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Wire

Real Name:
Colin Newman, Graham Lewis, Robert Gotobed
Profile:
Formed: 1976 // London, United Kingdom
Members: Colin Newman (vocals, guitars), Graham Lewis (bass, vocals), Robert Gotobed (drums)
Bruce Gilbert (guitars) left the band in 2004
Sites:
Aliases:
Members:
Variations:
All | Wire | Wire, The
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Discography

Releases:
Mannequin (Single) (3 versions)   Harvest ... 1977
Pink Flag (Album, Comp) (7 versions)   Harvest ... 1977
Chairs Missing (Album) (11 versions)   Harvest ... 1978
Dot Dash (7")   Harvest 1978
I Am The Fly (7", Single)   Harvest 1978
Outdoor Miner (5 versions)   Harvest ... 1978
154 (Album) (13 versions)   Harvest ... 1979
A Question Of Degree (7")   Harvest 1979
Map Ref. 41ºN 93ºW (7")   Harvest 1979
Our Swimmer (7")   Rough Trade (UK) 1979
Document And Eyewitness (Album) (5 versions)   Rough Trade (UK) ... 1981
Crazy About Love (12")   Rough Trade (UK) 1983
And Here It Is...Again... (Comp) (2 versions)   EMI Electrola ... 1984
In The Pink (LP)   Dojo 1986
Snakedrill (4 versions)   Mute Records Ltd. ... 1986
Wire Play Pop (LP, Comp)   The Pink Label 1986
Ahead (Maxi) (4 versions)   Mute Records Ltd. ... 1987
The Ideal Copy (Album) (9 versions)   Mute Records Ltd. ... 1987
The Peel Sessions (EP) (2 versions)   Strange Fruit ... 1987
A Bell Is A Cup... Until It Is Struck (Album) (9 versions)   Mute Records Ltd. ... 1988
Kidney Bingos (9 versions)   Mute Records Ltd. ... 1988
Silk Skin Paws (Single) (8 versions)   Mute Records Ltd. ... 1988
Eardrum Buzz (Maxi, Single) (11 versions)   Mute Records Ltd. ... 1989
In Vivo (8 versions)   Mute Records Ltd. ... 1989
It's Beginning To And Back Again (Album) (8 versions)   Mute Records Ltd. ... 1989
On Returning (1977-1979) (Comp) (5 versions)   Harvest ... 1989
The Peel Sessions Album (Album, Comp) (3 versions)   Strange Fruit ... 1989
Life In The Manscape (CD, Maxi)   Enigma Records (3) 1990
Manscape (Album) (5 versions)   Mute Records Ltd. ... 1990
The Drill (Album) (5 versions)   Mute Records Ltd. ... 1991
1985 - 1990: The A List (3 versions)   Mute Records Ltd. ... 1993
Live - May 1990 (CD)   Stampa Alternativa 1994
154 Pink Chairs (CD)   Classix Records 1995
After Midnight (LP, Comp)   Harvest 1995
Behind The Curtain (Early Versions 1977 & 78) (CD, Comp)   EMI Records 1995
Turns And Strokes (Album, Comp) (2 versions)   WMO 1996
Coatings (2 versions)   WMO 1997
Pink Flag / Chairs Missing / Wire 154 (3xCD, Album + Box)   Harvest, EMI Records 2000
The Third Day (CD, Maxi)   Pinkflag 2000
Twelve Times You (7", Ltd, Single, W/Lbl)   Pinkflag 2001
Read & Burn 01 (CD, MiniAlbum)   Pinkflag 2002
Read & Burn 02 (CD, MiniAlbum)   Pinkflag 2002
Metro, Chicago, 14th September 2002 (CD)   Pinkflag 2003
PF456 Redux (LP)   Pinkflag 2003
Send (CD, Album)   Pinkflag 2003
On The Box: 1979 (CD + DVD-V, NTSC)   Pinkflag 2004
The Scottish Play: 2004 (DVD, NTSC + CD)   Pinkflag 2005
Live At The Roxy, London - April 1st & 2nd 1977 / Live At CBGB Theatre, New York - July 18th 1978 (2xCD, Album, Dig)   Pinkflag 2006
Wire: 1977-1979 ~ Pinkflag (America) (5xCD + Box)   Pinkflag 2006
Read & Burn 03 (MiniAlbum) (2 versions)   Pinkflag 2007
Object 47 (Album) (2 versions)   Pinkflag 2008
Object 47 / Read & Burn 03 (LP + 12")   Pinkflag 2008
Production:
Tonal Evidence (USA) (CD) Drill: In Every City? Elektra 1991
Mix:
Fingers & Thumbs (Cold Summer's Day) (CD, Single, Promo) Fingers & Thumbs (Cold... Mute Records Ltd. 1995
Appears On:
The Revolution Starts At Closing Time (LP) 12XU / Bobby Moore Was... Upright Records (2) 1983
Less Deep Inside Keeps (Album) (2 versions) X-Lion Tamer Sammich Records ... 1987
Gigantic! (Cass) Kidney Bingoes (Specia... Melody Maker 1988
12XU (7", S/Sided) 12XU X-Mist Records 1989
Complete Discography (Comp) (2 versions) 12XU Dischord Records 1989
Pink Flag (7") Pink Flag Touch And Go 1990
Window On The World (LP, Album) The Fifteenth (And A H... Loony Tunes Records, Katou Records, Electrode Records (2) 1990
International Compilation Mute (Comp) (5 versions) Drill (Turn Your Coat)... Mute Records Ltd. ... 1991
Never Mind The Mainstream...The Best Of MTV's 120 Minutes Vol. 2 (CD, Comp, RM) Eardrum Buzz Warner Special Products, Rhino Records (2) 1991
Tonal Evidence (USA) (CD) Drill: In Every City? Elektra 1991
Truth Gives Wings To Strength (Album) (2 versions)   Nemesis Records (US) 1991
Whoopee !! We're All Going To Die (7", EP) Reuters Rugger Bugger Discs 1991
Do Re Me, So Far So Good (12") Mannequin Chrysalis 1992
Destroy-Oh Boy!! (CD, Album) Mr. Suit Crypt Records 1993
Tonal Evidence 6 (Cass, Comp, Promo, Smplr) Kidney Bingos Mute Records Ltd. 1993
1, 2, 3, 4 - Bullenstaat! (7", EP) Lest Die Pravda (12XU) Not On Label 1994
The Day I Had Some Fun (7") Surgeon's Girl Matador 1994
Κύματα Ροκ (CD) Kidney Bingos ΜΕΤΡΟ (Magazine), Virgin 1998
Зависна Листа.МК - Нов Бран (CD, Comp) I Am The Fly PMG Recordings 2005
Something To Prove / Nothing Is Easy (CD, Comp, Dig)   Rookie Records, Boss Tuneage Records 2006
Elegy Sampler 51 (CD, Smplr) 23 Years Too Late (Ver... Elegy 2007
Elegy Sampler 54 (CD, Smplr) All Fours Elegy 2008
Seconde Peau (File, MP3, 192) Mais Tu T'X Où Not On Label (Taxidermists Self-released) 2008
Tracks Appear On:
The Roxy London WC2 (Jan - Apr 77) (4 versions) Lowdown, 1.2.X.U. EMI Records ... 1977
Meet The New (Punk) Wave (LP, Comp) Mannequin EMI-Bovema Holland, EMI 1978
The Rare Stuff? (2 versions) Dot Dash, Options R EMI Music (New Zealand) ... 1979
Nu Muzik (LP, Smplr, Promo) Map Ref.41oN 93oW Nu Music 1980
Troublemakers (2xLP) Map Reference 41 N 93 ... Island Records 1980
What's All This, John? (LP, Comp) Blessed State EMI Electrola 1980
Clear Cut 5 (LP) Second Length (Our Swi... Japan Records Inc. 1983
Burning Ambitions: A History Of Punk (Comp) (2 versions) 1, 2 X U Cherry Red 1984
Requiem By Rough Trade (CD, Album) Go Ahead Japan Record 1984
Punk / 2-Tone - The History Of Rock - Volume Thirty One (2xLP, Comp) 12 X U Orbis 1985
Mixed Peel (Cass, Comp) I Am The Fly New Musical Express 1987
The Enigma Variations 2 (Comp) (4 versions) Ahead, Drill Enigma Records (3) ... 1987
Gigantic! (Cass) Kidney Bingoes (Specia... Melody Maker 1988
Indie Top 20 CD88 (Comp) (3 versions) Kidney Bingos Beechwood Music 1988
Indie Top 20 Vol IV Part 1 - State Of Independents (LP) Kidney Bingos Beechwood Music 1988
Indie Top 20 Volume V - Spirit Of Independents (Comp) (5 versions) Silk Skin Paws Beechwood Music ... 1988
Enigma! A Manic Assemblage Of Enigma Recording Artists (Cass, Promo, Smplr) Kidney Bingos Enigma Records (3) 1989
Indie Top 20 Volume VII (Comp) (2 versions) Eardrum Buzz Beechwood Music 1989
Sound. And Vision. Volume One (Comp) (2 versions) Eardrum Buzz Enigma Records (3) 1989
Best Of Peel Sessions (Par Bernard Lenoir) (2 versions) I Am The Fly Fnac Music 1990
Expand-O CD Tune Up 4 (CD, Promo) Life In The Manscape The Album Network 1990
Indie Top 20 Vol VIII (3 versions) In Vivo Beechwood Music ... 1990
Levi's Presents Rockin' On Campus (CD, Comp) In Vivo Score Productions, Inc. 1990
International Compilation Mute (Comp) (7 versions) Drill (Turn Your Coat) Mute Records Ltd. ... 1991
John Peel Sampler (CD, Smplr, Promo, Car) Culture Vultures Dutch East India Trading 1991
Never Mind The Mainstream...The Best Of MTV's 120 Minutes Vol. 2 (CD, Comp, RM) Eardrum Buzz Warner Special Products, Rhino Records (2) 1991
The Tyranny Of The Beat - Original Soundtracks From The Grey Area (Comp) (3 versions) Our Swimmer (Live At N... The Grey Area ... 1991
Tonal Evidence (USA) (CD) Drill: In Every City? Elektra 1991
Electrocity Vol. 2 (CD) So And Slow It Grows (... Ausfahrt 1992
The Best Punk Album In The World ... Ever! (Comp, Album) (3 versions) I Am The Fly Virgin ... 1992
The Indie Scene 81 (CD, Comp) Our Swimmer Connoisseur Collection 1992
DIY: Anarchy In The UK - UK Punk I (1976-77) (CD, Comp) 12XU Rhino Records (2) 1993
DIY: The Modern World - UK Punk II (1977-78) (CD) I Am The Fly Rhino Records (2) 1993
Faster & Louder - Hardcore Punk, Vol. 2 (CD) 1.2.X.U. Rhino Entertainment Company 1993
Tonal Evidence 6 (Cass, Comp, Promo, Smplr) Kidney Bingos Mute Records Ltd. 1993
Tonal Evidence 7 (Comp) (2 versions) A Serious Of Snakes Mute Records Ltd. 1993
Mute Bank Compilation (2xCD) Kidney Bingos Mute Records Ltd. 1995
Punk You Vol. 1 (Music For The Discerning Slacker Punk) (CD) Reuters EMI America 1995
Punk You: Music For The Discerning Slacker Punk Vol. 1 (CD) Reuters EMI Records, BMG Direct Marketing, Inc. 1995
Punk: The Worst Of Total Anarchy (Green) (CD) Outdoor Miner Disky 1995
The Very Best Of UK Punk (CD, Comp) Dot Dash Dot, Mannequin CEMA Special Markets 1995
98 New Wave Club Class•X Traxx!!! (Box + 7xCD) Mannequin Play It Again Sam [PIAS] 1996
Lost Property (An Alternative History 1979 - 1982) (2xCD, Comp) I Am The Fly EMI Records Ltd. 1996
New Wave Club Class•X 7 (CD, Comp) Mannequin Antler-Subway 1996
Punk: The Worst Of Total Anarchy (3xCD, Box) Outdoor Miner Disky 1996
The Best Punk Album In The World ... Ever! 2 (2xCD, Comp) Outdoor Mines Circa Records Ltd. 1996
Unheard Pleasures (Cass) Ear Drum Buzz Select Magazine 1996
Be There Now (CD, Comp) Outdoor's Miner Select Magazine 1997
Original Best Of Pop (4xCD, Comp) Outdoor Miner EMI Music (France), EMI Music (France) 1997
Blowout -18 Of The Best Indie Sounds (CD) I Am The Fly EMI Gold 1998
Flash Back To '78 (CD, Promo, Comp) I Am The Fly ΠΟΠ + ΡΟΚ (Magazine), PolyGram, Virgin, Minos-EMI 1998
Κύματα Ροκ (CD) Kidney Bingos ΜΕΤΡΟ (Magazine), Virgin 1998
1-2-3-4 Punk & New Wave 1976-1979 (5xCD, Comp + Box) Mannequin Universal Records 1999
Dark Pleasures (CD) I Should Have Known Be... Hip-O Records 1999
Electropop Essentials (CD, Comp) I Am The Fly Hip-O Records, Universal Music Special Markets 1999
Live From The Roxy (CD) Just Don't Care, TV Essential 1999
Pop & Wave Vol. 8 - The Sound Of The Fantastic 80s (2xCD, Comp) Ahead Sony Music Media 1999
Postpunk Chronicles: Left Of The Dial (CD) Outdoor Miner Rhino Entertainment Company 1999
Unconditionally Guaranteed Volume 3 (CD, Comp) Map Ref 41º North 93... Uncut Magazine 1999
It's All In The Brochure (CD, Album) Pink Flag, Silk Skin P... Pinkflag 2000
Sampler (4xCD, Smplr, Promo + Box) Ahead Mute Song 2000
The Wire Tapper 5 (CD, Comp) Pink Flag/2 Wire Magazine 2000
Muzik Presents Mute: Assume Nothing (Comp) (2 versions) Over Theirs [Loop] Muzik Magazine ... 2001
Punk Lives! (Comp) (2 versions) 12XU (Live) Sanctuary Records ... 2001
António Sérgio Apresenta Som Da Frente 1982-1986 (2xCD) I Should Have Known Be... EMI-Valentim De Carvalho, Lda. 2002
No Spitting: 60 Classic Punk Tracks (3xCD) I Am The Fly, Mannequi... Disky 2002
The Wire Tapper 9 (2xCD) Spent Wire Magazine 2002
Untitled (3xCD, Promo) In The Art Of Stopping Not On Label 2002
5 Years Dedicated To A Better Taste Of Finer Music (CD, Comp, Promo) Spent Cargo Records 2003
No Thanks! The '70s Punk Rebellion (4xCD + Box) 1 2 X U, Mannequin Rhino Entertainment Company 2003
Rare Trax Vol. 25 - First Wave Part Two (CD, Comp, Car) Over Theirs Rolling Stone (Germany) 2003
Rough Trade Shops - Post Punk 01 (2xCD, Comp) Ex Lion Tamer Mute Records Ltd. 2003
Sniffin' Glue (CD) 12XU Castle Music 2003
Softcore Jukebox (CD) The 15th Emperor Norton 2003
80s Alternative - The Darker Side Of The Decade (CD, Comp) Eardrum Buzz EMI Gold 2004
England's Dreaming (2xLP) Mr. Suit Trikont 2004
England's Dreaming (CD, Comp) Mr. Suit Trikont 2004
Greatest Hits Of Punk & New Wave (3xCD, Comp) Outdoor Miner EMI Records Ltd. 2004
The Original New Wave Album (CD) Outdoor Miner EMI Gold 2004
Beyond Punk! (CD, Comp) Kidney Bingos Mojo Magazine 2005
Resurrected - Volume 1 (CD, Album, Promo, Comp, Smplr) Kidney Bingos EMI Music 2005
Süddeutsche Zeitung Diskothek 1978 (CD) Outdoor Miner Süddeutsche Zeitung 2005
The Best Of Music - New Wave (CD) Outdoor Miner Disky 2005
The Roxy London WC2 - A Live Punk Box Set (6xCD) Lowdown, 12XU Castle Music 2005
Catalog Vs. Catalog Round 1 (CD, Promo, Ltd) Champs Caroline Records 2006
Humo Presenteert - Blitzkriegpunk (2xCD, Comp) 12XU Universal Music (Belgium) 2006
Ideal - Original Soundtrack (Album, Comp) (2 versions) Raft Ants DMG TV 2006
Only After Dark (CD, Comp) I Am The Fly EMI Records 2006
Revolver USA Sampler Autumn '06 (CD, Promo) 12XU Revolver USA 2006
Uncut Playlist (CD, Comp) Map Ref. 41ºN 93ºW Uncut Magazine 2006
Elegy Sampler 51 (CD, Smplr) 23 Years Too Late (Ver... Elegy 2007
Happening, Alive And Nasty - The EMI Punk Singles Collection (CD, Comp, RM, Jew) 12XU, Ex Lion Tamer Zonophone 2007
Rare Trax Vol. 51 - Darkness On The Edge Of Town - Alternative Hardcore From The 80's (CD, Comp, Car) 1.2.X.U Rolling Stone (Germany) 2007
100% New Wave (5xCD, Comp) Mannequin EMI Music (Belgium) 2008
CD Side 47 (CD, Smplr) One Of Us D-Side 2008
Cargo Sampler #100/08 (CD, Smplr, Promo) One Of Us Cargo Records 2008
Destroy! (CD, Comp) Lowdown Mojo Magazine 2008
Elegy Sampler 54 (CD, Smplr) All Fours Elegy 2008
Punk - The Platinum Collection (3xCD, Comp + Box) 12XU EMI Music (Belgium) 2008
3 X 20 (Colours) Music From British Independent Record Companies (3xCD, Comp) Eardrum Buzz IND (2)  
Cross Current (LP) Our Swimmer Base Record  
Punk - A World History - Volume 1 (CD) 1,2, X U Sound Solutions  
Unofficial Releases:
Live In London 1978 (7")   Wardance Records (2) 1979
Live (Montreaux Palais Des Artes, France. Feb. 9th. 1979) / Dominoe (LP) Another The Letter, Pr... Happy Porkpak 1984
Comeback In Two Halves (Everybody Wants Some History) (LP, Album)   Not On Label 1987
The Legendary Manchester Wire (Vinyl)   Piccadilly Records 1987
RVNG Of The NRDS Vol. 3 (12") Three Girl Rhumba (Moc... Rvng Intl. 2007
Not About To Die (LP, Ltd)   Not On Label 2008
This Is The Dark Side Mixes Volume 09 (CD, Comp, Ltd, Promo, Unofficial) The 15th (Dark Side Al... Dark Side Remixes Records 2009
Breaking The Back Of Indie (2xCDr, Comp) Our Swimmer Not On Label  
Honi Soit (LP, Cle)   Not On Label  
Mittnacht Bahnhof Cafe Nostalgia (LP, Unofficial)   Democrazy Records  
Not About To Die (LP, Unofficial)   Amnesia Records  
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Wire - Kidney Bingos
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Reviews & Discussion

Review by Stoffeler10 Jan 16, 2005 (edited over 4 years ago)
"I`ve found something no one else is looking for. I`ve found something that there`s no use for. And what`s more. I`m keeping it to myself."

Wire was a real phenomenon in the end 70`s. And probably THE BAND of that time.
Their first three LPs, all equally brilliant, absorbed or better reflected, what was happening in Europe these days.
Their sound changed from the fast and short punk tracks of "Pink Flag" and leaded to the longer, more complex sounds of "154" .

Wire was a band of four strong individualists with different music preferences.
And that`s probably the reason why their collaboration only lasts three LPs.
Newman and Gotobed surely were more Rock orientated, while Gilbert and Lewis were interested in more abstract soundscapes. But no doubt , it was this mixture, which made this band so special and ahead of the time during that period.
But it`s impossible to talk about Wire, without mentioning their lyrics. Because no other „Punk / New Wave“ band had lyrics like that.
To get a picture of what they `re about you have to imagine passages of a play by Beckett or something that was written by Kafka. (If that doesn`t help look above)

Anyway the band paused after this three LPs . Just a compilation of live tracks was released in 1981 on Rough Trade Records, called "Document And Eyewitness".
Gilbert and Lewis released LPs not only under their names, but also under Dome and Duet Emmo. Followed by „He Said“ (a Lewis project).
Newman had several solo albums on Beggar`s Banquet, 4 AD and Crammed. But in 1986 Wire started working together again, released a few albums, until their „final split“ in 1991.
After that the members came up with solo projects again. Newman also launched the label Swim, together with Malka Spigel.

Today Wire is active again with a new label called „Pink Flag“.