Gang of Four are perhaps one of the greatest bands ever!
 

This thread is very much for real.

I'm loving these guys.

They're good, I used to be really big into their first two albums many years ago, tried to pull them out recently and was bored to tears by Entertainment!... on the other hand, Solid Gold is fucking amazing, containing some of the darkest production I've ever heard. Solid Gold is an essential recording...

I think that, looking at all their work, they were pretty damn inconsistent, but they feature some of the best lyrics AND some of the best guitar work ever. So, yeah, they're worth checking out for everyone who hasn't. And, seriously, let me reiterate.. I usually don't care much about lyrics, but some of their lyrics are fucking amazing. "this heaven gives me ME-GRAINES" is ace.

Yes, I love that line.

Steve Albini I assume is/was very influenced by these guys. Shellacs guitar sound is indentical not to mention the 'riffage' and general songwriting.

You can hear alot of bands influenced by these guys actualy.

See, I never really thought about that, until I read an interview with Alex Newport where he talking about THeory of Ruin, and he said that a lot of people said that they sounded like Shellac ripoffs... and he said "If anything, I think we both sound like Gang of Four."

I also saw on that "Ask Steve Albini a question" thing, Steve lists Gang of Four as one of his major influences... and I think excellent italian greyhound, specifically "Be Prepared" has obvious Gang of Four homages...

Gang of Four had some really awesome EP's early in their career, I haven't listened to those in years.. there is some point where I was listening to Gang of Four, their album after their 3rd full length where it was just shit though.. I won't be pulling THAT one out..

So I was right, Albini is influenced by them. That's cool. I always wondered what Albini was influenced by as Shellac are pretty unique. Sometimes you forget even the greats have idols.

Albinis fave bands growing up were The Stooges, the Ramones, Television, Suicide, Wire, Public Image Ltd. (PiL) and Killing Joke., at least thats what his wikipedia article says, all of which are great bands by the way, albini has some of the best taste in the history of rock n roll, for some reason lookin at that list of bands makes me really anxious to wanna start gettin serious about making music and starting a band, for the past 6 months all ive been doing is studying, working, and occasionally playing my guitar, last band in i left cuz all we did was get fucked up together and i just couldnt deal

I saw them live last year, and they were so fucking on it. They obviously didn't overindulge in drugs back in the day, because they are in good enough shape to pull off all of the old tunes while bouncing all over the place and not missing a note. Andy's voice is still in perfect shape too.

I always took for granted they were one of Albini's biggest influences. You can hear it all over Racer X even more than on Shellac albums.

I didn't see them on the tour last time when they came through. :(

I've actually grown to like some of the latter pre-breakup stuff, Songs Of The Free is pretty damn good, IMO. And Is It Love? from Hard is one of my favorite songs of theirs.

The reunion tour fucking rocked CHOUT. I'd say they are just as good as SY live.

I was about 10 feet from the microwave Jon King was smashing during He'd Send The Army. It was amazing.

gang of four are quite good. they can play well. they deserve recognition of their work...

i stand back now and applaud them on their achievements!

Andy Gill dead at 64



1981 Live at Zagreb

Goddamn motherfucking shit. One of my favorite musicians ever - in addition to his technical talent, he was a guy with the GUTS to STOP PLAYING for a bit when the song didn't need any bullshit filigrees. I miss him already.

Incidentally, his namesake the music critic Andy Gill died in June last year. They don't make 'em like them anymore: https://i.imgur.com/avQSJHw.jpg

Shit. :(

damn

RIP.

Ivan Kral passed away too yesterday.

WHAT? Jesus mother of fuck I can't stand these times... :mad::(

https://news.google.com/topics/CAAqJAgKIh5DQkFTRUFvS0wyMHZNREYwWnpBMk1CSUNaVzRvQU FQAQ?hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US%3Aen

lovely to come back here and see a thread with Adam Cooley involved.