British punk-rockers Gang of Four have been gifting the world with their insightful and moody stylings for quite a few decades now. Their upcoming album Happy Now follows the politically charged Complicit, which featured an image of Ivanka Trump, and is sure to be just as polarizing as its predecessors.
With an upcoming album and tour celebrating the 40th anniversary of their debut release, Entertainment!, we had to learn more about Happy Now and their latest trek. Both frontman Andy Gill and vocalist John "Gaoler" Sterry stopped by our studio and opened up about touring, new music and the increasing realization of how deeply their music influences today's artists.
Check out the full video below:
Artists influenced by Gang of Four (Tom Morello):
"Last night when we played The Roxy, Tom Morello came down. We had a chat and afterwards he [posted on] Instagram just saying what an influence the Gang of Four had been on him, it was very complimentary." - Gill
Artists influenced by Gang of Four (Frank Ocean):
"The last thing I expected was Frank Ocean to sample Gang of Four. That was great and he did everything properly. He could have probably snuck it in there and got away with it, but he got it all signed off." - Gill
How it feels to be an inspiration for other artists:
"If only we got a slice of their paycheck." - Gill
Happy Now is comprised of 10 tracks that highlight the band's genre bending post-punk style as well as showcases Gill’s turbulent guitar riffs. According to Gill, while the album is still distinctively Gang of Four, he never wants their music to be a regurgitation of past releases.
“Sometimes with my generation, you get people saying ‘it’s not enough like ‘Entertainment!’” Gill explains. “My feeling is, we did Entertainment! we don’t need to do it again. We play those songs live. When I get into the studio and creative, that’s not where my mind goes. I take what I want from wherever and make the record.”
Find the guys in Australia this March as they celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Entertainment! They will play the album in full, along with other hits, such as “I Love a Man in Uniform”, “What We All Want”, “Paralysed”, “To Hell With Poverty” and more!
Gang of Four Australian Tour Dates:
3/20 – Perth @ Rosemount
3/22 – Sydney @ Manning Bar
3/23 – Melbourne @ Croxton Bandroom
3/24 – Brisbane @ The Zoo
3/27 – Wellington @ San Fran
3/28 – Auckland @ Tuning Fork
