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.
Dead Weight
Wire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Even triumphs turn to pain as they disappear
Strategies are all fine and good if they play out well
But you might be better off with a wishing well
Buried in a distant forest
Chapters lost and then retrieved
All the unheard answers fly
Simple acts of faith can become a strategy
Elegance of considered thought leading to synergy
Create new pathways between the hemispheres of the brain
An unlikely path that might just keep you sane
The song Dead Weight by Wire is a reflection on the uncertainties of life and the risks that we take. The opening lines caution us that any risk we take has the potential to end in tears, even if we triumph initially, the pain of the aftermath can be unavoidable. It is clear that the singer is referring to the difficulties that arise from making bold moves and taking risks, and the sometimes-unpredictable outcomes. They suggest that sometimes, the safer bet is to throw coins into a wishing well rather than take the risk and experience the aftermath of a potential failure.
As the song progresses, the singer goes on to describe the quest for knowledge and the lengths we go to obtain it. They suggest that sometimes, we may need to retreat deep into a metaphorical forest to discover the answers to our questions. The chorus describes how knowledge and potential answers to our questions seem to elude us, like butterflies that flit out of sight the moment we approach them. Finally, the song suggests that a strategy born from a simple act of faith can often yield the best results. That considered thought can lead to enlightenment, and that we must search for unlikely paths that might keep us sane.
Line by Line Meaning
Every risk you take could end in a thousand tears
No matter how carefully calculated, taking risks can lead to emotional pain and disappointment
Even triumphs turn to pain as they disappear
The joy of success is often fleeting and can quickly be replaced with the sorrow of loss
Strategies are all fine and good if they play out well
Having a plan is great, but success is not always guaranteed and failure can hurt
But you might be better off with a wishing well
Sometimes it's better to rely on luck and chance rather than strategy and planning
Buried in a distant forest
Lost and forgotten in a remote and obscure place
Chapters lost and then retrieved
Experience gained from past mistakes and failures can be regained and used to improve future outcomes
All the unheard answers fly
Solutions and insights that could solve problems are overlooked or ignored
Glide like butterflies
The potential solutions and insights are delicate and fleeting, and must be caught quickly and with care
Simple acts of faith can become a strategy
Believing in oneself and one's abilities can be a powerful foundation for a plan of action
Elegance of considered thought leading to synergy
Taking the time to carefully and creatively consider a problem can result in innovative and effective solutions
Create new pathways between the hemispheres of the brain
Approaching a problem with a flexible and open mind, combining logic and creativity, can lead to breakthrough ideas
An unlikely path that might just keep you sane
Taking a unique and uncommon approach to a problem might be the only way to stay calm and rational in a difficult situation
Writer(s): wire, colin newman
Contributed by Nathaniel T. 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