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.
Used To
Wire Lyrics
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And the body walks away?
You used to know
Does nausea ensue when you chance upon a memory of someone
You used to know?
Does warmth increase when the pulse is strong?
But the response is weak?
You used to know
I just lay down guidelines in front of me
It's similar to the things
You do to me
Does the pain remain when the head is turned
And the body walks away?
You used to know
Does nausea ensue when you chance upon a memory of someone
You used to know?
Does warmth increase when the pulse is strong
But the response is weak?
You used to know
I'll give you an example
Typically
It's less complicated than it simply
Should be
The lyrics in Wire's song Used To explore the idea of the emotional residue left behind after a relationship has ended. The opening lines ask whether or not the hurt remains even when both physical and emotional distance has been established. The verse goes on to pose a series of rhetorical questions about the various physical and emotional reactions one might experience when encountering memories of a past relationship. The chorus brings the song back to the original theme, with repetition of the earlier queries. The final lines of the second verse offer a more concrete example of the emotions being explored, with the singer explaining that they are setting boundaries for themselves in order to protect their own emotional well-being.
Throughout the song, the lyrics describe the emotional complexity of trying to move on from a past love, highlighting the ways in which memories can linger even when it makes rational sense to let go. The use of rhetorical questions and the repetition of the chorus emphasize the cyclical nature of these emotional reactions.
Line by Line Meaning
Does the pain remain when the head is turned
Does the feeling of hurt continue even when you try to ignore it?
And the body walks away?
Even when you physically leave a situation, do the painful emotions still linger?
You used to know
You were once familiar with these feelings and situations.
Does nausea ensue when you chance upon a memory of someone
Is the recollection of a particular person so strong that it makes you feel physically ill?
You used to know?
You have experienced this before, but are you still affected by it?
Does warmth increase when the pulse is strong?
Do positive feelings intensify when the situation seems promising?
But the response is weak?
But then you realize that the outcome may not be what you hoped for.
You used to know
You have experienced these conflicting emotions before.
I just lay down guidelines in front of me
I establish basic rules to follow in order to avoid past mistakes.
It's similar to the things
These guidelines are comparable to actions taken in the past to avoid heartache.
You do to me
Your actions in the past have also caused me pain and turmoil.
I'll give you an example
I will illustrate my point with a specific instance.
Typically
This is a common occurrence for me.
It's less complicated than it simply
It seems complicated, but it really isn't.
Should be
Ideally, it would be less difficult to navigate these emotions and avoid discomfort.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BRUCE CLIFFORD GILBERT, GRAHAM LEWIS
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