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.
Hed Send In the Army
Gang of Four Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the end, what he says goes
This system's well constructed
She owes him all she gets
The army has it's uses
In times of civil crisis
'Allo boys! Seen any action?
Bond together with your mate
Against the common enemy
The Private's not born that way
The Private's not born that way
Guns take up all his time
With no job he'd be in a mess
Wanted action, gets some in
She pays him back in the bedroom
One step down from her leader
Obeys, or is punished
Like he obeys his bosses
The lyrics in Gang of Four's "He'd Send In the Army" tackle the idea of power dynamics and how authority figures can manipulate and control the individuals beneath them. The first stanza references the family unit, with the head of the household holding all the power and making decisions for everyone else. The line "she owes him all she gets" suggests that this power dynamic extends to other relationships outside of the family, with individuals owing those in positions of authority for the resources and benefits they receive.
The second stanza shifts to the use of the army in times of crisis, and the idea that those who join the military are seeking action and purpose. The repetition of "seen any.. action?" suggests a sort of machismo culture surrounding the idea of war and violence. The third stanza further explores the idea of camaraderie between military personnel, but also comments on how someone's career in the military can define them and become their sole purpose. The line "guns take up all his time" suggests that for the soldier, violence and warfare become their main focus in life.
The final stanza ties the themes of power dynamics and violence together by concluding that even intimate relationships are not exempt from these dynamics. The woman in the relationship is depicted as being one step down from her leader, essentially existing to serve him and obey his commands. The line "obeys or is punished" is particularly ominous, suggesting a coercive and abusive dynamic. Overall, "He'd Send In the Army" is a critical commentary on the ways in which power can be abused and manipulated, particularly in the context of military and intimate relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
The family's head gives orders
A single person in the family is in charge and dictates what everyone must do.
In the end, what he says goes
They have to listen to the head of the family because he has the final say.
This system's well constructed
The structure of the family is efficient and well thought out.
She owes him all she gets
A woman is indebted to the head of the family and gives him everything.
The army has its uses
The military is helpful when there are problems with civil unrest.
In times of civil crisis
The military is used to maintain order during times when people are not following the law.
'Allo boys! Seen any action?
The military is made up of young men who are eager to fight and see combat.
Hey boys, seen any.. action?
The artist is enthusiastic about the idea of combat and wants to know if the soldiers have experienced it.
Bond together with your mate
Soldiers are encouraged to form strong bonds with each other to better fight against the enemy.
Against the common enemy
The soldiers must work together to defeat their mutual enemy.
The Private's not born that way
People are not inherently made to be soldiers and need to learn how to fight.
Guns take up all his time
The workload of a soldier consists mostly of practicing with his weapon.
With no job he'd be in a mess
Without the military, the soldier would be in a bad situation and may not have another job.
Wanted action, gets some in
Soldiers who join the military willingly do so for the opportunity to see combat.
She pays him back in the bedroom
A woman who is indebted to the head of the family must offer him physical favors.
One step down from her leader
The woman is just below the head of the family in the hierarchy.
Obeys, or is punished
The woman must follow the orders of the head of the family or face consequences.
Like he obeys his bosses
Just like the woman obeys the head of the family, soldiers must obey their commanders.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID ALLEN, HUGO BURNHAM, ANDREW GILL, JONATHAN KING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kenneubeck7492
RIP Andy Gil. One of the most original and strained guitar solo ever....GREAT!
@SoulStylistJukeBox
Utterly brilliant.
@RayyanKesnan
That metallic sound he gets with the guitar sounds like sharp rusty metal, something dangerous. Really amazing in every way, lyrically, drums, bass, this band is so special.
@tlacorp.3813
The very intense consciousness of post-punk angularity and more. Damn, just wonderful!
@jamesanderson348
One of the best bands ever.
@Dietpill
100% agreed
@scott12xu
Andy Gill R.I.P.
@roguetoken5640
@1:20 is funny, almost like Andy is takin the piss, then just comes back in so heavy lol
@OthaBrotha1
Andy Gill. Rest In Peace....
@michaelsegrave1282
I've never seen a more pissed off performance than Andy Gill's, here.
Pissed as f, yet controlled. Nothing like it.