Wire are an English rock band formed in London in 1976 — Colin Newman, Graham Lewis, Bruce Gilbert, and Robert Gotobed. They came out of punk and immediately outgrew it: Pink Flag (1977), Chairs Missing (1978), and 154 (1979) remain the sharpest opening run in post-punk. Explore Wire vinyl, CDs, and reissues at Wax Trax Records.
Wire formed in London, England in 1976. The classic lineup is Colin Newman (vocals, guitar), Graham Lewis (bass, vocals), Bruce Gilbert (guitar), and Robert Gotobed (Robert Grey, drums). Emerging amid the first wave of British punk, Wire rapidly developed a far more conceptual and experimental approach, becoming one of the most influential and forward-thinking bands of the post-punk era. They have reunited and recorded in multiple phases across the decades.
Wire are renowned for their minimalist, art-driven take on punk and post-punk, with terse song structures, abstract lyrics, and a restless willingness to experiment, incorporating art rock, ambient, and electronic elements. Their influence on post-punk, alternative, and indie music, from hardcore to art rock, is extensively documented despite limited commercial success.
Wire's first three albums have been reissued in remastered and expanded editions, and original Harvest pressings are highly collected. Their influence and catalog longevity make their pressings of strong interest to post-punk collectors.
Listeners new to Wire almost always start with Pink Flag (1977). For related listening, see and .
