound involving increased use of guitar effects and synthesizers (1978's Chairs Missing and 1979's 154 ). The band gained
984-564: The front cover of Wire magazine (issue 432) published in January 2020; it featured an interview with the band about the new album and discussed the enduring nature of the group. On Record Store Day , June 2020, Wire released an eight-song album entitled 10:20 . Side one of the vinyl LP consists of four tracks that were originally released as the limited edition Strays EP, which was given away with mail ordered copies of Red Barked Trees . Side two contains four tracks that were recorded during
1025-441: The group re-formed as a " beat combo " (a joking reference to early 1960s beat music ), with greater use of electronic musical instruments . Wire announced that they would perform none of their older material, hiring The Ex-Lion Tamers (a Wire cover band named after a song title from Pink Flag ) as their opening act. The Ex-Lion Tamers played Wire's older songs, and Wire played their new material. In June 1988, Wire were part of
1066-443: The mix compilation Softcore Jukebox . Ladytron member Reuben Wu claimed Wire as a musical influence. A plagiarism case between Wire's music publisher and Elastica over the similarity between Wire's 1977 song "Three Girl Rhumba" and Elastica's 1995 hit " Connection " resulted in an out-of-court settlement. It has also been noted that two other songs on Elastica's debut album , " Line Up " and "2:1", both borrowed heavily from
1107-569: The most original debut album to come out of the first wave of British punk", according to AllMusic – contains songs that are diverse in mood and style, but most use a minimalist punk approach combined with unorthodox structures. "Field Day for the Sundays", for example, is only 28 seconds long. Their second album, Chairs Missing (1978) marked a retreat from the stark minimalism of Pink Flag , with longer, more atmospheric songs and synthesizer parts added by producer Mike Thorne . " Outdoor Miner "
1148-404: The running order, beginning with Notre Dame and Montreux and following with the Electric Ballroom tracks. "Our Swimmer" and "Midnight Bahnhof Cafe" were originally released on Rough Trade as a 7" single (RT79) in 1981 and are bonus tracks on Mute's CD reissue. In 2014, the band's label Pinkflag released a new version of the album, which revises the original track list of the album and also includes
1189-434: The songs from the first two Read and Burn EPs along with the unreleased songs on Send . In April 2022, in conjunction with Record Store Day, Wire released Not About to Die which was originally released as a bootleg in the early 1980s. The album consists of recordings made for EMI as demos for the 1978 and 1979 albums, Chairs Missing and 154 . The songs on Not About to Die were also previously released in 2018 by Wire on
1230-451: The songs recorded live for the album were reworked and recorded for the band's 2013 album Change Becomes Us . Three songs would also surface on Colin Newman 's solo album's, and one would be recorded by Graham Lewis and Bruce Gilbert for their Dome project. The Electric Ballroom show documents a band revelling in their (artistic) freedom, creating a surreal and challenging show that not only included almost all new material, but also
1271-425: The special editions of the two EMI albums. Despite Wire being considered pioneers of post-punk, Newman has denied the association with punk . He has stated: "Wire really never were a punk band... we happened to be there at the same time. You could list the Ramones as one of our influences, but we were never interested in just doing that genre. (...) [T]here's basically two views of Wire: you either think we were not
He Said - Misplaced Pages Continue
1312-447: The tracks from the two EPs were collected with four previously unreleased tracks on the 2003 album, Send . Wire collaborated with stage designer Es Devlin and artists Jake and Dinos Chapman . In 2005, The Scottish Play: 2004 , which contained recordings of live performances from this era, was released. In 2006, Wire's 1970s albums were remastered and re-released with the original vinyl track listings. In 2007, Read & Burn 03
1353-414: The way Wire wrote words were artistic without being elitist; some of the slang was trippy, too. All the 'old' conventions from all the other 'old' bands went out the window after we heard Wire. They were big-time liberating on us." Wire were influential on American hardcore punk . Fans included Ian MacKaye of Minor Threat and Henry Rollins , formerly of Black Flag . Minor Threat covered "12XU" for
1394-694: Was a minor hit, peaking at number 51 in the UK singles chart. The experimentation was even more prominent on 154 (1979). Wire's unorthodox ideas to promote 154 led to a falling out with their label. According to Newman, "We'd worked out a sales strategy for 154 that EMI couldn't see at all...They couldn't understand a rock band that wanted to do a week in a theater as an event, and wanted to promote 154 with videos or left-field TV adverts. We wanted to help them sell records; they thought we were simply being intransigent." According to Jim Green in an interview with Newman, "personnel changes at EMI had left Wire without any support." Colin Newman's solo album, " A-Z
1435-539: Was made on an eight-track tape recorder that was set up incorrectly, resulting in a distorted two-track mix. The live version of " Heartbeat " was recorded in Montreux, when Wire supported Roxy Music on the continental leg of their Manifesto Tour . Colin Newman has stated that the idea of Document and Eyewitness "was to make it an art statement, as opposed to just releasing a rubbishly recorded gig." In his book Read and Burn: A Book About Wire , Wilson Neate wrote that
1476-501: Was not until 1999 that Wire again became a full-time entity. With Gotobed back in the line-up (now using his birth name, Robert Grey), the group initially reworked much of their back catalogue for a performance at Royal Festival Hall in 2000. Wire's reception during a short tour in early May of the US, and a number of UK gigs, convinced the band to continue. Two EPs, Read & Burn 01 and Read & Burn 02 were released in 2002. Seven of
1517-559: Was planned as the fourth Wire album, but EMI cancelled studio time in the wake of failed negotiations with the band, and then dropped Wire's option." Lacking a recording deal and money, creative differences split the band in 1979, leading to the Document and Eyewitness LP (1981), a recording of a live performance that featured, almost exclusively, new material. The album was described as "disjointed", "unrecognizable as rock music" and "almost unlistenable". The LP came packaged with an EP of
1558-426: Was released by Mute the following year. Wire (band) Wire are an English rock band, formed in London in October 1976 by Colin Newman (vocals, guitar), Graham Lewis (bass, vocals), Bruce Gilbert (guitar), George Gill (lead guitar) and Robert Grey (aka Robert Gotobed; drums). They were originally associated with the punk rock scene, appearing on The Roxy London WC2 album, and were instrumental to
1599-452: Was released in July 2008 with Wire now consisting of three members. In January 2011, Wire released Red Barked Tree , which according to the band's press release "rekindles a lyricism sometimes absent from Wire's previous work and reconnects with the live energy of performance, harnessed and channelled from extensive touring over the past few years". The album was written and recorded by Newman, Lewis and Grey, but speaking to Marc Riley on
1640-500: Was released on their label Pinkflag. The album consisted of eight songs recorded during the sessions for their previous album which were as of then unreleased. Stereogum named Nocturnal Koreans the Album of the Week. Reviews for the album were mostly positive. In 2017 Wire celebrated 40 years since their debut gig on 1 April 1977 by releasing their 16th studio album Silver/Lead and headlining
1681-511: Was released. According to Newman, Gilbert featured in a minimal capacity on this EP; Gilbert would no longer feature in Wire after this release. Later, in 2020, Wire would release Send Ultimate which added a bonus disc to the Send album. Send Ultimate collected all the tracks from the first two Read and Burn EPs along with other unreleased material and both sides of the "Twelve Times You" single. A full-length album of new material entitled Object 47