Gang of Four
Gang of Four are a British post-punk group from Leeds, England. Original pe… Read Full Bio ↴Gang of Four are a British post-punk group from Leeds, England. Original personnel were singer Jon King, guitarist Andy Gill, bass guitarist Dave Allen and drummer Hugo Burnham. They were fully active from 1977 to 1984, and then re-emerged twice in the 1990s with King and Gill. In 2005, the original lineup reunited.
The group had a single in the British Top 60 with "At Home He's A Tourist" in 1979, which was blacklisted by Top Of The Pops for its use of the relatively innocuous term "rubbers". Storming, Doc Marten-booted and fueled by a heady cocktail of Gramsci, Marx and lager, out of the Leeds art-school scene that produced The Mekons and Delta 5, they played a stripped-to-the-wire, funk-fueled permutation of punk rock. This is best exemplified by the dry production and forceful polemic of debut effort Entertainment! - Gang of Four's later albums (Songs Of The Free and Hard) found them softening some of their more jarring qualities, and drifting towards disco.
Critic Stewart Mason has called "Love Like Anthrax" (their first single, later re-recorded as "Anthrax") not only the group's "most notorious song" but also "one of the most unique and interesting songs of its time"; it's also a good example of Gang of Four's social perspective. After a minute-long, droning, feedback-laced guitar intro, the rhythm section sets up a funky, churning beat, and the guitar drops out entirely. In one stereo channel, King sings a "post-punk anti-love song", comparing himself to a beetle trapped on its back ("and there's no way for me to get up") and equating love with "a case of anthrax, and that's some thing I don't want to catch." Meanwhile in the other stereo channel (and slightly less prominent in the mix), Gill reads a deadpan monologue about public perception of love, and the prevalence of love songs in popular music: "Love crops up quite a lot as something to sing about, 'cause most groups make most of their songs about falling in love, or how happy they are to be in love, and you occasionally wonder why these groups do sing about it all the time." The simultaneous vocals are more than a little disorienting, especially when Gill pauses in his examination of love songs to echo a few of King's sung lines.
Allen left after Solid Gold and was replaced briefly by Buster Jones (who never recorded with the group), then by Sara Lee; Allen later co-founded Shriekback, Low Pop Suicide and The Elastic Purejoy.
Their angular, slashing attack and liberal use of dissonance had a significant influence on their post-punk contemporaries in the States, including Mission Of Burma. Gang Of Four went on to influence a number of successful funk-tinged alternative rock acts throughout the 80s and 90s - even, arguably, many rap-rock and nu metal groups who were "not in touch with their ancestry enough to realize it" (Andy Kellman, on allmusic.com) - although few of their followers were as arty or political. Michael "Flea" Balzary of Red Hot Chili Peppers has stated Gang of Four were very influential on his band's early music.
Gang of Four can also be credited as one of the early influences on techno or electronic music; they released dance remixes of several later singles.
Recently the band has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity, initially due to emergence of new post-punk influenced bands such as The Rapture and Radio 4 and then the rise of Franz Ferdinand and Bloc Party, which led to the renewed patronage of the NME. The original Burnham/Allen/Gill/King lineup reformed in November 2004. In October of 2005, Gang of Four released a new LP featuring new recordings of past songs, entitled Return The Gift.
Dave Allen also co-hosts a twice-weekly "New Music Hour" radio show with Portland, Oregon's 94.7 alternative radio station.
Andy Gill died on 1st February, 2020 from, according to reports, a respiratory illness caught on the group's tour in Asia the preceding year. He was the only original member still playing in the Gang Of Four.
The group had a single in the British Top 60 with "At Home He's A Tourist" in 1979, which was blacklisted by Top Of The Pops for its use of the relatively innocuous term "rubbers". Storming, Doc Marten-booted and fueled by a heady cocktail of Gramsci, Marx and lager, out of the Leeds art-school scene that produced The Mekons and Delta 5, they played a stripped-to-the-wire, funk-fueled permutation of punk rock. This is best exemplified by the dry production and forceful polemic of debut effort Entertainment! - Gang of Four's later albums (Songs Of The Free and Hard) found them softening some of their more jarring qualities, and drifting towards disco.
Critic Stewart Mason has called "Love Like Anthrax" (their first single, later re-recorded as "Anthrax") not only the group's "most notorious song" but also "one of the most unique and interesting songs of its time"; it's also a good example of Gang of Four's social perspective. After a minute-long, droning, feedback-laced guitar intro, the rhythm section sets up a funky, churning beat, and the guitar drops out entirely. In one stereo channel, King sings a "post-punk anti-love song", comparing himself to a beetle trapped on its back ("and there's no way for me to get up") and equating love with "a case of anthrax, and that's some thing I don't want to catch." Meanwhile in the other stereo channel (and slightly less prominent in the mix), Gill reads a deadpan monologue about public perception of love, and the prevalence of love songs in popular music: "Love crops up quite a lot as something to sing about, 'cause most groups make most of their songs about falling in love, or how happy they are to be in love, and you occasionally wonder why these groups do sing about it all the time." The simultaneous vocals are more than a little disorienting, especially when Gill pauses in his examination of love songs to echo a few of King's sung lines.
Allen left after Solid Gold and was replaced briefly by Buster Jones (who never recorded with the group), then by Sara Lee; Allen later co-founded Shriekback, Low Pop Suicide and The Elastic Purejoy.
Their angular, slashing attack and liberal use of dissonance had a significant influence on their post-punk contemporaries in the States, including Mission Of Burma. Gang Of Four went on to influence a number of successful funk-tinged alternative rock acts throughout the 80s and 90s - even, arguably, many rap-rock and nu metal groups who were "not in touch with their ancestry enough to realize it" (Andy Kellman, on allmusic.com) - although few of their followers were as arty or political. Michael "Flea" Balzary of Red Hot Chili Peppers has stated Gang of Four were very influential on his band's early music.
Gang of Four can also be credited as one of the early influences on techno or electronic music; they released dance remixes of several later singles.
Recently the band has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity, initially due to emergence of new post-punk influenced bands such as The Rapture and Radio 4 and then the rise of Franz Ferdinand and Bloc Party, which led to the renewed patronage of the NME. The original Burnham/Allen/Gill/King lineup reformed in November 2004. In October of 2005, Gang of Four released a new LP featuring new recordings of past songs, entitled Return The Gift.
Dave Allen also co-hosts a twice-weekly "New Music Hour" radio show with Portland, Oregon's 94.7 alternative radio station.
Andy Gill died on 1st February, 2020 from, according to reports, a respiratory illness caught on the group's tour in Asia the preceding year. He was the only original member still playing in the Gang Of Four.
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Gang of Four Lyrics
5-45 How can I sit and eat my tea With all that…
5.45 How can I sit and eat my tea, with all that…
A Fruitfly In The Beehive Where did it all begin? Where's the proof of life?…
A Hole in the Wallet Education is their business Women to know that they are equa…
A Man With a Good Car Who is that? Just what is your business Fate is in your…
A Piece of My Heart A piece of my heart cries out loudly For the funeral…
Anthrax Woke up this morning desperation a.m. What I've been saying …
Arabic The information I was given as follows: Take care not to…
Armalite Rifle Armalite rifle police and ira Armalite rifle use it everyday…
At Home He At home he feels like a tourist At home he feels…
At Home He's A Tourist ) At home he feels like a tourist At home he feels…
At Home He's A Tourist - At home he feels like a tourist At home he feels…
At Home He’s a Tourist At home he feels like a tourist At home he feels…
Better Him Than Me He drives all week Where does he go? Only down one way…
Broken Talk He's not a machine But he's processing that code Intermitten…
Cadillac All the boys are loving all the girls Who screen the…
Call Me Up Call me up, if I'm home Don't say too much, I…
Capital The moment I was born I opened my eyes I reached…
Cheese Burger (I need a cheeseburger to go) I move from one place…
Cheeseburger (I need a cheeseburger to go) I move from one place…
Colour From The Tube Now that everything is true I believe in me and you What…
Contract The same again Another disagreement You dreamed of scenes Li…
Damaged Goods The change will do you good I always knew it would Sometimes…
Damaged Goods ) The change will do you good I always knew it would Sometim…
Damaged Goods - The change will do you good I always knew it would Sometimes…
Desire Meet me in the dark Face the one that you thought…
Do As I Say Whet the blade on the stone, light the fire from…
Don't Fix What Ain't Broke I want tomorrow today I didn't think that I'd Have yesterday…
Ether Trapped in heaven life style (locked in long kesh) New looki…
Ether ) Trapped in heaven life style (Locked in Long Kesh) New look…
Everybody Wants To Come We're not moving, we're going slow There's bodies at the sid…
F.M.U.S.A. I lived in tunnels Sometimes there was no rice and the…
Glass Look through the window [Repeat: x3] I'm looking through a p…
Guns Before Butter All this talk of blood and iron Is the 'cause of…
He At home he feels like a tourist At home he feels…
He'd Send In the Army The family's head gives orders In the end, what he says…
He's A Tourist At home he feels like a tourist At home he feels…
Hed Send In the Army The family's head gives orders In the end, what he says…
Hey Yeah Who is wanting to be perfect? Too many angels in heaven You'…
Hiromi %26 Stan Talk Le monde arabe etait, pour nous, un lieu de passions…
History What I'd like to hear desert people's history Not the styles…
Hole In The Wallet Education is their business Women to know that they are equa…
I All inhibitions gone and on display All innocence has gone a…
I Absolve You Now, confess Face your fears I'm tuned in for Your drivet…
I Can See From Far Away A face like that locked you in so that you…
I Can't Forget Your Lonely Face You weren't around in the compound Could not be found, had…
I Fled All inhibitions gone and on display All innocence has gone a…
I Found That Essence Rare Aim for the body rare, you'll see it on TV The…
I Love A Man In A Uniform Time with my girl I spent it well I had to…
I Love a Man in Uniform (long version) Time with my girl, I spent it well I had to…
I Love A Man In Uniform ) Time with my girl I spent it well I had to…
I Parade Myself Look at me, ain't I fine Brand new me, dig my…
I Will Be a Good Boy Take me, dance with me I want to be Everything a man…
I've Found That Essence Rare Aim for the body rare, you'll see it on TV The…
If I Could Keep It All For Myself If I could keep it for myself What did you say…
Impossible Can't catch it again, can you? Can't catch it again, can…
In The Ditch Heads down, down to the floor Run past the windows and…
Independence Like you said when we crawled down from the trees We're…
Is it Love No one lives in the future, no one lives in…
It Items daily press views to suppress Subject story on the fro…
It don If I keep my eyes on it I will have more…
It Is Not Enough It is not enough Here we go again I'd like to see…
It's Her Factory Items daily press views to suppress Subject story on the fro…
It’s Her Factory Items daily press views to suppress Subject story on the fr…
Ivanka Ooh, ooh ooh Ooh, ooh ooh There once were eyes if I…
Life! It's a Shame Don't stop out too late at night Stop! it's a caution Don't…
Love a Man In Uniform Time with my girl I spent it well I had to…
Love Like Anthrax Woke up this morning desperation a.m. What I've been saying …
Lucky You work hard, you pay your dues Play by the rules…
Man In A Uniform Time with my girl I spent it well I had to…
Money Talks Innocents all, kept in the dark Centre cannot hold, things …
Motel Don't feel like eating, I don't wanna drink All I need…
Muscle for Brains [Chorus] Don't help me I can save myself If I'm incomplete d…
Natural The problem of leisure What to do for pleasure Ideal love …
Natural's Not in It The problem of leisure What to do for pleasure Ideal love a…
Natural's Not It The problem of leisure What to do for pleasure Ideal love …
Naturals Not In It The problem of leisure What to do for pleasure Ideal love a…
Not Great Men No weak men in the books at home The strong men…
Not Great Men ) No weak men in the books at home The strong men…
Not Great Men - No weak men in the books at home The strong men…
Not Gteat Men No weak men in the books at home The strong men…
Of the Instant Who owns what you do? Who owns what you use? This land…
Outside The Trains Don He's become nostalgic Wants to own tomorrow Discipline, is…
Outside The Trains Don't Run On Time He's become nostalgic Wants to own tomorrow Discipline, is h…
Paralysed Blinkered, paralyzed Flat on my back They say our world is …
Return The Gift Head away from the years You're on the price list Head away…
Satellite I wake up you are there Silhouette against the glare Electri…
Shrinkwrapped I don't walk, I always take the car Tune to talkshow…
Silver Lining Your look will always find me hypnotized Behind every cloud …
Sleepwalker I'm an understudy for myself I'm on standby waiting at the…
Something 99 I volunteer to serve myself Words, comma, sentence, end. A…
Soul Rebel I'm a rebel, soul rebel I'm a capturer, soul adventurer See…
Sweet Jane Standin' on a corner Suitcase in my hand Jack is in his…
Tattoo (can't make out what he is saying) Like you Like you Yo…
The Dark Ride I wore out time Used up all that should be mine Shit…
The Dying Rays Stop the seconds flow Oh, I'm too late I'm back where I…
The History of the World When I was in my mothers womb Social structure seemed a…
The Republic Make the grade in our republic We all are loyal subjects T…
To Hell With Poverty In my arms we shall begin with none of the…
Unburden Hi baby, what do you want to talk about? I'm here,…
Unburden Unbound He's so alienated he doesn't even understand that, that wha…
We Live as We Dream Everybody is in too many pieces No-man's land surrounds our …
We Live as We Dream, Alone Everybody is in too many pieces No-man's-land surrounds our …
What We All Want This wheel spins, let me off It's not for lack of…
What We All Want (live) This wheel spins letting me off It's not the lack of…
What We All Want ) This wheel spins, let me off It's not for lack of…
Where the Nightingale Sings Walk away on London′s bitter pride In melancholic isolation …
who am i The pilgrim can′t sleep - The pilgrim's a spy! The pilgrim…
Who Am I? The pilgrim can't sleep The pilgrim's a spy! The pil…
Why Theory People got their opinions Where do they come from? Each day …
Woman Town This was my first night in woman town But I somehow…
World Falls Apart This sombitch nowhere's jewelled lights Overflashing trade m…
You Don't Have To Be Mad I'm watching you step round the room Show me the rabbit…
You'll Never Pay For The Farm You'll never pay for the farm, Someone's the alarm, I thin…