Wire's debut album, Pink Flag (1977), contains songs which are diverse in mood and style, but most use a minimalist punk approach, unorthodox structures, and several songs are under a minute in length; "Field Day For The Sundays" is only 28 seconds long.
Chairs Missing followed in 1978, and found Wire stepping back from the stark minimalism of Pink Flag, with longer, more atmospheric songs and synthesizer parts added by producer Mike Thorne. The experimentation was even more prominent on 154 (1979). Many of the songs had bassist Graham Lewis on lead vocals.
In 1979, creative differences pulled the band in different directions, leading to the Document and Eyewitness LP (1981), a recording of a performance that featured, almost exclusively, new material. The LP came packaged with an EP of a different performance of more new material. Some of these songs, along with others performed but not included on the album, were included on Colin Newman's post-Wire solo albums ("5/10", "We Meet Under Tables"), while others were released by Gilbert and Lewis' primary post-Wire outlet Dome ("And Then...", "Ritual View"). The band disbanded for the first time in 1980
Between 1981-85 Wire ceased recording and performing in favour of solo and non-Wire collaborative projects such as Dome, Cupol, Duet Emmo, and several Colin Newman solo efforts. In 1985, the group reformed as a "beat combo" (a joking reference to early 1960s beat music or even possibly beatniks), with greater use of electronic musical instruments. It released It's Beginning To And Back Again (IBTABA) in 1989, a "live" album of mostly re-worked versions of songs from The Ideal Copy and A Bell Is a Cup...Until It Is Struck, heavily re-arranged, edited, and remixed. A new song from the album, "Eardrum Buzz", became the band's biggest charting single.
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. Once again, the band disbanded in 1992 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 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 on 26 February 2000. Wire's reception during a short tour of the US, and a number of UK gigs, convinced the band to continue. Two EPs and an album Send (2003) followed, as well as collaborations with stage designer Es Devlin and artists Jake and Dinos Chapman. In 2004 the band split once more.
In 2006, Wire's 1970s albums were re-released with original vinyl track listings. Rumours abounded of a renewal of activity to mark the 30th anniversary of the band's debut as a 4 piece and the re-release of Pink Flag in 2007. A third Read & Burn EP was released in November, 2007.
A full-length album of new material entitled Object 47 was released in July 2008. Bruce Gilbert was not involved in this recording, although according to Colin Newman, he did feature in a minimal capacity on the third Read and Burn EP. 2011 saw the release of the band's twelfth studio album Red Barked Tree.
106 Beats That
Wire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Avoids the day, prefers the night
Build sight
Got a head for figures
No time for bickerers
Or so he says
prefers the company of a woman
One-two-three four
That's an important word
Always seen first then heard
Such a rare bird
With praise he glows, with change he grows
He finds that important
Hates waiting, it's not stimulating
Can't understand why that is so funny
That is sex
The lyrics of Wire's song "106 Beats That" deal with the character portrait of someone who seems to prefer the night as opposed to the day, and who finds solace in his own mind, utilizing his head for numbers, the company of a woman, and the physicality of sex. The singer is presented as a solitary, independent man who avoids conflicts and verbal spats, and who prefers modesty and seclusion to public display of emotions or opinions. The character is portrayed as someone who desires stimulation in life, hates waiting, and is always looking to grow and improve himself. Overall, the song paints a picture of a unique and rare individual who marches to his own drumbeat.
The lyrics of "106 Beats That" are cryptic and convey a sense of detachment and isolation but also an underlying desire for human connection and physical intimacy. The anonymous protagonist's preference for the night and the color white could suggest feelings of purity, blankness, or even a desire to escape reality. Meanwhile, his reliance on figures and his aversion to bickering could signal a preference for the logical over the emotional, as well as a reluctance to engage with conflict. The chorus, with its repetition of "one-two-three four," possibly hinting at counting, could add an additional layer of meaning to the lyrics, suggesting a need for structure and order in the singer's life.
Line by Line Meaning
If you had a room, he'd paint it white
He has a tendency to use white colour in his paintings or in decorating rooms.
Avoids the day, prefers the night
He dislikes or tries to avoid the daytime and favors nighttime.
Build sight
He has an eye for architecture or construction.
Got a head for figures
He is good with numbers and has a talent for mathematics.
No time for bickerers
He doesn't have the patience for people who argue or quarrel constantly.
Or so he says
He may not always be truthful or consistent in his statements.
Prefers the company of a woman
He enjoys spending time with women more than men.
One-two-three four
He counts in a rhythmic manner, possibly indicative of his love for music.
Finds it more physical
He prefers physical activities to sedentary ones.
That's an important word
Certain words or phrases hold significant meaning or value to him.
Always seen first then heard
He believes that appearances are more important than words.
Such a rare bird
He is a unique individual, unlike anyone else.
With praise he glows, with change he grows
He is encouraged and motivated by positive feedback, and is adaptable to change for self-improvement.
He finds that important
He has strong convictions about certain things, which he deems as significant.
Hates waiting, it's not stimulating
He detests waiting or being idle, as it doesn't challenge or engage his mind enough.
Can't understand why that is so funny
He may not always comprehend sarcasm or irony in a given situation.
That is sex
He considers the physical and emotional aspects of sex as a vital part of life's experiences.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BRUCE CLIFFORD GILBERT, COLIN JOHN NEWMAN, GRAHAM LEWIS, ROBERT SELWYN GOTOBED
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Pierre Clary
on Champs
i believe this song is about amphetamine abuse, endemic on the punk scene...Speed, "more speed than before ,less time than before (tolerance build up)........
Pierre Clary
on Champs
The song "Champs" by Wire is an intense and fast-paced track that addresses themes of competitiveness, the desire for success, and the sacrifices one must make in order to achieve their goals. The repeated phrases "The taste of champions, the pace, the pace, the speed, the need, the need to seed, the chance to die" suggest that the speaker is wholly dedicated to winning and will stop at nothing to achieve their goals. The subsequent line "Another dead don't cry" implies that the speaker has seen others perish in their pursuit of victory and is not phased by it. The stanza "You've still got speed, you'll maybe bleed, there's less time" highlights the idea that time is running out and that one must act quickly if they wish to be successful.
The next stanza begins with the phrase "More speed than before, you've done it before, there is no for, what are you doing it for?" which suggests that the speaker is no longer satisfied with their previous achievements and is compelled to push themselves even harder. The line "Want more, want more" is a clear indication that the speaker is never satisfied with what they have and will always strive for more. The repetition of "Another dead don't cry" throughout the song serves as a haunting reminder that the pursuit of success often has a cost, and that cost can be the lives of others.i think this so,
Pierre Clary
on Champs
YOU'RE RICH NOT POOR