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.
Clay
Wire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Adopting styles that seem inbred
We're made of lead
Stay on the pace
Recoup the loot, avoid, disgrace
Sink without trace
It's a hoot
Hit the marker, end dispute
Marking time
Laying boundaries out in lime
A life of crime
Drift away
Never find the urge to play
We're made of clay
It's a hoot
Hit the marker, end dispute
Even if that point is moot
It's a hoot
Even if that point is moot
Run ahead and blindly shoot
Phasing in
Wondering when it's time to begin
The chances thin
Emptied out
No doubt it will end in a rout
We lack the clout
It's a hoot
Run ahead and blindly shoot
Hit the marker, end dispute
Even if that point is moot
Run ahead and blindly shoot
The lyrics of Wire's song "Clay" seem to be a commentary on conformity and the loss of individuality. The first stanza talks about adopting styles that seem inbred, indicating a lack of originality and a tendency to follow the crowd. The repetition of the phrase "we're made of" suggests a sense of powerlessness, as if one's identity is predetermined and inescapable. The line "recoup the loot, avoid disgrace, sink without trace" seems to be urging the listener to prioritize financial success over personal morality, and to be willing to disappear or compromise oneself in order to achieve it.
The chorus, with its repeated phrase "it's a hoot, run ahead and blindly shoot," continues this theme of mindless conformity and reckless abandon. The line "hit the marker, end dispute" reinforces the idea that success is achieved by following a prescribed path, without questioning the rules or considering alternative viewpoints. The second stanza, with lines like "laying boundaries out in lime, a life of crime," reinforces the idea that conformist behavior is essentially criminal, as it represents a violation of one's true nature. The phrase "we're made of clay" adds an element of futility and impermanence to the song's overall message, suggesting that our identities are fragile, malleable, and easily molded by outside forces.
Line by Line Meaning
Turning red
Feeling embarrassed or ashamed.
Adopting styles that seem inbred
Following predictable or habitual behaviors without originality or uniqueness.
We're made of lead
Weighed down by heavy burdens or unable to move forward easily.
Stay on the pace
Keep up with the expectations and demands of society.
Recoup the loot, avoid, disgrace
Regain what was lost, prevent any further negative consequences.
Sink without trace
Disappear unnoticed or unacknowledged.
It's a hoot
It's amusing or entertaining.
Run ahead and blindly shoot
Act impulsively and without caution.
Hit the marker, end dispute
Achieve a definitive outcome or resolution.
Marking time
Passing time without making progress or advancing.
Laying boundaries out in lime
Establishing limits or restrictions with clarity.
A life of crime
A situation or lifestyle involving unlawful activities.
Drift away
Disappear gradually, without clear intention or purpose.
Never find the urge to play
Lack motivation or desire to engage in lighthearted or playful activities.
We're made of clay
We are easily molded or influenced by external factors.
Phasing in
Entering a new phase or perspective.
Wondering when it's time to begin
Feeling uncertain or hesitant about initiating something new.
The chances thin
The probability of success becomes increasingly low or unlikely.
Emptied out
Depleted or drained of energy, resources, or emotion.
No doubt it will end in a rout
There is a strong likelihood of failure or defeat.
We lack the clout
We do not have enough influence or power to make a significant impact.
Contributed by Vivian P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
John McInnis
My lil blessing of a son is just overflowing with all this wondrous creativity. Couple days ago he presents to me a tiny hand made of his non-drying clay... It came out SO good.
Now im researching for a neat idea for him and i to do together. Gonna make our own action figures with wire and baking clay that has articulating limbs and so on! Its pretty exciting 😄
꧁༒ Wolfy Cs SniperEye ༒꧂
great video! even though it's an amateur skeleton, it works perfectly, currently making a sculpture of the goddess Hecate, the video helped alot! 👍🏻💜
christine naylor
I enjoyed the finished armateur, however could I just say that I had trouble following some of it because of the angle of the camera.... thank you for posting
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ok so i tried to make my own armature by eye cause i didnt know how many cm i had to cut just now and HOLY SHIT I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH THIS IS THE BEST TUTORIAL EVER TY SO MUUUUUCH!!! AAAA
Alex Skene
What length was the wire? Thanks
Who Why
Really enjoyed watching this :) thank you.
Kike Heeb, Chink, jigaboo
What the gauge of the aluminum wire?
bopbopbeebop
I used gauge 18 in here
Noam 🎼
Just use the plier wire cutter on the tool instead of bending to break it
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thanks! but how many centimeters? im confused 🥺