This inventive UK post punk band was formed in October 1976 by Colin Newman (b. 16 September 1954, Salisbury, Wiltshire, England; vocals/guitar), Bruce Gilbert (b. 18 May 1946, Watford, Hertfordshire, England; guitar), Graham Lewis (b. 22 February 1953, Grantham, Lincolnshire, England; bass/vocals) and Robert Gotobed (b. Mark Field, 1951, Leicester, England; drums) along with lead guitarist George Gill - the latter member had previously been a member of the Snakes, releasing a single on the Skydog label, while the rest of Wire all had art school backgrounds. Their early work was clearly influenced by punk and this incipient era was captured on a various artists live selection, The Roxy, London, WC2, their first recording as a four-piece following Gill's dismissal. Although not out of place among equally virulent company, the band was clearly more ambitious than many contemporaries.

Listen to The Wire at Finetune.

• (2008)  ...and all the pieces matter, Five Years of Music from The Wire
• (2008)  Beyond Hamsterdam, Baltimore Tracks from The Wire

• Way Down in the Hole
• The Fall
• Fast Train
• "Later for that gangsta bullshit"
• "Omar comin"

• Rihanna
• Destiny's Child
• The Roots (Rap)
• Rolling Stones
• The Proclaimers
• The Pogues
• A Tribe Called Quest
• Radiohead
• Mary J. Blige
• Rosemary Clooney
• D'Angelo
• Ella Fitzgerald
• Bob Dylan
• Van Morrison
• Prince
• The Waterboys
• Lauryn Hill
• Johnny Cash
• Wu-Tang Clan
• Lil' Kim

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