From the Paul Lester biography "Damaged Goods":
"...It could reasonably be argued that, among certain rock musicians, especially the ones who formed in the wake of the late Seventies post punk era, Gang of Four mean as much as the Velvet Underground did to a previous generation. They may not have sold that many records, but they sold to the right people: everyone who heard them went right out and formed a band. In Britain they pioneered the idea of the white rock band getting funky, making it possible for everyone form A Certain Ratio to Franz Ferdinand to make their dance music, their funk noir, their death disco. and in America, where they possibly mean even more and had an even greater impacty, Gang of Four are the third most influential punk period rock band after The Sex Pistols and The Clash, paving the way for hordes of funked up metal bands: Rage against the Machine, Korn, Limp Bizkit and the rest would, as one journalist recently put it, "be inimagginable without the territory that GOF feralessy staked out in a bold, visionary stance that few bands could have been taken".Back in the time of bands like the Gang of Four it seemed easier to find music that was as inspired. And they still sound great, brilliant as ever... If only there could be music like this nowadays...
For your listening pleasure:
Gang of Four "The 78 demos, live in Zagreb 1981 & KEXP 2011 Sessions"
