Gang Of Four - Armalite Rifle - 1978

[MyLittleDiscolite]

For an anti-war song it actually makes you want one. If I were Mark Westrom I'd reintroduce the AR-180 and use this in a commercial.

[imajeepster]

well if JOHN disapproves of it!

[MrDavidpatmore]

i still love fast records look it up when you have time!

[tapper1477]

Top 5 singles of all time.

[imajeepster]

well if JOHN disapproves!

[imajeepster]

I disapprove of it. So does dave...

well if DAVE disapproves!! lol

[sitwosaints]

Glorious....then she comes to my room...

[ivycompton]

Superb song!

[TheDsmyth]

trawled through a load of their stuff paul..didnt grab me..this song title caught my eye

[philodrummond]

"I disapprove of them, so does John"

[richardxs]

Where can I get the Gang of Four B-Sides, anyone to share?

[oogie11]

Wicked......Gang of Four b-sides :)

[Jered330]

Wow, never heard this version of this song. I like it!

[m16a1rifle]

AR-15/M-16 family of rifles - the best in the world of assault rifles.

[chopinbloc]

@m16a1rifle As much as I love the AR-15 family of rifles (I own six), I'm pretty sure the song is about the AR-180 which was very popular with the IRA.

[m16a1rifle]

@chopinbloc the IRA used both. There is photographic evidence of it.

[chopinbloc]

@m16a1rifle They used a wide variety of weapons, but the AR-180 was particularly popular with them - more so than the AR-15 family of weapons. I still think it likely this song was referring to the AR-180.

[routan1]

@chopinbloc I believe you're right. The 180 was a big hit in Ireland at that time.

[cheetah7769]

Armalite Rifle-use it every day.

[classof77]

"I disapprove of it / And so does John"

Which sounds deliberately limp and politely middle-class -- which makes the contrast with the line before ("blow your head off / blow your guts out") more chilling -- which then doubles back and gives extra weight to the "disapprove of it" -- that's the kind of dialectical tension that early Go4 were so sharp at. Love their early lyrics.

Great single.

[classof77]

Ah, I miffed Jon King's name; added an "h". Sorry.

[BagpipeHustler]

@classof77 in this day and age, what DOESN'T 'sound deliberately limp and politely middle-class'? i pick gang over any of today's "random", trendy, weak, corny indie bands...

[ToulouseTrousers]

@BagpipeHustler

bloddhe nailed it, BH ...

today's lot are embarassing, easily appeasing, corporatist ars*wipes ... may they drown to dearth in their f*cking pabst already ... !

[fuckamericanidiot]

@BagpipeHustler because of most people my own age i now have to check myself every time i go to use the word 'random'. RANDOM DOES NOT MEAN WEIRD OR UNEXPECTED

[CANDOKNOWHOW]

@classof77 Ohhh you NAILED it !!! BULLSEYE!!! ; )

[excrutiated]

best track on this single by far.........i was amazed when it wasnt included on "thats entertainment"

[weta2000nz]

Cool song, I loved this when it was released...cheers for posting...

"ArmaLite rifle and the holy Trinity...used against you, like Irish jokes on the BBC"