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.
Ex Lion Tamer
Wire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For the loneliest ranger in town
No silver bullets (bullets)
Tonto's split the scene
Next week will solve your problems
But now
Fish fingers all in a line
Stay glued to your T.V. set (T.V.)
There's great danger
And most caped crusader of all
No cloak of justice
Robin's quit the scene
Next week will solve your problems
But now
Fish fingers all in a line
The milk bottles stand empty
Stay glued to your T.V. set (T.V.)
(T.V.) stay glued to your T.V. set (T.V.) oh, oh
(T.V.) stay glued to your T.V. set (T.V.) oh, oh
(T.V.) stay glued to your T.V. set (T.V.) oh, oh
(T.V.) stay glued to your T.V. set (T.V.) oh, oh
(T.V.) stay glued to your T.V. set (T.V.) oh, why don't ya, don't ya, don't ya
(T.V.) stay glued to your T.V. set (T.V.)
(T.V.) stay glued to your T.V. set (T.V.) oh, why don't ya, don't ya, don't ya
(T.V.) stay glued to that and your T.V. set (T.V.)
The lyrics of the song Ex Lion Tamer appear to be a commentary on the cultural obsession with television and its impact on society. The first stanza warns of danger for the "loneliest ranger in town," who may be vulnerable without the protection of silver bullets and the support of Tonto and Robin who have "split the scene." The next stanza suggests that although there may be solutions to current problems in the future, for now, people are distracted by mindless activities like eating fish fingers and watching television. The line "The milk bottles stand empty" could also be interpreted as a reference to the decline of traditional milk delivery and the rise of processed food consumption.
The repetition of the line "Stay glued to your T.V. set" emphasizes the theme of detachment and disconnection from reality that comes with overconsumption of media. The absence of any hope or action in the lyrics suggests a certain resigned acceptance of this state of affairs. However, the urgency of the repeated command to stay glued to the TV set implies a fear of what may happen if people were to try to engage with the real world.
Overall, Wire's Ex Lion Tamer is an ominous and cautionary tale about the cultural impact of television and the danger of becoming too consumed by its distractions.
Line by Line Meaning
There's great danger
The situation is dangerous
For the loneliest ranger in town
Even the most isolated person is at risk
No silver bullets
There is no easy solution
Tonto's split the scene
Even the loyal companion has left
Next week will solve your problems
The future is promised to be better
But now
Currently
Fish fingers all in a line
Every option is the same
The milk bottles stand empty
There is nothing left
Stay glued to your T.V. set (T.V.)
Distract yourself with entertainment
And most caped crusader of all
Even the most heroic person is vulnerable
No cloak of justice
There is no protection
Robin's quit the scene
Even the faithful partner has left
(T.V.) stay glued to your T.V. set (T.V.) oh, oh
The repetition emphasizes the distractions of television
(T.V.) stay glued to that and your T.V. set (T.V.)
The singer encourages the listener to continue watching TV as a form of escape
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BRUCE GILBERT, ROBERT GOTOBED, GRAHAM LEWIS, COLIN NEWMAN
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