Gang Of Four to play Powerstation February 2011

Critically acclaimed British post-punk group Gang of Four are coming to New Zealand shores for the first time in their 33 year career to perform their historically significant back-catalogue live. They will also be previewing brand new songs from their first studio album in 16 years, Content.

Gang of Four hold a crucial place in the rock pantheon. Over the past three decades the band have had a series of short, fully-active stints, producing the defining sound of those times. That sound – minimalist, angular, intelligent post-punk aggression - was importantly defined by the 1979 release, Entertainment! featuring such hits as ‘Damaged Goods’, 'I Found That Essence Rare' and ‘Natural’s Not in It’. Complimenting this veracious sound with a progressive visual and political approach led to Rolling Stone's David Fricke describing them as “the best politically motivated dance band of all time”; a truism reinforced by the early 80’s releases Solid Gold and Songs Of The Free.

Gang Of Four are as relevant now as ever. A myriad of acts influenced by post punk – everyone from dance extraordinaires Franz Ferdinand to experimental art-rockers Liars – cite their importance; while Sofia Coppola has used Gang of Four hits in almost every accompanying soundtrack for her films.

The band themselves have never lost touch with contemporary culture. After re-recording a selection of their early catalogue as Return The Gift in 2005, they commissioned current acts to reinterpret or remix the material for a bonus disc, with Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Ladytron, The Rakes and Dandy Warhols all contributing.

2010 saw Gang Of Four recording the forthcoming Content, funded by supporters of the band who in turn were given an all-access peek into the process and the opportunity to purchase wildly-deluxe editions of the album complete with the members' blood, and customised, sealed-shut cassette players containing a recording of the first-ever Gang Of Four gig.

The current Gang of Four line-up - consisting of stalwarts Jon King and Andy Gill, plus bassist Thomas McNeice and drummer Mark Heaney - maintain the vibrancy, tenacity and unparalleled force they have always applied to their craft. Without a doubt, it will be to an equally enthusiastic crowd that they perform to in New Zealand in 2011.