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.
A Mutual Friend
Wire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That I was anything less than concerned
Hearing of your troubles
Has forced me to double
My interest in your current affairs
It's no use despising a new unknown horizon
Now your son has set his sights on the moon
So precipitous a decision has clouded your vision
Please don't turn a deaf ear to the noises you hear
While savagely your love you prune
For he might replace the old with the moon
He might replace the old with the moon
In March, April, May, and June
July, August, September, soon
He might replace the old with the moon
It could be October
November, or even December
So in January and February remember
He might replace the old with the moon
He might replace the old quite soon
In Wire's song A Mutual Friend, the lyrics describe the difficulty of pretending to not care about someone's troubles when you are in fact concerned. The singer expresses how hearing about their friend's recent problems has doubled their interest in their life. The song then goes on to talk about the friend's son who has set his sights on the moon, implying that he is reaching for seemingly impossible goals. The decision to do so has clouded the friend's vision and changed their attitude. The singer urges their friend to pay attention to the noises they hear and not to completely neglect their love for their son, as he may replace the past with the future.
The lyrics of A Mutual Friend are open to interpretation, but it can be inferred that they are about the struggles of coping with change and adjusting to new goals. The friend's son represents the desire for something greater and the unknown horizon. The line "He might replace the old with the moon" could be seen as a metaphor for letting go of the past and moving forward. The song also seems to suggest that change is inevitable and that it should be embraced rather than feared.
Line by Line Meaning
As a mutual friend it was difficult to pretend
I, as a mutual friend, found it difficult to pretend that I was not concerned.
That I was anything less than concerned
I was genuinely concerned about your troubles.
Hearing of your troubles
Upon hearing about your troubles.
Has forced me to double
It has increased my interest and concern.
My interest in your current affairs
My concern for your current situation.
It's no use despising a new unknown horizon
It will not benefit you to dislike something new and unfamiliar.
Now your son has set his sights on the moon
Your son has set his goals highly, perhaps unattainably.
So precipitous a decision has clouded your vision
Such a bold decision has made you lose clarity in your thinking.
And altered the pitch of your tune
It has changed your mindset and approach to life.
Please don't turn a deaf ear to the noises you hear
Do not ignore the messages you receive, even if they are difficult to accept.
While savagely your love you prune
As you harshly cut back on your love for those around you.
For he might replace the old with the moon
Your son may replace your old life and traditions with new, ambitious goals.
He might replace the old with the moon
The idea is reiterated, he may change everything you know.
In March, April, May, and June
This change may come in any month, including the Spring and early Summer.
July, August, September, soon
It could occur in the mid to late Summer as well.
He might replace the old with the moon
Emphasizing how your son's goals could completely change your life.
It could be October
This change could come later in the year, around Autumn.
November, or even December
Further emphasizing how this change could take place anytime in the year's end.
So in January and February remember
Even after waiting through the entire year, the change could still happen at any time.
He might replace the old with the moon
Once more emphasizing the gravity of the situation.
He might replace the old quite soon
The change could happen at any moment.
Contributed by Ruby S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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