Wire

Wire is an English rock band formed in London in October 1976 by Colin Newman (vocals, guitar), Graham Lewis (bass, vocals), Bruce Gilbert (guitar), George Gill (lead guitar), and Robert Grey (drums). The band played their first proper show at London's Roxy club on April 1, 1977, and quickly signed to EMI's Harvest label, which released their debut album, Pink Flag, that December. Their sound moved from raucous early punk on Pink Flag to a more complex style with more guitar effects and synthesizers on Chairs Missing (1978) and 154 (1979). After a hiatus starting in 1980, they returned in the mid-'80s with a more electronic approach, went quiet again until 2000, and then founded their own label, pinkflag. Gilbert later left and was eventually replaced by Matthew Simms.