Wire to play debut Preston gig

The UK punk and post punk pioneers, led by singer Colin Newman, and still featuring two other original members Graham Lewis, and Robert Grey, finally break their Preston duck after 36 years on Friday, August 16 at the city’s New Continental pub.

They burst on to the scene in 1977 with debut album, Pink Flag, still hailed as one of the most original to come from the first wave of UK punk.

But creative tensions have always made Wire an explosive environment and, over the years, there have been many solo albums and tours.

Indeed, they became more or less an occasional collaboration throughout most of the 1990s before fully reforming in 1999

In 2011, they released their 12th studio album, Red Barked Tree - and on release day, they introduced “new boy” guitarist Matt Simms, ex of It Hugs Back, who had toured with them since 2010. Tickets are £17 from the Continental on 01772 499 425.