Wire Members, Gear & Sound
UK rock band
Members
Select a Wire band member to check out the music gear they use live and in the studio.
About
Wire is a seminal English rock band that emerged from the post-punk scene in London in 1976. Originally composed of Colin Newman (vocals, guitar), Bruce Gilbert (guitar), Graham Lewis (bass, vocals), and Robert Grey, also known as Robert Gotobed (drums), the group is renowned for their innovative approach to genre, seamlessly weaving together elements of post-punk, art rock, and experimental rock. Over their extensive career, Wire has continually reinvented themselves, influencing a wide array of musical genres and providing a blueprint for the post-punk revival movements that followed.
How to Sound Like Wire
Wire's sound is marked by its angular guitar work and minimalist yet powerful arrangements, often creating a tense and driving atmosphere that is both melodic and dissonant. The band's music frequently employs the crisp, articulate tones of a Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus amplifier, which complements their penchant for using effects like the Malekko Chorus Effects Pedal to add layers of texture and depth. Their rhythm section provides a pulsating yet restrained backbone, using the Tech 21 SansAmp Bass Driver to deliver a punchy, defined bass tone that interlocks seamlessly with the tight, precise drumming. Wire's approach thrives on the interplay between structured forms and abstract soundscapes, making their music a compelling study in contrasts.
Discography
Pink Flag (2006 Remastered Version)
1977
Chairs Missing (2006 Remastered Version)
1978
154 (2006 Remastered Version)
1979
The Ideal Copy
1987
A Bell Is a Cup Until It Is Struck
1988
It's Beginning to and Back Again
1988
Manscape
1990
The Drill
1991
Send
2003
pf456 redux
2003
WIRE On The Box: 1979 (Live - 2024 Remastered)
2004
WIRE: The Scottish Play: 2004
2005
Live At The Roxy, London (1977) / Live At CBGB Theatre, New York (1978) [70's live DBL]
2006
Object 47
2008
Send Ultimate
2010
Red Barked Tree
2011
The Black Session - Paris, 10 May 2011
2012
Change Becomes Us
2013
Document & Eyewitness 1979-1980
2014
Wire
2015
Nocturnal Koreans
2016
Silver / Lead
2017
Not About To Die (Studio Demos 1977-1978)
2018
Mind Hive
2020
10:20
2020
Nine Sevens
2025
Get the Wire Sound
Want to sound like Wire? This gear comes straight from the setups of the band's members, based on proven sources. Dive into each artist's page for more detail and inspiration.