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.
Two People In A Room
Wire Lyrics
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Facial movements betray
A private display
Of nervous disorder
And mutual torture
Two people in a room
Bloody image is conjured
The weapons are chosen
But the action is frozen
Two people in a room
Positions are shifted
The ceasefire uplifted
The lighting is fierce
It's intended to pierce
Any cloak of deceit
And encourage retreat
And God they're so gifted
My God they're so gifted
The song "Two People in a Room" by Wire presents a vivid description of a tense and uncomfortable situation between two individuals who share the same space. The lyrics suggest that these two people are struggling with some internal turmoil, evidenced by their facial movements and nervous behavior. The piece suggests that the situation is so uncomfortable that it has become a form of mutual torture for both parties.
As the song progresses, it becomes clear that this situation is not physical, but rather an internal conflict. The weapons mentioned are not literal, but instead represent words and thoughts that they are unable or unwilling to express. The verse "positions are shifted" implies that the two are attempting to maintain some distance, but the cease-fire is broken as they are forced to face each other. The lighting mentioned in the final verse suggests a harsh, uncomfortable environment that is intended to expose any deception or falsehood present. Despite the unpleasantness of the situation, the singer recognizes that the two individuals are talented or gifted in some way, which adds a layer of complexity to their relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Two people in a room
There are two individuals present in a physical enclosure
Facial movements betray
The expressions on their faces reveal their inner feelings
A private display
Their emotional outbursts are only visible to each other
Of nervous disorder
They suffer from an anxiety disorder
And mutual torture
Their interactions cause pain or distress to both parties
Bloody image is conjured
Their conflict leads to violent imagery being imagined
But no one is injured
There is no physical harm inflicted on either of them
The weapons are chosen
They have selected methods to use against each other
But the action is frozen
They are unable or unwilling to act on their desires
Positions are shifted
They move around within the room
The ceasefire uplifted
An unofficial agreement to avoid conflict has ended
The lighting is fierce
The brightness of the lighting is intense and harsh
It's intended to pierce
The lighting is meant to cut through any deceit or pretense
Any cloak of deceit
Any efforts to hide the truth are exposed
And encourage retreat
The lighting creates a sense of discomfort or vulnerability
And God they're so gifted
The individuals possess a remarkable talent for conflict and drama
My God they're so gifted
The artist is impressed by their abilities despite the negative situation
Contributed by Dylan B. 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