Photo by Paula Court
Photo by Paula Court
WIRE was formed in 1976 by Bruce Gilbert (guitar), Robert Gotobed (drums), Graham Lewis (bass, vocals) and Colin Newman (guitar, vocals). Mannequin, that year which appeared in their debut album Pink Flag and their second album Chairs Missing were released in 1978. In 1979, Wire supported Roxy Music on a European tour when their album, 154 was released. 154 featured the incendiary A Touching Display and I Should Have Known Better, Document and Eyewitness were released in 1981, and re-released in 1991. Colin Newman’s first solo album was A-Z and in addition to his own work, Newman also produced the Raging Souls, whose singer Malka Spigel, became Newman’s wife. Meanwhile Gilbert and Lewis worked together as Dome. The seeds of a Wire reunion were sown when Newman returned from India in 1984, and contacted Gilbert and Lewis. After just three days of rehearsal, all four Wire men appeared at the concert performing new songs like A Serious Of Snakes and Drill. Wire began 1988 with the release of the Kidney Bingos. And Eardrum Buzz hit the charts in 1989, and the buzz continued into 1990 with the release of the Manscape album. It was to herald the end of anther Wire era and the beginning of a new chapter for Newman, Lewis, and Gilbert. Despite the enthusiasm the band members felt for the possibilities of Wire, this was to be the last time to date Newman, Gilbert, and Lewis recorded together. All three returned to pursuing solo projects. Ironically, Wire were not to remain ignored for long and their music crashed back into the charts in 1995. Wire reformed for a final gig in 1996.