Wire

Following a series of low key (and not so low key) performances culminating in 3 “exclusive, sold out weeks in advance” nights in intimate venues (Quietus curated, NME gig of the week at the Lexington … , London & Audioscope Festival in Oxford) Wire’s core trio of Colin Newman, Graham Lewis & Robert Grey augmented by new live guitarist Matt Simms will be bringing their brand of what Clash calls, “musical history in the making” to a bigger audience in support of their forthcoming album “Red Barked Tree” (Jan 10th 2011). During the first 4 months of 2011 the band will play in 16 countries on 3 continents kicking off with an album launch at The Rough Trade East Store and finishing at a location in North America we cannot for the moment reveal.

Since their formation in London in 1976, the members of Wire have maintained and advanced a musical project which treats the creative potential of a rock band as a fluid, amorphous medium. As removed from self-conscious intellectualism as they are from the inherent conservatism of much rock music, Wire employ their unique, endlessly restless and risk-taking creativity to question every aspect of songwriting, recording and performance. They delight and disturb in equal measure, troubleshooting the circuitry of perfect pop, or patrolling the limits of focused experimentalism. In terms of working together as Wire, the group’s members disbanded in 1980, reformed in 1985, disbanded in 1992 and reformed for the second time in 2000. Such sabbaticals from their career as Wire have served to sharpen the group’s edge and focus, updating the tactics with which they pursue this shared project.