Gang of Four is one of the most radical, and radically important, rock groups of the last 30 years.

 

“More than anything, Gang of Four were about visceral, high energy, maximum impact rock’n’roll. They made you dance and they made you sweat just as they made you think. That exclamation mark at the end of the title of their 1979 debut album Entertainment! – incidentally, one of the greatest debut albums ever made; in fact, one of the greatest long-playing records, period – was no accident or sleight of design. Economic, emotional, political, musical – and yet it remains as true, as resonant, as relevant, as universally applicable three decades on as it was the day it was released.” Q Magazine

 

Formed in Leeds in 1976, Gang of Four first performed in May 1977. All the big bands that followed, the Chili Peppers, INXS, Massive Attack, Alice in chains, Faith no more, Rage against the machine, R.E.M., U2, have spoken of their debt to Gang of Four but in more recent years, the band’s influence has become almost universal with the emergence of post-punk influenced bands such as the Rapture, Radio 4, Futureheads, NineInchNails,!!!, Interpol, Franz Ferdinand, BlocParty, LCD Soundsystem and MGMT.

 

 

The band is led by guitarist, songwriter and vocalist Andy Gill, widely acclaimed as an innovator and much copied around the world. Gill also produced most of Gang of Four's output, including the 2006 album Return The Gift and 2011’s critically acclaimed album Content. That was followed by the Gill produced ‘What Happens Next?’ featuring performances by Alison Mosshart, Herbert Groenemeyer and Hotei. Gill has also produced albums for many other artists including the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Jesus Lizard, the Stranglers, the Futureheads, Michael Hutchence and Bono, Therapy?, Regurgitator, The Young Knives and Killing Joke. His most recent production work was in Beijing recording Chinese rock band AV Okubo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Andy Gill (guitar and vocals) continues to provide the anguished riffs and driving chords that send extraordinary singer and lyricist Gaoler diving and contorting across the stage. They are joined in the studio and on stage by bass player Thomas Mcneice and drummer Tobias Humble.

 

The band always sounded years ahead of their time and now this is their moment, with a host of new imitators and emulators, and a fanbase swelled by new adherents.