Catalyzed by the passing of founding guitarist Andy Gill in 2020, Gang Of Four reformed their almost-original lineup in 2022 for a legacy-celebrating world tour to coincide with the 77-81 box set. They have since declared that 2025 will be the year they say farewell, with one more North American tour slated for next year (their previous Toronto date was canceled day of on account of an exploding van, so I’m looking forward to the final/make-up date next April) and a remastered reissue of their third album, 1982’s Songs Of The Free, out today.
Songs Of The Free isn’t feted to the same degree as it’s predecessors, but it’s still a good record with some great songs, and if you’re going to be selective in your Gang Of Four education but want to move beyond Entertainment!, you need to go at least this far.
There aren’t any official videos from the release, but the band’s appearance on BBC’s The Old Grey Whistle Test in May of 1982 is a great stand-in. They’ve released remastered versions of both songs performed – “Call Me Up” and “I Love A Man In Uniform” – but an older clip was also posted by Heather Mair Thomas, one of the backup singers, with this important bit of context:
Sara Lee (bass), Eddi Reader and I each wore my dad’s old suits and didn’t spare the eyeliner or pink highlighter… (I loved that haircut)
Heather Mair Thomas
Gang of Four: Live: Call Me Up and I Love a Man in a Uniform. BBC The Old Grey Whistle Test 1982 @ YouTube
There’s also a little press around the band’s appearance at Austin, Texas’ Levitation fest next month:
The Off Beat: Gang of Four’s World Is Still Not Made by Great Men @ The Austin Chronicle
And BBC chose to celebrate the greatness of Entertainment! earlier this month because why not
