Gang of Four, page 1 of 2

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Guitarist Andy Gill, singer Jon King, bassist Dave Allen and drummer Hugo Burnham.

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How often do you fall in love with a group, not hear them for over two decades, put on their music, and their music is as vital as it was the first time you heard them? I LOVE GANG OF FOUR. Sad stories about the Gang of Four and moi: they put on such a wonderfully lit show that I put my very best slides into a holder and left them at the hotel for the lighting guy to see. Last time I ever saw my incredible shots. The fucker stole them.

I LOVE GANG OF FOUR. Lyrically and musically, they are true visionaries who never got their due.

Touring again, but in Coach-fucking hot desert dirty festival-chella and there's a reason they are not playing locally, but I can't tell. Is there no justice in this world?

Their music is a must-have for every music lover. I have a few shots scanned and found a few color shots that are stunning. "I Love a Man in a Uniform," but give me "Entertainment!" (and longing to hear other releases). I am SO glad they are being re-discovered. And check out the origin of their name. Very revolutionary (hint: Mao, you know the commie ruler of Red China, was married to a former actress who had a group of loyal thugs known as her Gang of Four. Well, that's the story I heard. Is that too cool or what?). More shots posted as I find and scan.

These photos, especially while listening to "Entertainment!" makes me tremble, feeling all that is special and unique, with memories flooding my body and mind with unexpressionable sensations and visions, reaching deep into my soul. Like when just thinking of that very rare man whose touch makes me forget my name and I tremble all over, deeply, not feeling my legs from my fingers but every cell alive with energy and rushing towards the highest high. Like when I hear the best music, see the best art, colors and scents and sensations that reach my pre-thinking mind, notes and words strung together leaving me breathless, longing for more and never getting enough. And for those few precious moments, I no longer belong in this body, this time and place, with daily woes. I float and am inspired to work on my photos, do my art. While thinking about their words etched so deeply into my mind.

For more great Gang of Four memories, read Mark Vallen's Slash tribute. Gang of Four played first at the Whiskey with the Buzzcocks with Stiv Bators and Levi and the Rockats backstage (I have shots). Then the cops beat up the punks at the Santa Monica Civic with the Cramps and Buzzcocks in September, 1979 (as related in Slash mag). Then the Starwood, March, 1980, the Country Club in Reseda in the early 1980's and then . . .