Wire - Eardrum Buzz

[hiddenfire65]

I didn't like this when it came out - in part because the version on the IBTABA album was not this tuneful - but I like it now.

[alanrossism]

Was this video directed by Sean Penn?

[kingTethra]

i spotted Bjork, Bernard Sumner, Arabella Weir from the Fast Show, Glenn Roeder, Jack Black and what looks like Brendan Behan!

[Underthevolcanobooks]

Come on give us decent sound

[Hastur876]

I thought by this point Gotobed had replaced himself with a drum machine. The album was all drum machines, no?

[Wizerud]

@Hastur876 You're thinking of the Manscape album which was released the year after this single, which comes from IBTABA.

[GVike]

1:08 Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols also

[mancsakacarl]

i look like the guy on drums with my head shaved...

[mancsakacarl]

fkin tune :)

[buncefieldrecords]

Is that Bruce McLean at 1.09?

[tuffy321]

the strokes were in grade school when this came out.

[monkeyboy4746]

My comment above was to a poster who thought the video was stupid and that it took away from the serious nature of the song, I thought different, you have to stick up your music.

[CONSIDERABLYMORE1]

A beautifully sublime piece of music, that invites the listener to jump aboard for a roller coaster of pop deliciousness. Stop knocking it. This is "Wire's" "funk pop a roll" moment"!

[arlysilver]

@CONSIDERABLYMORE1

- I was just thinking the same thing.

This is Wire's 'Funk Pop a Roll' moment. You nailed it spot on!

[benjaminkinkaidiris]

Strokes rip off

[CONSIDERABLYMORE1]

@benjaminkinkaidiris LOL. U cunt

[FoldedTapestry]

@benjaminkinkaidiris Strokes rip off from 1989, yeah dude i think i hear it too!

[zabilgy]

This band blows...



[andreaprodan]

worryingly like an XTC video...

[CONSIDERABLYMORE1]

@andreaprodan and wot one is that then twat?

[JurricaChiannaNycole]

Wow this is really gay, was not at all what i expected after hearing Pink Flag.

[clayguy33]

@JurricaChiannaNycole  try listening to "ahead" ... and if you don't like it, then no use trying any other Wire

[JurricaChiannaNycole]

@clayguy33Don't get me wrong, i love Wire, just not this song.

[MrSKINFLICK]

@JurricaChiannaNycole: Gay ? 

[headforthetropics]

God I love this band!

[Squeaky1423]

He is COOL! Look how limber he is, LOL. And I would much rather look at this than the ridiculous music videos that I see on MTV - women in barely there clothing looking ridiculous, gyrating around, ha!

[alerte17]

Læste anmeldelse af Wires ny 'red Barked Trees'. Har ikke hørt dem før (opr. 1977), det skal der gøres noget ved.

[lyonslaforet]

Is it an homage to tinnitus? If so, it could be added to the list of rock songs that allude to tinnitus. Another example of how Wire was often influential but rarely quoted!

[Maliceuk]

What year did this come out? (too lazy to go and look)

[xyaqua]

@Maliceuk I saw this live in 87 at metro chicago. so it was before then at least. awesome concert, the recordings on "drill' do not give you 1/10 the effects they had on stage, the sound quality was truly otherworldly, in a good way

[MisAnnThorpe]

Isn't that one of The Breeders at 0:43? I doubt that bass guitar was playable. He's using conventional strings when he would have needed double ball end strings. It looks great though!

[earinsound]

@MisAnnThorpe

this is 1989. the breeders came about in the early 90s.

[Gzarnanplat]

I always thought that this song is about tinnitus. As good any other with this band I s'pose....

[landofthefreeuk]

listen hans you need ears

[michaelplank]

I think that's Morrissey himself at 2:51.

[foxbasealpha]

@michaelplank

Nope. It isn't him.

[pessimystica]

@michaelplank

& then i think Bernard Sumner at 2:53 :-D

[DazzaZulu]

I had a chance to buy a pair of these Converse shoes back in the 80's. I regret not ever getting them!

[Mixtil22]

All I got was Vince Clarke, Depeche Mode, Bjork and Bernard Summner.

Who am I missing?

[julosx]

@Mixtil22 Joe Strummer, John Peel, Barney from New Order, Simon Raymonde and Robin Guthrie from the Cocteau Twins.

[pacific707]

@Mixtil22 I think the remainder are some employees of Mute records.

[mrlongtree]

i love wire, what an ace band !!!

[mrlongtree]

i love wire, what an ace band !!!

[AJAXKID123]

I want an ear shirt.

[SecondsToLast]

@ragonel I don't think Wire ever attempted to be "kool." It's quite clear from the video that they were self-aware that they were dorks and that they were totally comfortable with that. Whenever they did a music video, they took the opportunity to have fun and be ridiculous(see Colin Newman's "B" for another example).

Refreshing compared to all the douchebag myspace bands today who spend more time posing for press photos than writing music.

[pacific707]

Love the cameos from Depeche Mode, Bjork, Joe Strummer and others in this video. One of their better songs from Wire V.2.

[pacific707]

Perhaps one of the best songs Wire have written!! LOVE IT!!!!

[thisrainykitten]

Wire RULES

[DYKEPALS]

this awful shit looks like some lsd trip sequence in the tv show Red Dwarf

[Adreamofhoney]

I wonder if he got those ear shirts made especially ;) They're pretty good...

[foxtweeg]

great music, great band, great video, another gem from the 80s

[shrivalup]

one of my all time favorite bands. kickass song

[blackcluck]

I remeber this on the the chart show in the 80s!!!!

[ZLUGGO]

Magnificent!

[Zelda36J]

Didn't read things below !!!

[Zelda36J]

Surely, this is a lightened up track ?????

[ragonel]

this guys a jackass i love how they thought stuff like that was kool... and i also wonder whats up with the man thing with the tamborine and ol arnold. lmfao

[Mach11ne]

Loosen up Douchebag! He's expressing himself.

Great track, mega bassline.

[captainkundalini1]

What's with the arms at 1.11?

[mfactor88]

re the "ear shirt" debacle, around 84 85 i remember seeing it in a few alternate clothing shops in sydney, in both black and white (he has climbing boots on as well) which i liked as well :) and the guitar is a Steinberger which had started appearing around then as well

ps yes LOVE this song :) m48

[taufactor]

Hehehe, never saw the video for this song before, but it sure takes me back to my teenage years listening to the radio.

I forgot how catchy this track is, can't help but have a smile on my face : )

[thedude92506]

I use to drive my siblings absolutely insane when this came on the radio. I loved it!!!

[nouveauxdecadence]

GREAT BAND!

[frankiesdemise]

I remember being so intrigued by this as a 14 year-old when I first heard it. Still sounds so great.

[drumboi6]

Genius!

[tebb1t]

Ok has anybody got Douglas Adams and Peter Cook in there? Both great and sadly missed comic geniuses

[woody12001uk]

Keith allen (lilly's old man) at 2.56

[doubleben]

Love this song! Okay video.

Tell me if these are right:

0:37 - Andrew Fletcher (Depeche Mode)

1:43 - Bjork

2:40 - Cocteau Twins (Robin and Simon)

2:46 - Steve Martin

2:52 - Bernard Sumner (New Order)

Are these right, and who didn't I recognize?

Talk about well connected.

[xyaqua]

Holy crap! What an eye! I never notice half of these. What a buzz.

[poptompainwonderland]

the first is vince clarke, depeche, then andrew. and among the not mentioned are howard devoto(buzzcocks and magazine)and joe strummer of the clash..still there are more--but this song is soo great anyway, british pop at it´s finest

[suspect485]

I didn't think bands were able to be this cool.

[doubtomatic]

Kinda fun spotting all the cameos... some of my favorite musicians in one video. Also, is that Nigel Planer (Neil on The Young Ones) at 1:32?

[departments2006]

Brilliant song. I enjoyed the video too. Putting Colin in the same space as David Byrne at times.

[thimble288]

it's a silly video, but who cares?

This is the version that came on the 12" single, which is a gem and pretty easy to find.

[RandyPrincePhilip]

I guess wire were pretty complicit in making fools of themselves here though.

[KojiRecords]

I hate this video---how dare the filmmakers make the group out to be loons against ONE OF THE MOST PERFECT POS SONGS OF ALL TIME, a song that I have loved for many years. This is my first time ever seeing the music video and I am shocked how a Wire was used to make a mockery of their great song.

[monkeyboy4746]

I like the video, it shows great energy, I think it mocks music videos in general, the songs overall message gets through, look at the Pixies "Here Comes Your Man" video, I think they are doing the same thing, no one would say the Pixies are making fools of themselves and I do not think Wire are either.

[KojiRecords]

This is a great song and it deserved to be treated as such, this is not the song to be used in a parody---leave the parody songs and videos to Blowfly, he knew how to do to them over the top; however, even Blowfly, whom The Pixies adored and performed with, would know that "Eardrum Buzz" does not lend itself to parody. It was easy for the director to take the cheapie, goofy route instead of trying to make a masterpiece video for a masterpiece song.

[murcuryvapor]

Oh, lighten the fuck up.

[jyoungjyoung1]

@murcuryvapor no I agree they are an artistic band with always an interesting aproach,I never put the two videos together but that makes sense to me.

[jyoungjyoung1]

@monkeyboy4746 I really dig what you said ..

[OxygenBurglar]

This is music that today's society just doesn't understand, so they fear it. A classic of Wire's "beat combo" era.

[KingOfUm]

If I were to wear a shirt with ears on it everyone in my community would say 'why ya got dem ears on'ya boy? Ya hard o' listenin'?' or something ungodly stupid like that.

[monkeyboy4746]

At least he ain't got no earrings on dem ears. If I had a choice between wearing red lipstick (the tambourine guy), or the ear shirt, I would choose the ear shirt every time.

[erixoff]

The tambourine man is nothing else than the discrete but great Bruce GILBERT ;-)

Personally, I would love to have the Rail bass of Graham ...

[Dreddloxx]

How many 80's Indi music celebs did YOU spot in this vid?

I spotted Vince Clarke,Bernard Sumner,Bjork,the lead singer from The Mission,etc...What was this track all about?! It looked like Live Aid for Big Issue sellers...HAHAHAHA!!!

Still love it though...;-)

[Gothiczartan]

nevermind, i saw andyQ

[Gothiczartan]

i thought i saw andy fletcher of depeche mode!

[JDNLeg]

Isn't the Newman joint songwriter of Gilbert - Lewis - Newman - Gotobed anything to do with Gary Newman? Any help gratefully received as I'm selling Demonstration Disc of Mannequin on E-Bay right now and need to mention which Newman this guy is

[leehazlewoodism]

Isn't that John Peel at 2:57?

[bent2]

And right before that you can see the vocalist in New Order :P

[jeannec1]

Bruce Gilbert gives me goosebumps.

[wigmeistergeneral]

wow

[xyaqua]

zee zee, Zum zum, Buzz buzz, buzz buzz in the ear drum.

Art school on punk. i WILL ALWAYS LOVE THESE GUYS. Wonderful electronica too, i'm surprised they nevvver hooked up with Gary numan.

Would have been like Queen and Bowie.

[olafbigandglad]

why would they ever want to do that? i'm pretty sure that the guys in wire would have gary numan crying for his mommy about 30 seconds after meeting.

[KingOfUm]

Queen and Bowie was a huge mistake.

[agentsmithmememe]

I remember hearing this song on 3RRR..on New Used and Abused

[denitopoopy]

Want his shirt!

[mikes1962]

120 minutes

[longfade]

That's right! I was just thinking, "I remember seeing this for the very first time when it came out" but couldn't remember the show. I think this is what got me into Wire, actually. Spent that whole damned summer listening to IBTABA and A Bell is a Cup because of this video. Fantastic stuff.

[80stimeagain]

I remember this one so fun !

[myrnalovescats]

wow i love this this song

[pookypoo77]

OMG! this song has been stuck in my head for YEARS er.. um... buzzing in my ears for over a decade! saw this on MTV and never could forget this and just typed it in finally~!weirdest song ever. thanks for posting

[xyaqua]

wire is the most under-rated band ever. Really.

If you do not alrady have it, get _the ideal copy_ Your ears and soul will thank you.

[EnormousHuntBall]

You are a star! thanks for posting this, I was in just the right mood for it.

:)

[dideidum]

Whats the meaning of the text? I don`t know english very well, but it sounds so good

[captainkundalini999]

Great vid....Sort of like David Lynch stuff.

Also noticed Howard Devoto, Keith Allen in there.... maybe Michael Hutchence at the turn of the first minute..eh? eh? And could that be Matt Johnson at 2.35..??

Chugging eclecticism...Inspired....

Will the world ever cotton on ?

[elefou]

2:40 Robin and Simon from Cocteau Twins?

0:36 Andrew Fletcher from Depeche Mode

[toddclemmer]

1:43 Bjork?

[funkybass4ever]

best fry music ever!

[RadioBazterd]

WIRE a class act that obviously influenced bands such as Blur.

[kilbey1]

I miss 120 Minutes. I think this is where I first learned about this band.

[ClassicKaraoke]

and I believe that's Bernard Sumner @ 2:53

[ClassicKaraoke]

Bjork @ 1:43

Vince Clark @ 0:29

[jmars138]

At the start of the video was the ending of Tom Waits Video I dont want to grow up!!!

[adamacdiarmid]

Friggin' everyone is in this video, y'all.

[Yorkmackem]

1.11 Paul Heaton ?

[irshgrl500]

Paul Heaton is from the band "The Beautiful South". This band is "Wire", a post Punk band out of London from the late 1970s. Colin Newman,Graham Lewis,and Bruce Gilbert are the members. They have recently reunited.

[Yorkmackem]

No shit Sherlock....

[adamacdiarmid]

Actually, Gilbert left four years back. sob.

[NnenStMartin]

I've been turning to VH1 for decent music programming since MTV jumped the shark circa 1996. However both companies are owned by Viacom so there isn't much hope for VH1 for much longer.

[kraftyjohn]

1989 fantastic year for alternative musc

[orphiusflux]

Yes it was.

[RocMegamanX]

I think I have a different version of this song on a CD.

[irshgrl500]

The song "Eardrum Buzz" from Wire's Album "IBTABA" under the label "Blackflag" (not Pinkflag)in 1989, is a much faster tempo, and and made with plenty of studio mixers. It is a much better sounding version than this slower version.

[adamacdiarmid]

Hah? Black Label? Cheapest lager out there... 'Eardrum Buzz' is a single IBTABA is almost entirely live.

[4darin5]

I first saw this in Macy's when I was 3.

that was 1990.

[4darin5]

@ 1:01 Jeff Lynne  WOO!!!

[ady24]

great band, under rated as...... great to see this again( runs off to dig out wire albums.....) :-)

[mseales]

does VH1 Classic even show videos like this anymore or has it become just as compromised as any other music channel on TV?

[CesMan83]

Damn, I hope not...I loved that channel and if it has to sell out to cater to the mainstream viewers, I'm gonna be sooo pissed off

[jeannec1]

Slowly but surely VH1 is becoming the next MTV.

[CesMan83]

Screw that...if VH1 Classic becomes the next MTV, I'm gonna picket their office

[jeannec1]

Oh, it'll happen. Disney Channel and Nickelodeon are both following the MTV way: making shit programming for money and leaving fragments of what the networks used to be to fill space. Needless to say, the new millennium isn't off to a great start for the media.

[murcuryvapor]

I ghave up on all MTV product years ago. Torrents, folks!

[jeannec1]

I think MTV gave up a few years ago too.

[gillianseed]

Saw this vid a month back on VH1 Classic during 120 Minutes. -They only run the good stuff past 12AM :(

[citizenX9328g]

Nice one - spotswoodthenewt sent me.Never heard of this band before.I like it :)

[badcorona]

at 2:40 there's Simon and Robin of the Cocteau Twins...

[bainzbiznainzez]

WTF......

[kohoutekdriver8]

This video made the MTV Top Ten! One of my friends wanted a shirt like the one the singer is wearing but couldn't find one, or suitable material to make one, anywhere.

[rollagasper]

It makes me laugh so hard when I think that this comes from the same guys that did 12XU. Anyway, WIRE is still cool. And that shirt - i want it, in both colours.

[4darin5]

I love the guitar solo. Mostly because it's completely opposite of a guitar solo. It's gritty, distorted, and you can hardly make out the notes. You have guys like Clapton, Jimmy Page, and all the other basket cases wailing on their "axes", while you have these guys making these very cool short "noises" that mime a guitar solo. That's what the ear drum buzz is all about, the sound left over in your ear. Just an awesome concept.

[fastabulus]

nice one. I see it is being about unanticipated consequences, but in a kind of hyper-abstract way. Wire never gave any meanings away for free, that's for sure.

[gillianseed]

hAHAHAHA the lead singer looks like Joe Montana!!!

[4darin5]

I will have that shirt...

[vicoland]

WIRE is one of the tops band from the post pun era.

I love this band , in a special way their early 3 albums cause are very influencial, still today.

[pavliha]

wtf

[friendlier]

wtf is no longer acceptable.

[RHutton2710]

WTF do you mean?

[phospheratu]

Ok... I spotted: Vince Clarke Andy Fletcher Bernard Sumner Bjork John Peel Howard Devoto Margi Clarke Ralf Dorper Daniel Miller Simon Raymonde & Robin Guthrie Mike Lindup (I think) ... and some other people look very familiar.

[dj45rpm]

There was also Joe Strummer and the guy that played "Rik" in the Young Ones.

[dj45rpm]

Wait on closer look that was Bernard, not "Rik".  Nevermind.

[elefou]

Daniel Miller? when?

[themoviegoer1]

They're definitely copying Happy Mondays on this one, like they copied New Order on Ahead, but they're still fucking great, and were well ahead of the game in the late 70s.

[erixoff]

"Copied" is not correct. I would say that they may have been inspired by other bands...

[sham64andahalf]

I agree. People forget Wire have been about longer than the likes of the Happy Mondays.

[erixoff]

Graham bass is so sweet and sexy, and he has a great voice.

Thanx for the video.

We need more bands like WIRE

[andreaprodan]

Well... this looks like an XTC video... hmmmm

[exproggo]

Is it just me or do you automatically see blue pixies if you play this record in a dark room? I tried it on a bicycle once but the wheels fell off.

[1969Agent]

I'll tell you what's insufferable, Colin's ridiculous wardrobe in this video. I love this song, but I wouldn't be caught deaf in that shirt...

[cart00nist]

The shirt's great. Wish I had one of those.

[poesha]

Everybody looked awful back then. Except Graham.

[KroovyMonsoon]

I spotted Bjork, Bernard Sumner, Vince Clarke and Andy Fletcher. Does anyone know who any of the others are ??? Some faces look familiar but can't place 'em.

[forestdweller]

I think Howard Devoto's in there too, but I'm not 100%

[asdffd]

I think the guy after Bernard Sumner is Joe Strummer and then John Peel after that.

[myrareguitars]

I think I saw Howard Devoto in there!?

[ohcoco]

Daniel Miller from Mute