The Seven Commandments of art punk: Wire’s rules of negative self-definition, 1977
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Written by Tara McGinley | Discussion
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I spent a fair amount of the holidays rediscovering the timeless genius of Wire’s late 70’s punk/post punk/art rock triptych of Pink Flag
This 1979 set for the German TV series RockPalast, taped between Chairs Missing
and 154
1 Intro + Another The letter
2 The 15th
3 Practice Makes Perfect
4 Two People In A Room
5 I Feel Mysterious Today
6 Being Sucked In Again
7 Once Is Enough
8 Blessed State
9 A Question of Degree
10 Single KO
11 Mercy
12 Forty Versions
13 Former Airline
14 French Film Blurred
15 Men 2nd
16 Map Ref. 41°N 93°W
17 Heartbeat
18 Pink Flag (encore)
From the looks of things, the audience of long-haired German stoners had no idea what had just hit them!
Chuck Berry & Debbie Harry.
Chuck Berry interviewed by punk zine Jet Lag in 1980. Berry shares his thoughts about “what the kids are listening to these days.”
The Sex Pistols’ “God Save the Queen”:
What’s this guy so angry about anyway? Guitar work and progression is like mine. Good backbeat. Can’t understand most of the vocals. If you’re going to be mad at least let the people know what you’re mad about.
The Clash’s “Complete Control”:
Sounds like the first one. The rhythm and chording work well together. Did this guy have a sore throat when he sang the vocals?
The Ramones’ “Sheena is a Punk Rocker”:
A good little jump number. These guys remind me of myself when I first started, I only knew three chords too.
The Romantics’ “What I Like About You”:
Finally something you can dance to. Sounds a lot like the sixties with some of my riffs thrown in for good measure. You say this is new? I’ve heard this stuff plenty of times. I can’t understand the big fuss.
Talking Heads’ “Psycho Killer”:
A funky little number, that’s for sure. I like the bass a lot. Good mixture and a real good flow. The singer sounds like he has a bad case of stage fright.
Wire’s “I Am the Fly” and Joy Division’s Unknown Pleasures:
So this is the so-called new stuff. It’s nothing I ain’t heard before. It sounds like an old blues jam that BB and Muddy would carry on backstage at the old amphitheatre in Chicago. The instruments may be different but the experiment’s the same.
Click here to see larger image.
Click here to see larger image.
H/T WFMU and Music Ruined My Life
Here’s a clip of Suzanne Somers guest hosting The Late Show (subbing for Joan Rivers after she was fired) in 1987.
The musical guests that night? Wire.
Suzanne Somers: “You’re sorta a far-out kinda group, you know?”
Bruce Gilbert: “Ummm, I doubt it.”
With thanks to Todd Phillips!
Check out this Illuminoid sunspot blitzkreig courtesy of Gary War, from the “Horribles Parade” LP (Sacred Bones Records 2009). #23 in The WIRE’s Top 50 of 2009.
