Congrats, you're in the club ;) Wire is an important and influential band however, it gained very little of acclaim they actually deserved. In particular, it was one of the favorite bands that the California hardcore scene was modeling on. The bands there also reached for elements of jazz, jazz solutions and chords - especially Saccharine Trust. It was a laboratory where work on a new language of rock music was carried out, not everyone appreciates it: D And after all - this is probably their best song. If you want some more from them, check a duo named DOME (Gilbert + Lewis) and Colin Newman's solo LPs.
Jack Bruce, Phil Lesh, John Entwistle, Noel Redding, and whoever else can eat their fxcking hearts out. That's the greatest bass solo in the history of rock, now and forever.
My introduction to this song was in the summer of 1981, I was tripping face for the first time in ten years and this was on a college radio station. It was a great re-induction into the scented worlds of acid.
I'm getting a very early Radiohead complexity with so much of Wire music. I still adore it all these years later. I was 18 and now I'm 67. It is art in music and will always be so, and thus, like all great music, will never date.
Still Amazing 30 + years on. Funny I always thought the epic sounds at the end were guitar , not bass. more reason why Wire were and are Awesome. Thanks for posting.
Yes, to address the confusion below - the onscreen title "Former Airline" is actually the brief, thrashy piece they perform in between the previous number, "40 Versions" and this song here, "A Touching Display". To my ears, the beginning of "A Touching Display" does kind of sound like a jet engine, so I can kind of see why the folks at Rockpalast got confused. :-)
Music that firmly lodges itself in your subconscious. I hadn't realized that was all bass.
It has deeply effected me.
I really don't understand why I had to find this band during school work. Seriously, this is fucking great, and nobody really seems to know about it.
we did at the time as did many bands influenced henceforth, when you know what to listen for
david bowie was a big fan
Congrats, you're in the club ;)
Wire is an important and influential band however, it gained very little of acclaim they actually deserved.
In particular, it was one of the favorite bands that the California hardcore scene was modeling on. The bands there also reached for elements of jazz, jazz solutions and chords - especially Saccharine Trust. It was a laboratory where work on a new language of rock music was carried out, not everyone appreciates it: D
And after all - this is probably their best song.
If you want some more from them, check a duo named DOME (Gilbert + Lewis) and Colin Newman's solo LPs.
Jack Bruce, Phil Lesh, John Entwistle, Noel Redding, and whoever else can eat their fxcking hearts out. That's the greatest bass solo in the history of rock, now and forever.
"deadpan" would not suffice to describe that look.
hats off to the band for their performance.
My introduction to this song was in the summer of 1981, I was tripping face for the first time in ten years and this was on a college radio station. It was a great re-induction into the scented worlds of acid.
this is like heavy metal without the metal. it´s just fucking heavy!
I'm getting a very early Radiohead complexity with so much of Wire music. I still adore it all these years later. I was 18 and now I'm 67. It is art in music and will always be so, and thus, like all great music, will never date.
This is the best stage lighting in any rock & roll show I've ever seen. VERY theatrical.
I agree so much
154 is the epitome
I was amazed and intrigued when this video came up as a suggested video 3 months after I cut a video to it. Now I'm just amazed!
Still Amazing 30 + years on. Funny I always thought the epic sounds at the end were guitar , not bass. more reason why Wire were and are Awesome. Thanks for posting.
A música mais introspectiva e gótica do disco 154!
Totally agree, I thought it was a work of genius back in the day
Absolutely fantastic!
Love the light show. Looks like something from The Terminator.
Priceless. Thanks very much benfox for the post.
I fucking LOVE the feedback at the end from the guitar and bass.
Esta mierda es increible, tiene sonidos de Heavy Metal y Post Rock. Wire unos genios infravalorados
la cagó que si
OH yeah, his voice.
Epic display omg hell yes
Yes, to address the confusion below - the onscreen title "Former Airline" is actually the brief, thrashy piece they perform in between the previous number, "40 Versions" and this song here, "A Touching Display".
To my ears, the beginning of "A Touching Display" does kind of sound like a jet engine, so I can kind of see why the folks at Rockpalast got confused. :-)
brilliant
154 really was a great album. Wasn't that the one that Stipe loved? And Sonic Youth?
@SecondsToLast
I personally think that 154 is the most accomplished Wire record.
And believe me, I've heard them all.
5:05
Oh dear. Colin just broke.
genius. yes. 154.
yes, that bass solo... sounds like the cocteaus. btw, working title of "Should have known better" was "I should have used butter".
benfox: Do you know if this show is available for purchase anywhere? It's incredible! I really appreciate your posting these here, BTW. Thanks!
colins view at 2:00 is unbeatable
It doesn't seem to be 30 years old ... :-)
when was this?
This is not "Former Airline", it's "A touching display"
Yeah, I know. Don't worry ;)
ok sorry but it was written on the video...
hilarity ensues @ 1:58 ... look @ Colin !
"Former Airline" LMAO